Volunteer Position Selection Process

NAFSA depends on the participation of its members for leadership at all levels. Leadership positions in NAFSA are filled by matching member skills and experience with the appropriate leadership roles. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer leader please review the guidelines below.

Application Steps

Open elected and appointed positions both follow the same basic nomination process to assemble potential candidates.

1. Review the job descriptions of current open positions.
2. Ensure that you have completed your Profile of Interest, Experience, and Expertise and it is up- to-date.
3. Complete a volunteer application form for the appropriate position.
4. After the deadline to submit an application, a member-leader will contact you to follow up on your application.

Elected Position: Selection Process	Appointed Position: Selection Process
In January, the Leadership Development Committee posts open positions and invites applications and nominations for the positions until approximately mid-March. Applications are reviewed and vetted in the spring and the final slate of leaders is announced in August. This year, online elections will be held in September. The results will be announced in October and the newly elected leaders begin their service in January of the following year.	Appointed positions are advertised in the late summer and early fall of each year. Once the deadline to submit an application closes, the chair of the committee will contact candidates to review their application and answer specific questions about the position. Appointments are typically announced in October and the newly appointed leader begins serving in January of the following year.

National Election Process

The NAFSA standing rules stipulate that the Leadership Development Committee (LDC) will issue the call for all nominations, both for board members and member-leader positions (knowledge community positions and chairs of Membership and Leadership Development Committees). The Governance Committee of the board will decide the slate of the board members and officers, while the LDC will develop and present the slate of the member-leader nominees. The LDC will consult with the relevant vice-president and committee/KC chair to establish the criteria for nominating the next committee/KC chair and to discuss candidates under serious consideration.

The vice-president for member relations presents the slate for the next chairs of committees/KCs to the board, while the Governance Committee presents the slate for officers and board members. Upon the board's acceptance of both slates, the secretary announces the full slate to the membership and oversees the election.