I would like to thank ASB Executive Board members who are rolling off at the end of our annual meeting this year in Ottawa. Specifically, Dr. Nicholas Stergiou, who has tremendously contributed to the society in many ways during his 3-year service in the presidential line, has shaped the way we do business at ASB today. As Program Chair of the 2013 meeting, I had the honor to work with Dr. Stergiou when he hosted the ASB meeting in Omaha that year. His clear and forward-thinking vision for our society, sincere dedication to our society and willingness to take time from his busy schedule to provide feedback to ASB Executive Board new members like myself are just few of the ways to describe Dr. Stergiou’s services to ASB. Also, many thanks to Dr. Jill Higginson (Treasurer), who kept ASB financially healthy during these difficult times, Dr. Jason Franz (Program Chair), who developed an incredible ASB program and worked hard on behalf of ASB with NACOB organizers, Dr.-to-be Evan Dooley (Student Representative), who did a phenomenal job on behalf of the students at ASB and will leave big shoes to fill. Finally, many thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Hsiao-Wecksler for her leadership as ASB president while our society is navigating uncertain times, always keeping ASB’s best interests on our mind and making sure the bylaws govern the way the Executive Board operates. I learned a lot from her and look forward to continuing to work with her this coming year.
I would like to welcome to the ASB Executive Board Dr. Sara Myers (President-Elect), Dr. James Finley (Program Chair-Elect), Dr. Jaimie Roper and Dr. Emmanuel Tetteh (Nominating Committee members) and Dr.-to-be Anna Bailes (Student Representative). Ms. Anna Bailes is a graduate student in our Human and Movement Laboratory at Pitt and thus I am certain that ASB will be the focus of many of our discussions this coming year.
As President-Elect, I have been assigned the responsibility of overseeing the process of selecting a location for the 2024 ASB annual meeting. Many thanks to the potential hosts who were willing to be considered in this selection process. We are a little late because both Podium and I are learning how to do this most efficiently and trying to navigate Covid-19 related restrictions in many places. We will share the final decision as soon as the Executive Board members vote!
I will start my term as your society’s President at the end of the annual meeting and look forward to working with current and new ASB Executive Board members. Finally, I would like to inform all current and potential ASB members that I will be accessible and available for questions you may have or comments and ideas you would like to share with the ASB Executive Board. Please do not hesitate to reach out.
Stay safe and I look forward to seeing you in Ottawa!