Overview of Elections:

The AERS Constitution was set up to ensure continuity across our Governing Boards’ terms of office, and has staggered election timing among the elected officers, who make up the Board. The President-Elect is elected in order to serve a year on the AERS Executive Board.  This ensures our corporate memory and gives the President-Elect time to select committee chairs, and to organize for his/her Presidency.  Thus the President of AERS serves a total of 4 years in office with a year as President–Elect, 2 years as actual President, and a year as Past-President. The AERS Secretary takes office immediately after the election and performs the duties for a period of 2 years. At the time that ERF re-organized, AERS adjusted its elections to provide the President a full cycle of office that corresponds with the planning of the ERF Biennial meeting. Treasurers are elected in alternate years at the Spring Meeting. They too take office immediately after their election. 

During this Spring Meeting, we will be electing a new Treasurer, changing to a new President, Peter Straub, our President Elect, and honoring our Past President, Leila Hamdan.  Peter Straub will become President and Leila Hamdan will become Past-President at the end of the Spring Meeting.

At the Friday Business Meeting, we will be holding the election for the very important position of Treasurer. Nominations remain open until the elections occur at the Friday Business Meeting.  Contact Julie Ambler to nominate an additional candidate. Two candidates have been nominated for Treasurer, Shelley Sullivan from Old Dominion University, and Dave Osgood from Albright College in Pennsylvania. Either would make an excellent addition to the AERS Governing Board, and both have been serving in various capacities on the Board. Brief biographies for each candidate are provided below. Please be sure to participate in the elections at the Business Meeting on Friday evening following the Technical Presentations.

Shelley E Sullivan:
I recently received a M.S. degree in Biology from Old Dominion University where I worked in the Benthic Ecology Laboratory.  My research focus was on the habitat value of artificial oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay. Throughout my time at ODU, I have also served as Wetlands Preservation Officer and Secretary for ODU’s Graduate Research Organization.  I am also interested in parasitology and marine invasions and hope to utilize these interests for doctoral research in the near future.
I became involved with AERS when I attended my first meeting in the fall of 2006. Shortly after, I became the student representative and have served as the chair of student affairs since 2007.  As I am no longer a student, and thus cannot continue as student representative I would very much like to continue to serve on the AERS governing board. I am most interested in serving as treasurer as I believe the position provides me with a new outlet for my organizational interests and an excellent opportunity for me to continue to be involved in the heart of this organization.

David Osgood:
I received my PhD in Environmental Science from University of Virginia in 1996.  My doctoral research was on natural marsh development on barrier islands with an emphasis on subsurface hydrology, nutrient dynamics, and their influence on the developing plant community.  My research evolved into a study of Phragmites impact on marshes in the NE US again within the context of hydrology and biogeochemistry, but also impacts on nekton utilization.  I am an Associate Professor at Albright College in Reading Pennsylvania.  I currently serve as Biology Department Head and Director of the environmental science program.  My research is presently on headwater streams and floodplain wetlands of coastal watersheds with an emphasis on restoration and applications of GIS.  I started out my time with ERF as an AERS member in the early 90’s and have had membership with SEERS, NEERS, and finally back to AERS in 2001.  I have enjoyed my time as Nominations Officer and Endowment Officer for the Board and with the understanding that Treasurer can be a challenging post I would look forward to serving AERS in that capacity.