By: Erinn Hengst, MS, CCC-SLP, Nominations and Elections Committee Chair

In the spring of 2025, Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) members will elect a Vice President for Advocacy, Vice President for Educational and Scientific Affairs, and Vice President for Research and Development. Members are encouraged to recommend qualified persons or to self-nominate for these offices. TSHA's Call for Executive Board Nominations will be open October 2 through November 16. 

Positions and Responsibilities
 

Vice President of Advocacy responsibilities include: 

• Encouraging affiliation between the Association and other persons or organizations having similar legislative interests and objectives
• Coordinating activities related to legislation and regulation
• Overseeing committees including but not limited to: Advocacy Communications, Special Interests, Capitol/District Visit

Vice President for Educational and Scientific Affairs responsibilities include: 

• Developing, coordinating, and implementing educational programs occurring at the Annual Convention for the membership
• Appointing chairs of designated standing committees, whose responsibilities include planning and coordinating all educational offerings, student involvement, community engagement, and career development
• Providing forums for the presentation of scientific endeavors of members through the Annual Convention, including but not limited to a posters session and committee forums

Vice President for Research and Development responsibilities include: 

• Development of new topics of interest and ideas leading to the advancement of speech-language pathology and audiology
• Promotion of selected areas of interest, which may include technology, administration, clinical technique, research, and education in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology.
• Overseeing committees including but not limited to: Assistive Technology, Continuation of Guidelines, Continuing Education Approval, Professional Development, and Webinar 
• Appointing chairs of designated standing committees 

Requirements

• Candidates for office shall have been members of TSHA for at least three years and have had at least two years of experience at the TSHA task force/committee or Executive Council level, serving in the capacity as Chair or Councilor on at least one occasion.
• The Vice President has a two-year term plus time served as a Vice President-Elect between the election and taking office.
• The nominator must receive the nominee’s permission to submit his/her name to the Nominating Committee.

Learn more at https://www.txsha.org/About/Executive-Board-Council/Nominations-and-Elections. For questions, please contact TSHA Nominations and Elections Chair Erinn Hengst. The deadline to apply is November 16. Nominate yourself or a colleague today!