In fall 2025, in response to member feedback and concerns, 2025 AES President Howard Goodkin, MD, PhD, FAES, convened a Nomination and Selection Process Review Task Force to conduct a thoughtful review of the Society’s nominations and leadership selection processes. The task force confirmed many strengths in AES leadership and identified opportunities to strengthen transparency, consistency, access, and communication to align with leading governance practices related to AES nominations policies and process.
AES membership will be updated as additional changes are implemented in the future.
AES uses the Board nomination process to identify an effective Board. The process is open and transparent to ensure fresh ideas on the Board while maintaining continuity and insight into the Society's functions. The Nominating Committee recognizes that diverse experiences and perspectives strengthen leadership and decision-making at AES, and we encourage nominations that reflect the breadth of our community.
During the nomination period, AES members are invited to nominate themselves or other involved, qualified members for open positions. Only members in the Active and Professional categories are eligible to hold elected office and vote. Desired competencies for each position are described on the nomination form.
Eligibility:
- Second Vice President: An AES voting member with prior service on the Board as an elected voting board member.
- Board Member-At-Large: An AES voting member with prior service as a council or committee chair, and/or involved service as a member of a committee.
- Nominating Committee Member-at-Large: An AES voting member with prior service on the Board, and/or as an involved committee chair or active committee member. The ideal candidate is a visionary and a practical thinker who understands the AES strategic plan and can identify people and ideas that will have a critical long-term impact on the direction of the Society.
Time Commitment:
- Second Vice President: Prepares for and participates in weekly one-hour Executive Committee calls, nine monthly 1-hour Board conference calls, three in-person one-and-one-half-day Board meetings, and three 1-hour Board update calls with committee chairs and vice chairs. Serves as vice chair of the Governance Committee and chair of the Professionalism Committee, which meet on an as-needed basis, and performs other leadership assignments. The one-year term begins 1/01/2027 and ends 12/31/2027, followed by a one-year term as First Vice President, then a one-year term as President of the American Epilepsy Society, and finally, a one-year term as Immediate Past President.
- Board Members-at-Large: Requires participation in and preparation for monthly Board conference calls and three in-person Board meetings annually. The three-year term begins 1/01/2027 and ends 12/31/2029.
- Nominating Committee Member-at-Large: Prepares for and participates in at least three calls, generally between March and August . The three-year term begins 1/01/2027 and ends 12/31/2029.