2026 AHA Board of Directors Election

Call for Nominations to the AHA Board of Directors

It’s an election year for the AHA Board of Directors!

Serving on the Board is a special privilege of membership as the AHA is the only national nontheist organization that elects its Board by popular ballot of the membership-at-large. There are twelve directly elected Directors, half of whom are elected every even-numbered year to four-year terms. Additional seats may be open for election based on members leaving the Board before the end of their term. All new Directors take office January 1 of the year following the election.

In accordance with the bylaws of the American Humanist Association (AHA), the AHA Board of Directors has approved the appointment of five AHA members, none of whom are current members of the Board or can be nominated for the current election, to serve on the Nominations and Elections Committee for the 2026 AHA Board of Directors election. They are Maggie Ardiente, Lineth Garcia, Rebecca Hale, Katie Hladky-Grant, and Robert Leonhard.

The Committee has issued a call to the AHA membership to nominate candidates to serve on the AHA Board of Directors. Seven seats on the twelve-member Board are up for election in 2026. Nominees must have been members in good standing of the AHA for at least one year immediately prior to nomination. (The bylaws allow the Committee to waive the one-year AHA membership requirement for up to two nominees provided each such nominee is less than thirty years of age and a current member. This is a mechanism to increase the participation of younger individuals on the Board.)

Expectations for Board Members include:

  • Attendance at 3 board meetings per year (2 virtual and 1 in person; travel can be covered by the AHA)
  • Active participation on one or more Board Committees
  • Most board members spend no more than 5 hours/month on board work

The Nominating Committee is particularly looking for members with the following experience and training:

  • Legal
  • Accounting/Financial (particularly CPAs)
  • Policy
  • Non-profit Governance

The Committee encourages historically underrepresented groups to apply (women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and people under 30).

The deadline for submitting nomination material is June 30, 2026.

AHA members in good standing will be eligible to vote online for Board members later this year. If you are not a member, you can join here.

If you are interested in submitting your nomination for consideration by the Committee, please read the bylaws of the American Humanist Association.

To submit your nomination, use this form. As indicated on the form, candidates must submit a bio (up to 200 words) and a separate statement of interest (written in first person up to 200 words), as well as a recent photograph, all for potential use on the ballot.

To contact the Nominating Committee email: nominatingcommittee@americanhumanist.org.