RUSA is pleased to announce that Emily O'Brien and Noah Swartz have been elected to serve 3-year terms on the Board of Directors and that Chris Argo has been elected, by acclamation, as RBA Liaison for 2026. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the other candidates who stood for election. A special thanks, also, to Bill Bryant and Gardner Duval, who will be stepping down at the end of the year. The election results are as follows:

For Regular Board Positions:

642 ballots were submitted by members, which is a 16% response. 1120 votes were submitted with 27 abstentions

Many thanks to Don Hamilton and Tim Sullivan for managing this election.

2026 RUSA Board Candidates

Nominations are open from 10/1 through 10/20 for the 2026 RUSA Board. Two regular seats are open, plus RBA Liaison, which is a one-year term. (Only RBAs may nominate for RBA Liaison). Nominations must be received by October 20th.

Details in this special Call for Nominations edition of Between Controls.

Here are the nominees who've agreed to run. You can find their statements and photos on the 2026 Election Candidates Page.

Regular Board Positions (3-year term)

Matthew Bird (#14124)

Dan Colvin (#8295)

Emily O'Brien (#3597)

Noah Swartz (#13453)

RBA Liaison (1-year term)

Chris Argo (#11707)

The Board has posted a statement on Gender Data in RUSA, reflecting the findings of the survey to members in 2024, focus groups, and individual feedback.  Many thanks to all who've been involved - including members who responded to the survey - to inform the Board's findings and policy going forward.

The RUSA Board has published their 2025 goals, and a review of their 2024 goals in retrospect:

2025 Board Goals

2024 Board Goals (Results)

Some of these are goals for the Board or certain Board members to carry out. Others are goals for committees (e.g., Marketing or Website) or other volunteers, made in agreement with them. 

Deb Banks 

Lisa Charlebois

Nigel Greene 

Josh Haley

Jake Kassen

Jonathan Karpick

Paul Kramer

Brad Layman

Chris Newman

Emily O'Brien

Dawn Piech

Ello Shertzer

Mac Vergara

The Board has elected the following as 2025 Officers:

President - Dave Thompson

Vice President - Dawn Piech

Secretary - Gardner Duvall

Treasurer - Lois Springsteen (not a Board member)*

Non-Officer Board members: Bill Bryant, John Lee Ellis, Charlie Martin, and Chris Argo (RBA Liaison)

* President, VP, and Secretary must be Board members. Treasurer can be someone not on the Board.