Category Archives: SOA Council

Call for Nominations to SOA Leadership 2026

The SOA Nominating Committee announces a call for nominations for:

  • Vice President/President-Elect,
  • Treasurer,
  • Member of Council, and
  • JEDAI Committee Co-chair.

Self-nominations and peer nominations are welcomed and encouraged. We also encourage nominations from new professionals and/or individuals seeking to get involved in a professional organization for the first time. All positions are for two-year terms of office, except for the VP/President/Past President cycle, which is one-year in each position (a total commitment of three years).

If elected, you must be a current SOA member in good standing by the beginning of your term and willing and able to attend monthly council meetings and business activities (virtually or in person).

The election will be held during the SOA Annual Business Meeting, which will occur during the SOA Annual Meeting on May 14-16, 2026. Prior to the election, candidates will be required to respond to a question printed in the Ohio Archivist.

More details about responsibilities and terms can be found in the SOA Constitution and Bylaws.

Please send nominations or questions to the Nominating Committee Chair Matt Francis by Friday, February 26, 2026.

Council Meeting Minutes from Oct 28, 2025

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from October 28, 2025, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

Council Meeting Minutes from Sept 23, 2025

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from September 23, 2025, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

Council Meeting Minutes from Aug 19, 2025

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from August 19, 2025, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

Open Call for Volunteers: SOA Mentorship Task Force

During the Spring 2025 SOA Annual Meeting, members voiced interest in an SOA mentorship program during the final Crucial Conversations session. In response, SOA Leadership requests volunteers to serve on the SOA Mentorship Task Force.

SOA Mentorship Task Force charge:

  • Survey SOA membership to understand mentorship needs, preferences, and interests
  • Develop recommendations for SOA member mentorship options
  • Assist SOA Leadership in implementing mentorship options into SOA member opportunities

Time commitment: approximately 2 years

If you are interested in serving on the SOA Mentorship Task Force, please contact SOA President Jennifer Long Morehart at [email protected] with the following information by Monday, September 22, 2025:

  • Name
  • Contact information
  • Brief description of how you can help the Mentorship Task Force accomplish its charge (e.g. perspective, experience, network, position, etc.)

Questions? Feel free to contact Jennifer Long Morehart at [email protected].

Council Meeting Minutes from July 2, 2025

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from July 2, 2025, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

Council Meeting Minutes from April 25 and May 16, 2025

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from April 25, 2025, and the Annual Business meeting minutes from May 16, 2025, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

SOA Election Results 2025

During the recent Annual Meeting at the University of Toledo, new council members were elected.

SOA would like to welcome the following new leaders:

  • Jennifer Long Morehart, Bowling Green State University, President (2025-2026)
  • Kristen Newby, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Vice President/President-Elect (2025-2026)
  • Shelby Beatty, Sinclair Community College, re-elected Secretary (2025-2027)
  • Darrell Blevins Jr., recent Public History graduate, Wright State University, Council Member (2025-2027)
  • Michelle Ganz, Dominican Sisters of Peace, Justice, Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (JEDAI) Committee Co-Chair with voting rights (2025-2027)
  • Hannah Kemp-Severence, University of Akron Archives and Special Collections, Justice, Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (JEDAI) Committee Co-Chair with voting rights (2025-2026)

A big thanks to the Nominating Committee. Also, thank you to everyone who participated!

Officer Transitions:

  • Jennifer Long Morehart, Bowling Green State University, transitions from Vice President to President. Thanks to Jennifer for her commitment to SOA.
  • Matt Francis, Ohio Northern University, transitions from President to Past-President. Thanks to Matt for his continued leadership.
  • Melissa Dalton, Preserve It, LLC, completed her term as Past-President. Thanks to Melissa for her work on Council.
  • Kristen Newby completed her term as Council Member. Thanks to Kristen for her continued service to SOA as she moves to Vice President/President-Elect.

For more information see the Officer and Council Member roster, Committees & Task Forces page, and the Nominating Committee page.

Spring 2025 Election of Council and Officers

SOA’s 2025 elections are now open!

Voting is open from May 1 through noon on May 16, 2025. Voting has now closed. Please click here to access the ballot for the spring election. Candidate statements are included in the spring issue of the Ohio Archivist (starting on page 12) and online.

In order to verify that you are an eligible voter, we are asking that you provide the email address associated with your SOA membership. If you would like to change your email preference, please send an email to [email protected]. Please include the original email address and the one you’d like to change to.

Questions? Contact the Nominating Committee chair, Melissa Dalton.

Council Meeting Minutes from March 28, 2025

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from March 28, 2025, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.