Committees
Looking to get involved with any committees below by volunteering your time and expertise? Let us know your interests here and we'll reach out when an opportunity arises!
This committee shall be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining all SWS awards programs recognizing various categories of outstanding individual and organizational contributions that further the objectives of the Society or advance wetland science. Additionally, a subcommittee of the Awards Committee shall be responsible for developing, and updating, as needed, criteria and procedures for obtaining, evaluating, and ranking student-developed wetland research proposals and selecting the award recipients. The Committee shall have a chair and each award subcommittee shall have a chair and two additional members each, except for the student grants subcommittee, which will consist of at least seven (7) members.
2024 Members
- Amanda Nahlik, Chair
- Siobhan Fennessy, Past Chair
This committee shall be responsible for fostering the exchange of accurate information on wetland science among wetland professionals, wetland educators, and the general public. The Committee shall consist of seven (7) members, including a student, an international member, and at least one member from each main sector (private, government, and academic). Subcommittees can be established, as appropriate, to address continuing activities of the Committee. Subcommittee chairs shall be members of the Committee.
2024 Members:
- Jeff Matthews, Chair
- Amber Robinson, Webinar Subcommittee Co-Chair
- Andrea Stumpf, Webinar Subcommittee Co-Chair
- Whitney Kroschel, Member
- Greg Noe, Member
- Swapan Paul, Member
- David Riera, Member
Sub-Committees
- Consortium of Aquatic Sciences (CASS)
- Nominations
- Webinar
- Wetland Ambassadors
2024 Webinar Subcommittee Members:
- Amber Robinson, Co-Chair
- Andrea Stumpf, Co-Chair
- Louis Mantini, Co-Chair
- Darien Becker, Co-Secretary
- Katie Simon, Co-Secretary
- Liv Haney, Co-Analyst
- David McWhorter, Co-Analyst
- Jason Tucker, Certificates
- Jodie Murray Burns, Interviews
- Roy Messaros, Interviews
- Gordon Shaw, Interviews and LAC
- Sylvina Casco, LAC
- Judith Lacava, LAC
- Arturo Mora-Olivo, LAC
- Angie Quiroga Torres, LAC
- Jennifer Favela, Sponsorships
In collaboration with staff, this committee solicits and reviews initial proposals from SWS Chapters for future annual meetings. If there are no proposals, staff will take the lead on identifying potential locations and dates. The committee will present a motion to the Board of Directors for approval. The success of the annual meetings will be a joint effort among the Future Meetings Committee, Local Program Committee (sub-committee), Board of Directors and Staff. The Committee shall include six (6) members, including one (1) member from a recent meeting committee, two (2) former meeting chairs or elected board members, and three (3) additional members who have attended at least three (3) annual meetings.
2024 Members
- Yvonne Vallette, Chair
2024 Members:
- Rebecca Woodward, Chair
This Committee shall be responsible for increasing the participation of under-represented groups in both the Society and the profession of wetland science and shall take appropriate actions to attract such groups. The Committee shall be composed of at least five members.
Promoting human diversity within wetland science can provide key opportunities to broaden insights into important ecological processes by incorporating multiple perspectives and, in many cases, linking cultural histories to critical scientific investigations, restoration agendas and environmental assessments. Members of SWS benefit from the success of the Society in bridging scientists from multiple professional backgrounds into proximity through annual and chapter meetings, publications and training opportunities. Linked implicitly to this within SWS is a strategic mission to increase exposure of nontraditional students to careers in wetland science and to promote diversity within the Society's multifaceted community.
SWS student participating in ESA SEEDS leadership workshop
The Human Diversity Program provides a framework for proposing, organizing and funding new initiatives to increase diversity within wetland science by leveraging Society membership and coordinating activities associated with the Society's annual meetings. The program has sponsored symposia addressing the role of human diversity in science and keynote and invited speakers who are actively engaged in promoting diversity within their research and work programs. The program also has organized mini-workshops for students interested in science careers and is actively engaged in mentoring undergraduate students at Society annual meetings.
Funding for many of these initiatives comes directly from the National Science Foundation through competitive grants. The program has benefited greatly by linking to established diversity programs within other scientific societies. Specifically, the SWS Human Diversity Program annually sponsors two students to attend the Ecological Society of America's SEEDS leadership training. These students are chosen competitively from among our past diversity awards recipients and frequently become effective leaders in their chosen field.
The Society also supports a booth at the annual MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) conference. MANRRS provides a wonderful venue for introducing students to what wetland scientists do and encouraging them to apply to our SWS Multicultural Mentoring Program for a more directed experience.
Diversity Committee:
- Recruits, reviews and selects 10-15 applicants each year for our National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Human Diversity mentoring program
- Provides a personal connection to mentees each year that often last well beyond our annual meeting
- Selects mentees to participate in ESA’s Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability: Diverse People for a Diverse Science leadership training each year
- Participates in the annual Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences conference
Members |
|
| Kwanza Johnson (Co-chair) | IBSS/NOAA Fisheries |
| Jacoby Carter (Co-chair) | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Alani Taylor (Past Chair) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Dr. Vanessa Lougheed | University of Texas – El Paso |
| Dr. Elliott White Jr. | Stanford University |
| La Toya Kissoon-Charles | Missouri State University |
| Christina Omran | State of Florida |
2024 Members:
- Christina Omran, Chair, State of Florida
The Society of Wetland Scientists stands united in our firm commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.
The racism we have witnessed most recently in the United States is, unfortunately, not new. It is part of a lengthy history of racism in the United States and globally. We may be tempted to look away from this difficult topic but we cannot – this scourge is a reality that affects our members, the wetland community we all share, and well beyond. A safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all is the expectation, and we will continue to work until it is the norm.
We need everyone in the Society to stand at the helm. SWS programs, such as the SWS Multicultural Mentoring Program (SWaMMP), are the seeds of change needed to counteract racial injustice while also supporting a healthy and functioning planet. Protection and restoration of biodiversity in the natural world must go hand in hand with the celebration of human diversity. Inclusion is the key to success in our broader community, our science, and conservation of the beautiful - yet vulnerable world - in which we live.
SWS extends our condolences to the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and the many countless victims before them. Our arms are open to the culturally rich and diverse communities in the US and throughout the world.
We join the cries for social justice and pledge, as a Society, to be a haven, a vehicle for change, and a beacon of light against racism and social injustice…today, tomorrow, and into the future.
The Committee shall be responsible for maintaining and increasing the membership of the Society and shall take appropriate measures to attract new members. The Committee shall consist of the Secretary-General, who shall be Chairperson, and at least four other members each representing a potential or existing Regional Chapter or Section.
Members
- Kai Rains, Chair
- Cassie Schmidt, Member
- Rob McInnes, Member
- Jay Sah, Member
- Afrah Al-Mahfadi, Member
- Brian Charles, Member
- Leandra Cleveland, Past Chair/Transition Year
- Tyelyn Brigino, Student Member
This committee shall be responsible for issues related to the Society’s publications and electronic forums. The committee shall consist of three editors and four (4) additional members.
2024 Members:
- Keith Edwards, Chair
The committee shall be responsible for matters relating to the financial growth of the Society: 1) outreach and liaison between the Society and private and public organizations and individuals interested in providing financial gifts or endowments to further the educational, charitable, and scientific objectives of the Society; 2) proposing and conducting capital campaigns for the Society; and 3) evaluating and recommending investment strategies for the Society’s endowments; and 4) reviewing and providing oversight of large contracts for major services to the Society.
2024 Members:
- Lori Sutter, Co-Chair
- Jayme Jecker, Co-Chair
- Eric Stein, Member
- Andy Herb, Member
This committee shall be responsible for promoting sound public policy through the development and communication of position papers that are based upon the best available scientific information and for drafting rapid response public statements.
2024 Members:
- Max Finlayson, Chair
SWS’s Wetlands of Distinction is an initiative intended to raise public awareness of wetlands and their many benefits to human health and the environment. To meet this goal, SWS has created a one-stop-shop for information on the biology, ecology, conservation status, and public access for high-functioning wetlands. SWS is also collaborating with the U.S. National Ramsar Committee so this initiative can become a vehicle for identifying and processing future applications for U.S. Ramsar designation.
2024 Members:
- Roy Messaros, Co-Chair
- Jason Smith, Co-Chair
- Colin MacLaren, Member
- Steffanie Munguia, Member and Primary Committee Contact
- Julie Nieset, Member