The SWS Membership Committee is open to everyone: undergraduate and graduate students, practitioners and postdoctoral researchers, and faculty from high schools, colleges, and universities.
The Committee is responsible for 1) recruiting new members, 2) helping to welcome and engage newer members, and 3) serving as a liaison between the national organization and our local and regional chapters. We are always looking to support new ideas and involve members willing to collaborate, get to know each other, and have some fun creating SWS spaces that are diverse, inclusive, welcoming, and rewarding.
The Committee is chaired by the SWS Vice President and includes six elected members, including two students, each serving 2-year staggered terms. The SWS “Hand Program” is an ongoing SWS signature initiative located organizationally in the Membership Committee. The SWS “Welcome Committee” and Chapter support are also organized through Membership.
The Hand Program
Professional meetings can be intimidating for even seasoned students, practitioners, and faculty. The Hand Program can make meeting people and getting connected just a little easier. Hand mentors connect with newer members prior to a summer or winter meeting. They usually plan to get together for coffee or a meal during the meeting itself. Named after the late Jeanne Hand, a sociology Ph.D. candidate from Tulane University and active SWS member, the program serves as a signature SWS initiative connecting newer members with other SWS members, committees, and initiatives.
On a related note, the Career Development Committee hosts the SWS Mentoring Program. Different from Hand, the mentoring program pairs members across the career spectrum around specialized needs from applying to graduate school or publishing a paper to navigating shifts to administrative leadership.
The Welcome Committee
The Welcome Committee is a rotating group of volunteers who are enthusiastic and passionate about inclusivity in SWS. This committee ensures new and existing members feel welcome at meetings through a number of small activities from answering member questions to offering a seat at our table at the banquet. Additionally, this committee helps organize the opening receptions and helps coordinate organized dinners at the Winter meetings.
Local and Regional Chapter Connections
The Membership Committee provides a formal link to the National organization for local and regional chapters. A Committee member appointed to serve as our “National Liaison to Regional & Local Chapters” leads on creating and maintaining those connections through the following actions:
- Support on the formation of new chapters
- Collection and posting of up-to-date chapter contact information, reports, and activity announcements on the SWS web site and through Network News
- Bridging chapter-based membership-related activities with potential resources from the national organization
Find out more about SWS local and regional chapters through the “chapters” tab on the SWS Home Page. Chapters may submit requests for monetary support directly to the SWS Treasurer using this form. (https://sws.memberclicks.net/april12022budgetrequest#/)
2023-2024 Membership Committee
- Veronica Montes, SWS Vice President and Chair
- Miriam Abelson, Elected Term 2022-24 (Free Membership Coordination)
- Christobel Asiedu, Elected Term 2022-24 (Chapter Liaison)
- Alexis Grant-Panting, Student Caucus Liaison, 2021-24
- Anne McGlynn-Wright, Elected Term 2023-25
- Trenton Haltom, Elected Term 2023-2025
- Pedrom Nasiri, Student Caucus Liaison, 2022-25
Hand Match Coordinator and Welcome Committee Contact TBD