National Committees

Standing Committees are established on a permanent basis. These committees strategize and analyze issues within their areas of focus and make recommendations. A standing committee also monitors and evaluates the performance of the whole organization in relation to its responsibility.

A standing committee is chaired by a board member and is composed of the chairs of its corresponding subcommittees. A standing committee may have additional members, as needed and appointed.

A Subcommittee is tasked to strategize around targeted issues or campaigns that work in sync with the larger committee to which it reports. A subcommittee makes recommendations to the committee through the subcommittee chair, who is a member of the standing or general committee.

A subcommittee is chaired by a either a board member or volunteer/member and is composed of other members, volunteers, and experts, as needed and appointed.

A Working Group is focused on a specific task or project related to year-round programs, conference, campaigns and/or projects. A working group makes recommendations to the committee or subcommittee through the working group chair, who is a member of the overseeing committee or subcommittee. A working group is chaired by either a board member or volunteer/member and is composed of other members, volunteers, and experts, as needed and appointed.

A Task Force or Ad Hoc Committee is a temporary grouping of volunteers for the purpose of solving an issue and/or accomplishing a defined objective. A task force is not permanent and has a defined start and end date (e.g. 4 months). A task force, or its members, may always be reinstated if future relating objectives need to be accomplished.

An Advisory Council or Group provides strategic guidance to advance priorities, initiatives, projects, or services by bringing unique knowledge, helping gain new insights, and maximizing past and current experiences.

Take a moment to read the descriptions below and then submit interest around which committee, subcommittee, task force/ad hoc, or advisory aligns best with your skill sets, expertise, and passion. Use the Sign-Up to Serve Link above.

The Executive Committee plans the work of the board. The committee approves board meeting agendas and other guidelines for board actions. This committee also provides guidance for the organization between board meetings. When necessary, the Executive Committee assumes broader functions and makes key policy decisions and acts on behalf of the board and/or organization. The Executive Committee reports its actions to Board of Directors.

The Executive Committee is composed of the board officers, as specified by the bylaws. Members of the executive committee are limited to the President, Immediate Past President, President-Elect, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Members:

Healani Chang, Board President - Chair

Patricia Silveyra, President-Elect - Co-Chair

Romie Morales, Treasurer

Giovanna Guerrero-Medina, Secretary 

Juan Amador, Executive Director - Staff Liaison

The Governance Committee oversees the identification, recruitment, orientation, training, and retention of board members. The committee oversees and evaluates general board governance. This committee looks for opportunities to strengthen and evolve the board’s effectiveness, build capacity, diversify composition, and enhance the ability to lead the organization into the future.

Members:

Healani Chang, Board President - Chair

Patricia Silveyra, President-Elect - Co-Chair

Joe Bull, NAIAC Chair  

Casey Dorr, NAIAC Co-Chair 

Giovanna Guerrero-Medina, Secretary 

Charla Lambert, Strategic Planning Task Force Chair, Nominations Subcommittee Chair 

Juan Amador, Executive Director - Staff Liaison

The Board Nominations Subcommittee is composed of past SACNAS board members, founders, and/or elders. This subcommittee is charged with identifying and recruiting the next class of top-tier STEM leaders to serve on the board of directors. This subcommittee is charge with the develop of the slate of candidates and presentation to the board of directors for review and approval.

Members:

Charla Lambert, Past-President - Chair

Adan Colon-Carmona

Jani Ingram

Allyn Kauffman

Fabio Milner

Ingrid Montes

Ana Vergara

Maria Elena Zavala

Healani Chang, President - Ex-Officio Member

Juan Amador, Executive Director - Ex-Officio Member

The Finance Committee is led by the board treasurer to oversee the budget process, monitor and report on the financial status and activities of the agency, ensure the financial policies and practices are followed, and oversee investments.

Members:

Romie Morales, Board Treasurer - Chair

Monica Basco

Joe Bull

Ben Clarke

Stephen Jett

Lydia Villa-Komaroff

Efrain Rodriguez

Patricia Silveyra, President-Elect

Nicole Trager

Healani Chang, President - Ex-Officio Member

Juan Amador, Executive Director - Ex-Officio Member

The Audit Committee provides accountability for the organization’s independent audit. The committee is not involved in the nonprofit’s daily accounting functions, but instead oversees the independent audit process which often entails hiring and evaluating the independent auditor(s). Where applicable, the audit committee may also be accountable to make sure that recommendations made by the auditor (e.g. statements that appear in the auditor’s letter to management) are implemented.

Members:

Sean Scott, Chair

Ronald Hunter

Charla Lambert

Romie Morales

Estevan Santana

Healani Chang, President - Ex-Officio Member

Juan Amador, Executive Director - Ex-Officio Member

The External Relations Committee provides expertise and insight, around fundraising, marketing, communication, branding, and government relations to staff. The committee takes an active lead on raising funds, amplifying our national voice/branding, and evaluating legislation and policy (internal and external) all in relation to the organization’s mission, goals, and strategic plan.

Members:

Efrain Rodriguez - Chair

Charla Lambert - Co-Chair

Ruben Michael Ceballos

Pamela Padilla

Estevan Santana

Juan Amador, Executive Director - Ex-Officio Member

Grants Working Group

The Grants Working Group of the External Relations Committee plays a strategic and hands-on role in advancing the organization’s mission by securing external funding through grants. Working closely with staff and Board leadership, the group helps identify grant opportunities from both federal agencies and private foundations and supports the application processes. In partnership with staff liaisons, group members actively participate in grant research, proposal development, and the collection of necessary data and documentation. In addition to supporting application processes, the working group plays a key role in cultivating and stewarding relationships with current and prospective funding agencies. This may include outreach, ongoing communication, and representing SACNAS at meetings or events. The working group also advises on SACNAS’s grant-seeking strategy and ensures alignment with the SACNAS strategic plan, programmatic priorities, and organizational capacity.

Members: 

Ruben Ceballos - Chair

Adan Colon-Carmona

Steve Greenbaum 

Cesar Nufio 

Sean Scott

Mike Sesma

Rosa Leon Zayas

Giving Working Group

The Giving Working Group of the External Relations Committee plays a strategic and hands-on role in advancing the organization’s fundraising goals and long-term financial sustainability. Working closely with staff and Board leadership, the group helps nurture a culture of philanthropy among the SACNAS membership that aligns with the SACNAS mission. Group members contribute to annual fundraising efforts such as Giving Tuesday, End-of-Year Giving, and program-specific campaigns for travel scholarships and leadership development. The group provides input on messaging and communication materials that highlight the importance of investing in SACNAS programs and members, and it assists with fundraising elements of programs, webinars, and events—including the national conference—by supporting donor engagement and visibility opportunities. In collaboration with other External Relations working groups, the Giving Working Group also offer ideas to support the cultivation and stewardship of individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations.

Members:  

Efrain Rodriguez - Co-Chair

Pamela Padilla - Co-Chair

Alicia Carranza

Ron Hunter

Vanessa Rosa

Aaron Velasco

Industry Partnerships Working Group

The Industry Partnerships Working Group of the External Relations Committee plays a strategic and hands-on role in suggesting, cultivating, and maintaining partnerships with industry organizations that align with the SACNAS mission. The group advises the Board of Directors and staff members on programmatic elements such as conference partnerships, conference exhibitors, CareerCon, and professional SACNAS chapters that may increase engagement. The working group also periodically reviews the SACNAS Diversity and Business statements and recommends updates to ensure the values and goals of partners and vendors continue to align with those of SACNAS.

 Members:  

Estevan Santana - Chair

Stephen Jett

Catherine Velazquez

Ana Vergara

Deborah Williams

The Programs Committee is composed of STEM leader across all sectors. The committee provides expertise around cultural competency, and program development, provides insight on cross-sector programming, and takes an active lead in helping cultivate and steward relationships with programmatic partners.

Members:

Giovanna Guerrero-Medina, Secretary - Chair

Dena Smith-Nufio

Ingrid Montes

Lorissa Saiz

Desire Whitmore

Jose Zepeda

The Chapters Subcommittee provides strategy, advice, and support to staff around year around chapter programs, including but not limited to chapter applications, chapter reviews, awards, and best practices/trainings, and chapter activities at the annual conference. This subcommittee will make recommendations to staff on which chapter applications should be approved for provisional status (first year). This subcommittee will make recommendations to the Board of Directors through the Programs Committee Chair on chapter applications that the board should consider for full approval.

Members:

Lorissa Saiz- Chair

Jose Zepeda - Co-Chair

Brenda Andrade

Jose Cabrera

Jason Doles

Shannon Manuelito

Erik Menke

F. Leah Nez

Elizabeth Padilla-Crespo

Tanner Veo

Alberto Vasquez

Catherine Velazquez

The DNA Subcommittee provides strategy, advice, and support year-round regarding the organization's accessibility before and after the conference, webinars discussing topics of disability and access, awards, resources, and activities/sessions at the annual conference.

Members:
Shaimar Gonzalez Morales - Chair

Ana Caicedo

Jorge A. Cantú   

Ian Castro

Healani Chang, President

Luisa Hernandez    

Kermin Martinez-Hernandez 

Alyssa Paparella

The Conference Subcommittee of the Programs Committee provides strategy, advice, and support to staff around the development of the annual conference. Its work is organized into four working groups.

Members:

Ingrid Montes - Chair

Casey Dorr

Kermin Martínez-Hernández

Elda Rueda

Conference Program Working Group

The conference Program working group of the Conference Subcommittee provides strategy, advice, and support to staff around the conference program including but not limited to the conference agenda, recruitment and vetting of high-level speakers, symposia, and professional development breakout sessions.

Members:

Kermin Martínez-Hernández, Co-Chair

Ingrid Montes, Co-Chair

Jennifer Aleman

German Barcenas

Luis Javier Gomez

Joshua Richard Govada

Angelica Noel Lozano

Audeliz (Audi) Matias

Yowelunh McLester-Davis

Romie Morales

Greg Morrison

Mehak Raina

Edgardo Sanabria-Valentin

Student Presentations Working Group

The Student Presentations working group of the Conference Subcommittee provides strategy, advice, and support to staff around on the student presentations program (graduate and undergraduate). It outreaches and ascertains potential reviewers for student presentation abstracts and potential judges for evaluating student presentations, and it also advises on the rubric and criteria for scoring student presentations.

Members: 

Elda Rueda - Chair

Shaimar Gonzalez

Alfredo Picado

Jorge Ramos

Jennifer Valdivia Espino

Felice Yarbough

Distinguished Awards Working Group

The Distinguished Awards working group of the Conference Subcommittee provides advice and counsel on the scope, requirements, and rubric for selecting SACNAS Distinguished Awardees. It outreaches to the community to obtain nominations in each award category and uses their expertise as scientists, STEM leaders, and SACNAS members to review and score nomination packages.

Members: 

Casey Dorr - Co-Chair

Shannon Manuelito - Co-Chair

Ralph Gomez

Steve Greenbaum

Charla Lambert, Past-President

Kelly Rose

Sam Silva

Community College Day Working Group

Members: 

Shannon Manuelito - Co-Chair

 Beto Vasquez - Co-Chair

Nicole Trager

The Leadership Initiatives Subcommittee provides advice and support to staff around the current leadership initiatives (Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute, Executive Leadership Institute, Chapter Leadership Institute (Chapter Officers Leadership Academy)), and the development of future leadership initiatives. This subcommittee also outreaches to the community for applications to participate in the institutes: uses their expertise as scientists/STEM professionals and SACNAS community members to review and score application packages; and as required, suggests speakers, mentors and other individuals to assist in the execution of the leadership initiatives.

Members: 

Desire Whitmore - Chair

Jason Doles

Giovanna Guerrero-Medina

Yowelunh McLester-Davis, NAIAC Representative  

Stephen Jett

Dena Smith-Nufio

The Native American/Indigenous Affairs Committee provides strategy, advice, and support to staff around the creation of programs and initiatives specifically for native and indigenous populations (e.g. Native American, Native Alaskan, Native Pacific Islanders) and native programming. Additionally, this committee serves in an advisory capacity to SACNAS around cultural competency and relevance in regard to native communities. This committee also outreaches to help cultivate new relationships with native communities, native owned businesses, Tribal colleges, etc. to develop new partnerships and revenue.

Members: 

Joseph Bull - Chair 

Casey Dorr - Co-Chair

Shannon Manuelito - Co-Chair

Lee Bitsoi

Agnes Attakai

Kristen Barnett

Benjamin Clarke

Yowelunh McLester Davis

Jani Ingram

Maeghan Murie-Mazariegos

Angelina Romines

Lorissa Saiz

Judith Simcox

Corey Welch

The Membership Committee provides strategy, advice, and support to staff around aspects of membership, including new member acquisition, existing member retention, and education. This committee is charged with helping SACNAS grow its membership based. This committee also evaluates membership benefits and any potential changes to the membership model to make official recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Members:

Ronald Hunter - Chair

Mario Bañuleos

Helen Urpi Wagner Coello

Carlos Escalante

Lelemia Irvine

Lymarie Maldonado

Maeghan Murie-Mazariegos

Stephanie Pazos

Nicole Trager

The Council of Senior Advisors is a select group of SACNAS founders, elders, past presidents, and leaders that provide strategy, counsel, and advice to the board of directors and executive director based on their history and institutional knowledge.

Members:

Healani Chang, President - Co-Chair

Charla Lambert, Past President - Co-Chair

Lino Gonzalez

Marigold Linton

Gabriel Montano

Pamela Padilla

Clif Poodry

Aaron Velasco

Lydia Villa-Komaroff

Maggie Werner-Washburne

Sonia Zarate

Maria Elena Zavala

Juan Amador, Executive Director

The Conference Advisory Group is a group of SACNAS members who are local to the conference site who provide advice and guidance to the SACNAS staff in relation to planning the conference in that area. The CAG can connect SACNAS with potential partners, the city, local leaders and cultural groups, as well as provide cultural advice.

Chair – SACNAS Staff

Co-chair – Local Leader or Volunteer