Announcement from the ASNJ President/Seeking Nominations for Executive Board January 2025

Dear Members,

It was wonderful to see some of you at our October meeting on Saturday.  Thanks to Nicole for organizing another great meeting with excellent speakers.

I want to call your attention to January at which time we will have elections for several open board positions.  If you are interested in any of the following positions please send a short bio and be sure to indicate which position you are interested in running for.   If you would like to nominate somebody, please reach out to them and encourage them to submit a bio, also indicating which position they are seeking.

Two member-at-large positions are up for election in the normal election cycle for 2025.  These are three year positions.

One additional member-at-large position is being vacated in January (due to the arrival of a new family member...yay!) That position will be for one "interim" year and then in 2026 up for election again, back on the three year cycle.

President. Initially this will be a one year "interim" for the remainder of the term and then in 2026 up for election back on the two year cycle.

January marks two years since I took over as president and it has been a great honor to take the helm of this amazing society.  The board is incredible to work with and that really makes the job enjoyable.  However, with two young girls (4 and 1.5) I'm stepping back from a few commitments in order to make sure I have lots of time to watch them grow, which seems to be happening hourly.  

I will be around to help guide the next president just as the past presidents were for me.   This really is a true team driven board! 

Please send in bios by  mid-November  so we can be sure to get the word out for the January election.  

There will be a follow up email this week on an electronic vote on the edits to the bylaws that were shared with you several weeks ago.  

Have a great week!

Best,
George

George M. Leader, Ph.D.
ASNJ President

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Executive Board Nomination Info

Voting is limited to current members for the 2024-25 calendar year and one vote per person. Family, institutional and organization membership types are limited to one vote per membership. Nominees will be listed in the January Newsletter, on the Society's website, and via the Society's google groups email list. Bios will be featured on our website. 

All candidates must be current members for the election year (i.e., 2024-25), and must keep their membership current for the duration of their elected position. Individuals can self-nominate or nominate someone of their choosing, but the nominated person must approve of their nomination in writing to the Nominating Committee.  

All self-nominating individuals or those nominated by others must provide a brief bio to the Nominating Committee via email at asofnj@gmail.com by mid-November 2024. The bio should include name, email, phone number, affiliation, and the qualities/skills you bring to the board position for which you are seeking election.  Each position on the ballot will also have a spot for a write-in candidate.

Once all of the nominations and bios have been received, they will be shared with the membership prior to the meeting.

Here are the Nominees for Executive Board in the January 2024 Election

Dear Society Members,

The nominees for the 2024 Executive Board Election are in!

Please take a look at the list of nominees here on our website in preparation for the election at our January 2024 meeting on Saturday, January 20th, 2024 at Monmouth Battlefield State Park. See you there!

Voting is limited to current members for the 2023-24 calendar year and one vote per person. Family, institutional and organization membership types are limited to one vote per membership. Nominees will be listed in the January Newsletter, on the Society's website, and via the Society's google groups email list.

Seeking Nominations for Executive Board in January 2024 Election

Dear Society Members,

We are holding a call for nominations for all ASNJ Executive Board officer positions (2-year term) and two (2) member-at-large positions (3-year term).  The vote will take place at the January meeting.

 Voting is limited to current members for the 2023-24 calendar year and one vote per person. Family, institutional and organization membership types are limited to one vote per membership. Nominees will be listed in the January Newsletter, on the Society's website, and via the Society's google groups email list. Bios will be featured on our website. 

All candidates must be current members for the election year (i.e., 2023-24), and must keep their membership current for the duration of their elected position. Individuals can self-nominate or nominate someone of their choosing, but the nominated person must approve of their nomination in writing to the Nominating Committee.  

All self-nominating individuals or those nominated by others must provide a brief bio to the Nominating Committee via email at asofnj@gmail.com by December 5, 2023. The bio should include name, email, phone number, affiliation, and the qualities/skills you bring to the board position for which you are seeking election.  Each position on the ballot will also have a spot for a write-in candidate.

Once I have received all the nominations and bios, they will be shared with the membership prior to the meeting. 

Positions for nomination include:

President

1st VP (Education)

2nd VP (Programs)

3rd VP (Membership)

Treasurer

Assistant Treasurer

Recording Secretary

Newsletter Editor/Corresponding Secretary

Bulletin Content Editor

Associate Editor

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

 (Four Member-at-Large positions do not vacate during this election cycle.)

Sincerely, 

George Leader

ASNJ President

Call for New ASNJ Student Committee Members!

The Archaeological Society of New Jersey is seeking three individuals interesting in serving on our newly formed Student and Young Professional Committee.

 These positions aim to attract undergraduate students that can bring their perspectives and ideas to the ASNJ executive board. Their responsibilities would include liaising with university programs and performing outreach to other students with the ultimate goal of giving them a voice in the larger archaeological community. There is a growing discussion about how university programs can sufficiently prepare students for careers in archaeology and how the professional community can help guide students as they try to establish themselves as young professionals. These committee positions will give students a voice in the ASNJ, help them to address problems that students face, and help young professionals network within the archaeological community. Three students will be selected prior to the May meeting (5/20 at Stockton University) where they will be introduced. The positions will initially be non-voting committee positions, but during our January 2024 meeting, the entire membership will vote whether to make these positions permanent, voting, student members of the ASNJ executive board. Students should be able to commit to attending the May 20th meeting and regularly attending the quarterly meeting of the ASNJ.  The term for these positions will be 2 years. 

Interested undergraduate students over the age of 18 should apply through email (asofnj@gmail.com) to Richard Adamczyk (ASNJ VP for Membership) and George Leader (ASNJ President) and include: 

1. Name, Institution, Year, Age, and Major
2. Short Biography highlighting background and interests in archaeology or history (1-2 paragraphs). 

Selections will be made by mid-May and applicants will be notified by email. 

Thank you for your interest! 

Sincerely,
Richard Adamczyk
ASNJ Membership Chair,
Chairman of the Student and Young Professionals Committee

ASNJ January 2023 Election Results

Dear members,

We had a great turnout for the January meeting and four fantastic presentations. Based on the votes cast, George Leader, Ph.D. is the society's newest President and will serve out Kristen Hohn's remaining year. The newest Members at Large are Michelle Davenport and Jonathan Dernbach. 

We are all looking forward to working with the new board members and are currently planning several events for the 2023 and 2024 calendar years.

Thanks for all of our members' support!

Candidates For January 2023 Executive Board Election

Dear ASNJ Members,

Our President, Kristen Hohn, has announced that she and her family are expecting their second child this March and has made the decision to step down from the remainder of her term. At the January 2023 meeting we will hold an election for the remainder of the President’s unexpired term, which runs through January 2024.

In addition to this position, two Member-At-Large seats on the board are also up for reelection.

Take a look at the candidates who are running for these positions and those of you who are members, please remember to join us at the January 2023 Quarterly meeting on the 21st to cast your votes!

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Candidate for President (Remainder of 2022-2024 term)

(Vote for 1)

George Leader

I was very humbled when I was asked if I would stand for ASNJ President. I have great respect for the impressive members and the strong and lasting contribution to archaeology in New Jersey that The Society has provided over the past 92 years.  

I have been teaching archaeology and anthropology at The College of New Jersey for the last 10 years.  During this time, I have been intimately involved in the development of our new anthropology major, began and grew a new Anthropology Society, created long-term archaeological opportunities for students, supervised dozens of archaeological research and theses projects, and worked to engage the public in our on-going projects.  I’m very proud that our department is now consistently producing students who are carrying on to CRM careers and graduate school for archaeology and anthropology. 

I have held a number of leadership positions at TCNJ including chairing the school-wide Learning Outcome and Assessment Committee as part of the accreditation process. I also chair a committee that has recently been turned into a special task force called the “Land and Legacy Committee”.  Our goal is to further research the history of the land on which TCNJ now sits.  I sit on our department’s curriculum committee, advise majors, and advise two student organizations. 

As many of you know, my research falls into two vastly different areas chronologically and spatially.  For 15 years I’ve been working in southern Africa in the Earlier Stone Age where I research hominid cultural transmission via lithic technology.  My current project is in Namibia’s Namib Desert where we attempting to understand hominin occupation of this hyper-arid landscape. 

Closer to home, I’ve been working on a number of historic sites in New Jersey and Philadelphia.  One is the William Green Plantation on the campus of TCNJ. This has been a long-term project investigating the site’s role as a Revolutionary War billet and the lives of the indentured and enslaved persons at the house.  I have also been working on the historic burial ground of the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia and the Locust Hill African American Cemetery in Trenton.  I received my BA in Anthropology from Gettysburg College and my MSc and Ph.D. from University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.   

As President of the Society, I hope to work closely with the board to ensure the continued health and steady growth of the Society.  One priority I feel strongly about, is a discussion about the creation of an annual conference.  I would propose turning one of the quarterly meetings into a larger weekend conference providing the opportunity for archaeologists and archaeology students from across the state to present papers and posters in a professional context.  An annual conference has been standard practice in many state archaeological societies for years and offers significant benefits.  It provides an opportunity for members to gather, discuss research, exchange ideas, network, and spend time getting to know one another without feeling like they need to rush off after a shorter Saturday meeting.  The activities, happy hours, dinners, and conversation after a day of papers and posters develops a sense of community and belonging.  I believe that with careful planning an annual meeting can increase funds, donations, and membership.  In addition, a conference can bring more research to The Society which could boost submissions to The Bulletin. 

I have been a member of ASNJ for 7 years and have greatly enjoyed meeting all the members. As President, I hope the experienced board members will help me transition into the role.  I promise an open and equal table for everyone’s ideas to be discussed, and to approach the future with The Society’s Mission always in mind. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

-George

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Candidates for Member-At-Large (2023-2026) (Vote for 2)

Michelle Davenport

I am a Senior Archaeologist with Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc, and have worked as an archaeologist across the country since 2011. I have been a member of the ASNJ since 2019 and was elected to sit on the ASNJ executive board as a Member-at-Large in 2020. I am running for a Member-at-Large position for the 2023-2026 term. Serving the ASNJ as a Member-at-Large is deeply rewarding, and I would be honored to be re-elected to the position. During my time on the ASNJ executive board, the society navigated the Covid-19 pandemic and used it as a way to implement some new ideas. We went virtual with our very successful lecture series and were able to continued volunteer digs and outreach. We are continuing to make efforts to increase the accessibility of our meetings and volunteer events to community members and working to bring in new community partners to work with, such as the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, with which we had two successful volunteer events in 2020 and 2021. If re-elected to the position of Member-at-Large, I look forward to continuing to work with the ASNJ board and the society as a whole as we re-emerge from the pandemic and explore new ways of reaching a wider audience of history-seekers and archaeology enthusiasts.

Jonathan Dernbach

Hello everyone, I’m excited to throw in my name for one of the Member-at-Large positions for 2023. I’ve been a member of the ASNJ for two years now, and have worked as an archaeologist in New Jersey for the past three years. Currently, I’m a supervisory field archaeologist at Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc. and an assistant curator at the Alan E. Carman Museum of Prehistory in Cumberland County. Having experience with both the public-facing and not-so public facing sides of the discipline, the need for community outreach and engagement is something I am very keen on. 

I recently had the opportunity to help out with the public dig at the Piscatawaytown Burial Ground in Edison and greatly enjoyed interacting with the society members and local community there. In running for a Member-at-Large position, I would like to continue to assist the ASNJ and further contribute as both a member and a professional in the field.

Joel Dworsky

Joel Dworsky is a professional archaeologist residing in Burlington, NJ, where he has lived since 2013. He grew up in Lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he first became interested in history and archaeology, visiting and learning about sites and events throughout the Delaware River Valley. He channeled this interest in history and archaeology into academic study, completing his undergraduate work in anthropology at Millersville University in Pennsylvania (2005) and obtaining his master’s at the College of William and Mary (2010). Today he works as a principal investigator at AECOM, a cultural resources management firm in Burlington, NJ. Mr. Dworsky has excavated sites throughout New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Caribbean, and Bermuda but has done much of his work in NJ and PA in the greater Philadelphia region. He has directed excavations on various kinds of sites—from pre-contact to industrial. Mr. Dworsky also has extensive experience as a GIS specialist and database manager, wherein he conducts a variety of spatial analyses (including predictive modeling, cut/fill, landscape reconstruction, as-built road analysis, and GIS palimpsest analysis) as well as building and managing databases of historical, archaeological and artifact data. Mr. Dworsky’s research interests are varied but share a common theme of trying to holistically understand the interconnectivity among sites. This holistic mental framework is partially due to his passion for sites related to the Atlantic World and its varied trade networks. Mr. Dworsky has been a member of ASNJ for several years and looks forward to bringing his experience and perspective to bear on getting more involved with ASNJ’s community and projects.

Please remember to join us at the January 2023 Quarterly meeting on the 21st to cast your votes!

Seeking Nominations for Executive Board in January 2023 Election

Dear ASNJ Members,

Our President, Kristen Hohn, has announced that she and her family are expecting their second child this March and has made the decision to step down from the remainder of her term. At the January 2023 meeting we will hold an election for the remainder of the President’s unexpired term, which runs through January 2024.

In addition to this position, two Member-At-Large seats on the board are also up for reelection. The ASNJ is seeking nominations for these three roles and ask any interested individuals to please submit a short bio by December 15th, 2022. These bios will be posted on our website, available to general membership to review at their leisure in advance of the election on January 21st, 2023.

Bios and nominations can be submitted to asofnj@gmail.com through December 15th.

Any active member interested in taking a more active role in the organization is encouraged to apply!

Executive Board Election 2022: Vote for the Candidates for the ASNJ Executive Board (2022-2024)

Vote for the Candidates for the ASNJ Executive Board (2022-2024)! Take a look at the candidates who are running for board positions and fill out the ballot online here. Voting online will be open until January 15, 2022.

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Executive Board Election: Vote for the Candidates for Member-At-Large (2021-2024)

Vote for the Candidates for Member-At-Large (2020-2022)! Take a look at the candidates who are running for the position (vote for 2) and those of you who are members, please keep an eye out for an email about submitting your votes online in January 2021.

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Candidates for Member-At-Large (2021-2024) (Vote for 2)

Jack Cresson

I have been an Active and Family member since 1968. I have been involved in collaborative, self-driven and CRM archaeological research in New Jersey since 1965, have served as the Chair of the ASNJ Research Grants Committee since its inception (1977), and have been a member of the Executive Board for nearly as long. I have always tried to support the ASNJ in any way I could.

Danielle Cathcart

I have over a decade of archaeological experience in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, working for academic and non-profit institutions, as well as in cultural resource management since 2010. As a former and active member of several professional organizations, I have participated in panel discussions, presented original research, and served as a steering committee chair for the CNEA. My interests and areas of expertise include material culture analysis and collections management. I am eager to share my ideas for expanding ASNJ’s public outreach efforts and advocate for use and preservation of archaeological collections in New Jersey. Thank you for your consideration.

Lauren Lembo

I have been involved in New Jersey archaeology since 2008 as a professional archaeologist in cultural resource management, a member of the ASNJ, and volunteer for preservation-focused projects and public lectures. I received an MA in Education from Central Michigan University, an MA in Anthropology from Monmouth University, and a Certificate in Global Social Archaeology from Kyushu University in Japan. I served as the 2nd Vice President (Membership) for the ASNJ between 2016 and 2019, and hope to once again be involved with assisting Board operations and facilitating community engagement with local history and archaeology. As a member of the ASNJ and a Member-at-Large, I look forward to promoting diverse perspectives and inclusive educational opportunities, and developing new relationships with communities and organizations. I currently serve as a programs coordinator for the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a grassroots herbalist, and am a Registered Professional Archaeologist.

As a reminder, those of you who are members, please keep an eye out for an email about submitting your votes online in January 2021.

Executive Board Election: Vote for the Candidates for the ASNJ Executive Board (2020-2022)

Vote for the Candidates for the ASNJ Executive Board (2020-2022). Take a look at the candidates who are running for board positions, download the ballot and please hand deliver it at the January 18th, 2020 meeting.

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Candidates for the ASNJ Executive Board (2020-2022)

Candidate for President

Michael Gall

I am running for President of the ASNJ. I have been a member of the society since 1998 and an ASNJ board member since 2008, having served as Member-At-Large, Treasurer, Membership (2nd Vice President), and President. I have worked tirelessly to promote the society; developed relationships with historical societies, universities and County Cultural Commissions; helped modernize our web presence with other board members; and have directed several public archaeology opportunities through the Society for our members. As President, I will continue to serve and promote the Society’s interests.

Candidate for 1st Vice President (Education)

David Mudge

I have worked hard to advance the cause of archaeology in the state and region, both in my job and in my off hours. From the production of documentaries, to the development of teaching guides and exhibits, I have striven to bring the past to life for the public edification. As part of my efforts, I have reached out to various representatives of the Native America community many times, in order to give them a stronger voice in their history. As I read various news items and comments, I am convinced that we still need to work hard at informing the public on the value of archaeology, and helping the public to make informed decisions regarding preservation options.

Candidate for 2nd Vice President (Membership)

Richard Adamczyk

I am running for the 2nd Vice President, Membership position. I am currently performing the duties of this position and have been for the past year. I hope to continue managing the society's membership list and enact new initiatives to help increase our numbers. I want to work with the Social Media Coordinator to improve our online presence and encourage new members to join. I would also like to work with the Vice President of Education to reach out to high schools and universities, attracting the next generation of archaeologists to the society.

Candidate for 3rd Vice President (Programs)

Kristen Hohn

Kristen Hohn is a Historic Archaeologist and Preservation Specialist working for the Monmouth County Park System, with 10 years of experience in the Middle Atlantic Region. Her research interests include 18th-century textile production and the economic development of New Jersey in the early American nation. The position of Program Chair falls within her existing skills set, as a past board member, and later president, of a collegiate non-profit philanthropic organization. Comfortable negotiating program spaces and with professional networking, Ms. Hohn hopes to use her existing connections with historic organizations throughout the state in the scheduling of future meetings and society events.

Candidates for Treasurer (Vote for 1)

Jesse Walker

I have served on the ASNJ executive board since 2016 as the newsletter editor and am a Senior Archaeologist working in the cultural resources management department at AECOM in Burlington, NJ. I specialize in Native American archaeology and conducted archaeological investigations in New Jersey over the last 17 years. I have also co-authored an article in the ASNJ Bulletin on the Hoffman site (28Gl228) based on analysis collaboration with Guy DiGiugno. As Treasurer, I will continue to manage the organization’s bank accounts and finances.

Danielle Cathcart

I have over a decade of archaeological experience in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, working for academic and non-profit institutions, as well as in cultural resource management since 2010. As a former and active member of several professional organizations, I have participated in panel discussions, presented original research, and served as a steering committee chair for the CNEA. I am detail-oriented and place great emphasis on accuracy and efficiency in my work as a material culture analyst and collections manager. Thank you for your consideration.

Candidate for Recording Secretary

Matthew Del Guercio

I am a graduate student of anthropology at Monmouth University and a field technician for Richard Grubb and Associates, NJ. I also work as the site manager of a local historic site, the Parker Farmstead in Little Silver, NJ. I have a strong interest in the historical archaeology of New Jersey. As a hardworking and organized individual, I hope to be an asset to the ASNJ while serving as recording secretary.

Candidates for Social Media Manager (Vote for 1)

Sabrina Madjeski

Hi all! I'm Sabrina and I'm the current social media person for ASNJ! I'm constantly on social media and I enjoy taking photos and posting them on social media (I mean just take a look at my personal social media haha!) I also share, etc. photos that others either post on social media and/or send to me. I do spread the word as to what's going on in the history and archaeology field.

Alexis Alemy

I am seeking the position of Social Media Manager. I have experience managing institutional social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram and have many ideas that I would like to implement for the ASNJ including daily posting related to both the specific activities of the ASNJ and to archaeology in New Jersey as whole. My mission is to increase public engagement with the ASNJ social media pages in an effort to raise awareness of the organization, archaeology, and the value of history and historical research by posting content consistently and maintaining an active social media environment, informed by the collective work of members of the ASNJ and archaeologists in New Jersey.

Candidate for Newsletter Editor

Joshua Butchko

Greetings all! For those who don’t know me, I’ve been employed at Hunter Research, Inc. since 2003, where I currently serve as Principal Investigator, Laboratory Director and Company Safety Officer. I specialize in historic material culture and have a knack for executing effective monitoring programs, but my experience is well rounded. Lately, I’ve been especially keen on public archaeology programming and exhibit development. My interest in the Newsletter Editor position is in part borne from my interest in returning to my past life as a student newspaper editor, but also because I think it’s the right opportunity to get more involved with ASNJ. There are several issues in CRM and the field of archaeology at large which I’d hope to acknowledge where possible via the newsletter. These include accessibility, diversity and public outreach. If selected, I look forward to working with the board to provide our very best to membership and other readers.

Candidate for Bulletin Editor

Richard Veit, Ph.D.

I have been a member of the ASNJ for over twenty years. During this time, I have served as a Member-at-Large (1993-1998), Treasurer (1998-2004), First Vice President (2004-2007), President (2007-2011) and Third Vice President—Programs (2012-2013). Since 2016, I have served as Bulletin Editor. I am also a Fellow of the Archaeological Society of New Jersey and a Registered Professional Archaeologist. My BA in Anthropology is from Drew University, my MA is from the College of William and Mary and in 1997 I completed my Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, I am a Professor of Anthropology and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University. I teach courses on archaeology, cultural anthropology, historical archaeology, historic preservation, and New Jersey history. Prior to coming to Monmouth, I worked in cultural resource management for CRCG, Louis Berger and Associates, and Gannett Fleming. I still do occasional consulting on historic cemeteries and tree-ring dating. My research interests include the archaeology of colonial New Jersey and early American material culture. As Bulletin Editor, I look forward to supporting the ASNJ by publishing the best current research on New Jersey archaeology.

Candidate for Webmaster

Evan Mydlowski

I am currently on the ASNJ Executive Board as the Webmaster (1 year) and would like to be re-elected into this position to continue to help make the ASNJ web presence flourish and grow. I have been designing and maintaining websites for 7 years, and I have most recently designed the new website for the ASNJ. My experience includes maintaining the online version of Monmouth University’s Newspaper, The Outlook, for 4 years, as well as, help design their present website to showcase their content. I believe that the latest version of the ASNJ website can only get better from here on out and I would like to be the person to continue to oversee and improve the process of adhering to the flow of visitors of the website and evolving trends within the online community. I am excited to implement new ideas for the ASNJ and the website if I am chosen to continue in my position.

Candidates for Member-At-Large (Vote for 2)

Michelle Davenport

I am running for a seat on the Board for the Archaeological Society of New Jersey as a Member-at-Large. During graduate school, I served as Vice President of the anthropology department’s Graduate Student Association, where I realized just how important it is for an organization to receive input from all of its members. The ASNJ is able to serve the New Jersey community because of its active membership, comprised of members originating in a wide variety of academic and professional disciplines, and I look forward to continuing to facilitate effective communication between members and the board. Through the ASNJ, I am constantly learning about the history and prehistory of New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic, which is a relatively new area for me. As a member of the ASNJ and a Member-at-Large, I look forward to not only continuing to learn from all of you, but also hope to bring a wider archaeological and historical perspective to local research questions as a result of my own experience.

Matthew Tomaso

Born and raised in Warren Township, New Jersey, I worked and studied in Maine and Texas in the late 1980s and early 1990s, returning to the garden state to teach a field school and classroom courses in archaeology and earth science at Montclair State University in the mid-1990s. I have also worked in Cultural Resource Management since 1987 and have served on the ASNJ’s and a few other organizations’ executive boards almost continuously since 1997. My interests in archaeology are very diverse, but, having done my graduate work under the late Karl W. Butzer, I tend to emphasize an understanding of environmental contexts, formation processes and evidence-based approaches to cultural phenomena. I would like to serve, again as Member-At-Large. I believe that my depth of experience both inside of and outside of New Jersey, my strong interdisciplinary academic and regulatory background and my employment with a broadly interdisciplinary consulting firm allow me to offer a somewhat unique perspective on the Society’s concerns, initiatives and future.

Download the ballot and please hand deliver it at the January 18th, 2020 meeting.