LEADERSHIP

Click here to view a listing of past SVP Presidents. Note that terms begin and end at the Annual Meeting of the year indicated above. 

COMMITTEES

SVP members are encouraged to indicate their interest in serving on SVP committees by clicking here. Please be sure to include the names of the committees that interest you.

The Executive Committee (ExCom) is the governing body of the society.

Society Operations

Collections and Repository Committee
Chair: Joshua Lively
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Taissa Rodrigues)

Development Committee
Chairs: Jonathan Bloch; Julie Meachen
(ExCom Liaison: Vice President, Stuart Sumida)

The Development Committee evaluates existing development programs, initiates new development goals, identifies new revenue sources for SVP and implements the fundraising plan for each year.

Diversity Committee
Chairs: Krista Koeller; Jack Tseng 
(ExCom Liaison: Vice President, Stuart Sumida)

The Diversity Committee is charged with fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for our diverse membership.

Ethics Committee
Chair: Stuart Sumida

The Ethics Committee focuses on administering the SVP Code of Conduct by raising awareness of this Code, providing a place for reporting violations of the Code, and by reviewing reported violations and making recommendations based on that review to the Executive Committee. The goal of the committee is to promote SVP’s position on the protection of fossil resources, and to protect members, as well as people participating in our events, from harassment, disrespect, discrimination, and unethical treatmen

Government Affairs Committee
Chair: Kenshu Shimada
(ExCom Liaison: Vice President, Stuart Sumida)

The Government Affairs Committee promotes and responds to government-related issues that affect vertebrate paleontology, including research and education as well as preservation and protection of paleontological resources. This committee also fosters professional relationships with other scientific organizations that share SVP’s legislative goals.

Membership Committee
Chairs: Eric Dewar; Karen Poole
(ExCom Liaison: Secretary, Samantha Hopkins)

The Membership Committee reviews and updates SVP policies related to joining the society, renewing membership and offering opportunities or honors to particular members. This committee is responsible for determining each year’s honorary members and also reviews and selects awardees for the Jackson School of Geosciences Student Member Travel Grants and Institutional Membership: a Program for Institutions of Developing Nations.

Nominating Committee
Chair: P. David Polly
(ExCom Liaison: Secretary, Samantha Hopkins)

The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and recruiting qualified candidates for the annual election to elect officers and members-at-large of the Executive Committee.

Professional & Education

Education & Outreach Committee
Chair: Josh Miller
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Paul Koch)

The Education and Outreach Committee coordinates activities related to Web inquiries about SVP or about paleontology and school programs; develops and implements programs for the general public regarding the importance of vertebrate paleontology and evolution; and monitors challenges to the teaching of science, including evolution. This committee has also sponsored symposia, short courses and publications on its own or in collaboration other professional and amateur scientific associations.

Preparators’ Committee
Chairs: Matthew Miller; Lisa Herzog
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Paul Koch)

This committee coordinates activities relevant to preparation of fossils at the annual meeting and during the year through a listserv. These activities include a preparation symposium or session and staffing of a preparation demonstration table at the annual meeting and coordinating the information about preparation on the SVP website.

Student & Post-Doctoral Committee
Chairs: Haviv Avrahami; Omar Regalado Fernandez
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Paul Koch)

The Student and Postdoctoral Liaison Committee, chaired by a student member, is responsible for organizing events to benefit student and post-doctoral members at the annual meeting and to maintain communication among student and post-doctoral members over the year.

Publications & Media

Archives Committee
Chairs: Lars Werdelin; Rissa Westerfield
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Zerina Johansson)

The Archives Committee documents the founding, history, and activities of the Society from its beginning to present, excluding those records currently in use.

Communications Committee
Chairs: Matt Borths; Katrina Jones
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Zerina Johansson)

This committee is the result of the merging between the old Website and Social Media and Media Liaison Committees. This committee is responsible for the maintenance and enhancement of the SVP Web site. This committee has liaisons with the Publications Committee and the Education and Outreach Committee. This committee also arranges for members of SVP to present their scientific findings to the press by writing, reviewing or facilitating press releases each year; by organizing the press conference at each annual meeting, and by cultivating contacts with the media. The ultimate goal is to raise the profile of SVP with the media and the public and to enhance communications within the membership.

Publications Committee
Chairs: Michael D’Emic; Julie Meachen
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Zerina Johansson)

This Committee oversees the SVP print publications (The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, the Memoir series and any special SVP publications). Activities include receiving, coordinating reviews and editing manuscripts and illustrations; and recommending opportunities, sales of publications and new media initiatives (i.e. CD-ROM products, etc.) relevant to the print publications. The Publications Committee reviews policies about submission to the journal, the number of papers to publish each year and fees related to publication, paper reprints and PDF reprints.

Annual Meeting

Annual Auction Committee
Chair: Brent Breithaupt
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Karen Chin)

The Auction Committee implements the auction at the annual meeting and publicizes and solicits donations of items to be sold at the auction.

Awards Committee
Chair: Anusyua Chinsamy-Turan
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Karen Chin)

The SVP Awards Committee is responsible for the review of applications annually for the various SVP awards. Each Panel Chair leads a panel for the review and selection of the award annually to be presented at the SVP Annual Meeting. Click on each individual Panel Chair to email them or click on the award name to see a detailed panel listing.

Host Committee
2024 Chairs: David Fox; Peter Makovicky
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Karen Chin)

The Host Committee, working with the SVP Business Office, is responsible for planning and implementing the annual meeting. This committee generally consists of SVP members affiliated with the host institution(s) for the annual meeting.

Program Committee
Chairs: Brandon Peecook; Al Evans
(ExCom Liaison: Member at Large, Karen Chin)

The Program Committee is responsible for gathering, reviewing and organizing submitted abstracts, and for planning a comprehensive program of oral presentations and posters for the annual meeting. The Program Committee reviews proposals for symposia and also oversees production of the Abstract Volume as a Supplement to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.