Please review the following eligibility criteria for the position(s) for which you are being nominated. The Board of Directors and Leadership Development and Recruitment Committee (LDRC) seek out the following qualifications in nominees:
PRESIDENT-ELECT POSITION:
- Knowledge of the critical issues facing the Association.
- Ability to identify key issues and visionary policies from a broad perspective.
- Ability to problem solve, take a major leadership role, and facilitate group process and decision-making.
- Possess objectivity, a willingness to work, and commitment to the Association.
- Possess the ability to write and present effectively.
- Maintain the ability to work collaboratively with officers.
- Maintain the ability to work collaboratively with the Chief Executive Officer and serve as a member of the Executive Committee during their terms as President and President-Elect.
- Have an interest in and a willingness to learn Board management skills.
Previous Experience/Qualifications:
- Served at least one (3) year term on the AAMFT Board of Directors.
- Prior experience with strategic planning and vision-casting.
- Significant contributions to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy through legislative advocacy, teaching and training, publishing, service to the JMFT or other closely related publications and/or presentations.
- Proven Board management skills.
SECRETARY POSITION:
- Leadership experience, including interest network leadership experience, board participation, and/or governance knowledge from prior administrative levels.
- Ability to gather and integrate detailed communication with a keen eye for policy and procedure detailed in the AAMFT Bylaws.
Preferred Experience/Qualifications:
- Prior service as the Secretary and/or an Executive Committee member for an organization.
BOARD POSITIONS:
- Must be a voting member of AAMFT.
- A clear, long-term vision for the AAMFT and for the field.
- Leadership experience and/or skills related to board participation.
- Board involvement fluctuates throughout the year but nominee would need to be available a minimum of two hours per week (virtually). Additional commitment to one week in conjunction with the Leadership Symposium and two four-day board meetings (two days are for travel).
- Ability to post and respond to discussions within the AAMFT Network.
- Board officers will serve as Executive Committee members and FAHS Trustees. An officer position would require monthly, virtual one-hour meetings.
- Task Force/Committee appointments would require additional time commitment (one hour a month plus work in Network as needed).
Preferred Experience/Qualifications:
- Should be a Professional Member (Clinical Fellow, Pre-Clinical Fellow, Allied Mental Health Professional, and/or Pre-Allied Mental Health Professional) for five (5) or more years and eligible for the Clinical Fellow designation.
- Encouraged to contribute financially to the Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems (FAHS).
ALL POSITIONS:
- A clear vision for the AAMFT and for the field of Marriage and Family Therapy, including knowledge about ongoing trends impacting the profession.
- A willingness and ability to complete the work of a Board position, including committee assignments.
- The ability to gather and integrate information, work towards a consensus, and make decisions.
- Knowledge and/or experience at some level of leadership.
- Knowledge of and desire to advocate on behalf of diversity and equity.
- Commitment to social justice and systemic science, thereby promoting the core values of Marriage and Family Therapy.
- Organizational leadership experience.
- Members who are appointed to the Board of Directors and COAMFTE must step down from leadership positions with AAMFT Affiliate entities, including Geographical Interest Networks, Topical Interest Networks, and Independent Affiliates, as well as Family TEAM leaders. (LDRC members may continue to serve in leadership positions with AAMFT Affiliates).
- Prospective candidates must resign from other governance Board positions (any level of governance in other national mental health professional associations, e.g., chapter, division or national boards) upon accepting nomination for the AAMFT position and must submit written proof of resignation (such as a copy of the association’s letter of response to the letter of resignation) along with their candidate application packet. No appointed official of AAMFT is eligible to run for a position that has a term beginning prior to the completion of their term. If an appointed official chooses to run for a vacant position that could result in their current position being abandoned, the official must submit a letter of resignation from their current position with their nomination materials.
AAMFT Leadership Competencies and Job Descriptions
The following leadership competencies were developed for each of the AAMFT Board of Directors positions, including Officer positions, according to association best practices. Job descriptions can be found here.
The following positions are open for nominations for the 2026 nomination cycle (terms of office to begin January 1, 2027):
President-Elect: Term of 2 years as President-Elect, term of 2 years as President, term of 1 year as Past President. 5 years total commitment. One position is to be filled.
Secretary: Term of 3 years. One position is to be filled.
Board of Directors: Term of 3 years. Two positions are to be filled.
In keeping with AAMFT’s commitment to diversity, we are particularly interested in nominees that reflect diversity of education, training, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, religion, physical ability, cultural background, employment, and/or professional settings.
Travel expenses are covered for all in-person meetings, including flights, hotel, and meals.
For further information, please contact LDRC@aamft.org.