1

AmericanOrnithologicalSocietyElectedOfficersandCouncilors

Classof2017,2018,2019and2020

ExecutiveCommitteeOfficers

StevenR.Beissinger,President(2016-18)KathyL.Martin,President-Elect(2016-18)

AndrewW.Jones,Secretary(2014-)RebeccaT.Kimball,Treasurer(2015-)

ExecutiveDirectorMelindaPruett-Jones

STEVENR.BEISSINGERProfessor,ConservationBiology,UniversityofCalifornia,BerkeleyBIO:ProfessorofConservationBiologyandMVZresearchassociate(1997-present),A.S.LeopoldChairinWildlifeBiology(2003-13),andChairoftheDept.ofEnvironmentalScience,Policy&Management(2001-04)atUCBerkeley.Asst.andAssoc.Prof.YaleUniv.(1988-1995),NSFPostdoctoralFellowattheNationalZoologicalPark(1986-88),Ph.D.Univ.Michigan(1984),M.S.(1978)andB.S.(1974)MiamiUniv.AOU:member(1977),ElectedMember(1987)andFellow(1993).AOUserviceasCouncilor(1995-98)andonConservation(1990-2012,chair1995-99),Nominations(1999-2001)andAwards(2005-07)committees.ElectedtoBoardofDirectors:SocietyforConservationBiology(2009-12),CooperOrnithologicalSociety(2008-11),andNationalAudubonSociety(2003-09).COSKatmaAwardsCommittee(2010-2013).EditorialBoards:StudiesinAvianBiology,Ecology,EcologyLetters,ConservationBiology,CurrentOrnithology.Myresearchfocusesonbehavioral,populationandconservationbiologyofbirds,hasproduced180scientificarticlesand2editedbooks,andwasrecognizedbyAOU’sWilliamBrewsterMemorialAward(2010).

2

STATEMENT:Manyprofessionalsocietiesarefacingtwobigchallenges:(1)rapidretirementoflong-standingmembersand(2)lowlevelsofrecruitmentandretentionofnewmembers.Taxon-basedsocieties,liketheAOS,arethemostsusceptibletothesechanges,eventhoughtheyfillimportantprofessionalroles.Iwouldusemyleadershipexperiences,accumulatedbyparticipatinginavarietyofprofessionalsocietiesandorganizations,tohelptheAOSandornithologyinNorthAmericatocontinuetomodernizebothitsmissionanditsproductstoattractandmaintainmembership.Thefirststephasbeentakenthroughtherecentreorganizationofpublications.Inthiseraofinstitution-basedjournalsubscriptions,however,thesechangeswillprobablynotbesufficient.FortheAOStomaintainitsimportantroleinthescientificstudyofbirdsandtheirconservation,itshouldexplorethedevelopmentofnewweb-basedservicesandwaystocommunicatewithmembers,andnewattractionsatitsannualmeetingstosustainandgrowmembership.

KATHYL.MARTINProfessor,DepartmentofForestandConservationSciences,UnivofBritishColumbia,andSeniorResearchScientist,ScienceandTechnologyBranch,EnvironmentandClimateChangeCanada,Vancouver,CanadaBIO:Professor,DepartmentofForestandConservationSciences,UniversityofBritishColumbia,andSeniorResearchScientist,ScienceandTechnologyBranch,EnvironmentandClimateChangeCanada,Vancouver,Canada(1993-current).PhD.1985,Queen’sUniversity,Ontario.AssistantProfessor,UniversityofToronto,1990-1992.PublishedinTheAuk,TheCondor,StudiesinAvianBiology,Ecology,EcologicalApplications,FrontiersinEcologyandtheEnvironment,BiologicalConservation,BiologicalReviews,Science,PLoSONE,J.AvianBiology,ForestEcologyandManagement,Oecologia.AOUElectiveMember1991;AOUFellow2001;ConferenceChairNAOCVinVancouver,2012.AOUSERVICE:Council,2002to2006.Nominatingcommittee,2002,Membershipcommittee,1999-2002,ResearchAwardsCommittee,1997-2000.AssociateEditorroles:TheAuk,1995-1999,TheCondor,2013-current,StudiesinAvianBiology,2008-2011,AvianConservationandEcology,2005-current,FrontiersinEcologyandtheEnvironment,2011-2014.IhaveservedasPresidentoftheSocietyofCanadianOrnithologists(SCO-SOC,2000-2002),ontheexecutive(1997-2004),andorganizedtheSCO-SOCannualmeetingin1998.Asa

3

federalresearchscientistsecondedtotheUniversityofBritishColumbiasince1993,mostofmytimeisdedicatedtodevelopingbasicandappliedresearchprogramsinforestandalpineecosystemsinrelationtolocalandlargerscaledisturbanceevents.STATEMENT:TheAOUwasthefirstscientificsocietyIjoined,andIvividlyremembermyfirstAOUmeetingin1973asafriendlyandscientificallyexcitingmeeting(Yikes,wasitthatlongago?Ijoinedsoyoung!).IhavebenefittedinsomanywaysfrommymembershipintheAOUstartingasagraduatestudentwhereImademanyvaluablefriendsandcolleaguesatannualmeetings.FrommyserviceonAOUCouncilandcommittees,andmostrecentlyastheChairofNAOCV,IgainedstrongunderstandingofthefunctioningoftheAOU.IlookforwardtogettingdeeplyinvolvedintheimportantnewdevelopmentsintheAOSandornithologicalcommunity,aswecoordinateandcollaborateoncommongoalswithotherNorthAmericanandinternationalsocieties.Asauniversityprofessorandfederalresearchscientist,IencouragemystudentsandcolleaguestobecomeactiveintheAOS,joincommitteesandcouncils,andattendannualmeetings.Imentormystudentsandcolleaguestocontributepresentations,convenesymposia,andtopublishandreviewarticlesinourjournals.Ourannualconferences,oneoftheAOS’ssignatureactivities,arethelife-bloodofthesocietywithstrongappealtoallornithologists.Withmyconsiderableexperienceinorganizingmeetings,Iwillstrivetomakeourannualmeetingsevenmoresuccessfulandmorerelevanttoawiderrangeofornithologistsoutsideacademia,particularlytoornithologicalpractitionersingovernmentandnon-governmentalgroups.Ihaveworkedongovernment-universityliaisonsformostofmyprofessionalcareer,andbelievethatthenexusofacademicsandconservationpractitionersaremorecriticalthanevertoachieveourgoalsofpromotingarigorousscientificbasisforavianconservation.Thiswillincludeworkingtoincreasefundingforyoungprofessionalstoattendmeetingsandtodevelopingprogramcomponentstoimprovetheprofileofourresearchcontributions.IstronglysupporttheAOSmissiontoadvancethescientificunderstandingofbirds,enrichornithologyasaprofession,andtopromotearigorousscientificbasisfortheconservationofbirds.Myvisionofhowweshouldmanageavianpopulationsandcommunitiesisguidedbythefactthatalmost80%ofourbirdsbreedinginCanadaspendthemajorityoftheirlifecycleinanothercountry.WehavesomuchtogainbyforgingcriticalpartnershipswithornithologicalsocietiesinCentralandSouthAmericatoensurewemaintainourcapacitytoprovideforthefulllifecycleofmigratorybirdsandtoincreaseourknowledgeofthefullornithologicalassemblagesintheAmericas.ImaintainactiveresearchprogramsfromnorthernCanadatoSouthernChileandhavebeenfacilitatinginternationalornithologicalresearchandmanagementprogramsintheAmericas.IwillworktoensurethattheAOScontinuestopromoteornithologicalscienceandconservationacrosstheAmericas,andtocreateandforgeconnectionswithinthevibrantcommunityofornithologiststhroughouttheAmericas.Toassistinthismission,theAOScouldprovidefurtherleadershipinthemanyexcitingdevelopmentsinCitizenScienceande-birdinitiatives.

4

ANDREWW.JONESWilliamA.andNancyR.KlammEndowedChairofOrnithologyandCuratorofOrnithology,ClevelandMuseumofNaturalHistoryBIO:WilliamA.andNancyR.KlammEndowedChairofOrnithologyandCuratorofOrnithology,ClevelandMuseumofNaturalHistory.AlsoDirectorofScience,ClevelandMuseumofNaturalHistory,andAdjunctFaculty,ClevelandStateUniversity.Ph.D.2006,UniversityofMinnesota,DepartmentofEcology,Evolution,andBehavior.PublishedinAuk,Condor,BiologicalJournaloftheLinneanSociety,MolecularPhylogeneticsandEvolution,BioScience,Cotinga.AOUMember1997,ElectiveMember2009.Myresearchconcernsgeographicvariationinbirds,primarilyusingmolecularmarkersforcomparativephylogeographyandresolvingevolutionaryrelationshipsamongspeciesindiversegenera.STATEMENT:IfirstvolunteeredasRecordingSecretaryfortheAOUin2009,andservedinthatroleforfiveyears.IwasthenelectedtotheAOUSecretarypositionin2014.AsSecretary,IplayanactiveroleinthegovernanceoftheAOS,workingwiththeelectedofficersandcouncilorsaswellasourExecutiveDirector.Imanagecommunicationamongthesegroupsaswellaswiththegeneralmembership.Withongoingeffortssuchasprofessionalizingthesocietyandexpandingoursociety'sonlinecommunications,itisanexcitingtimefortheAOS,andIamhonoredtoserveinthisposition.

5

REBECCAT.KIMBALLProfessor,DepartmentofBiology,UniversityofFlorida,Gainesville,FL32611-8525BIO:ProfessorofBiology,UniversityofFlorida,GainesvilleFL;affiliatepositionswithFloridaMuseumofNaturalHistory;SchoolofNaturalResourcesandtheEnvironment;UFGeneticsInstitute;UF/FSUCenterforSmellandTaste.Ph.D.1995,UniversityofNewMexico.AOUCouncilMember(2013-2015);Chair,AOUStudentTravelandAwardsCommittee(2009-2013;servedascommitteememberpreviously).AlsoeditorforIbis(2013-present),SSEEducationCommitteeMember(2008-present),SSBCouncilMember(2008-2010).Publishedover70papers,includinginAuk,WilsonBulletin,Ibis,JournalofAvianBiology,aswellasPNASandScience.Myresearchincludesphylogenetics,populationgenetics,andtheevolutionofbehaviorsandtraits(particularlyplumageandsecondarysexualtraits)inbirds.STATEMENT:ThisisanimportanttimeintheAOS.Therehavebeenmanychangesundertakenrecentlyintheadministrationtostrengthenthesocietyandimproveitsabilitytoservethemembership.AsTreasurerandformerAOUCouncilmember,IhaveworkedtohelptoensuretheAOScontinuestoadvancethescientificunderstandingofbirdswhilemaintainingitselfasastrongsocietythatservestheneedsofcurrentandfutureornithologists.Todothisrequirescontinuedimprovementandnewinitiativestokeeppacewiththechangingneedsofprofessionals.IwillworktowardskeepingtheAOSfiscallysoundwhilealsoensuringthattheAOSinvestsinlong-rangeplanningactivitiesthatwillensureitslong-termsuccess.

6

MELINDAPRUETT-JONESExecutiveDirector,AmericanOrnithologicalSocietyBIO:ExecutiveDirector,AmericanOrnithologicalSociety(2014topresent).MS.1981,BrighamYoungUniversity,DepartmentofZoology.PublishedinAuk,Evolution,AnimalBehavior,BehavioralEcologyandSociobiology,FrontiersinEcologyandtheEnvironment.Whilemycurrentareaofinquiryinvolvesorganizationallifecyclesandnetworkgovernance,myresearchbackgroundisinsocialbehavior,ecology,andpopulationbiologyofbirdsandmammals.Icurrentlyserveorhaveservedonseveralboards,includingAudubonChicagoRegion;NetworkforLargeLandscapeConservation;UrbanAdvisoryCommittee,NationalParkService;LoyolaUniversityInstituteforEnvironmentalSustainability;and,UniversityofIllinoisatChicagoInstituteforEnvironmentalScienceandPolicy.STATEMENT:IjoinedtheAOUasitsfirstexecutivedirectorin2014,andoversawthemergerprocessoftheAOUandCOStolaunchthenewAOS.Ibringtothesocietyexecutiveandfundraisingexperience,over25yearsoforganizationalleadership,andanessentialunderstandingoftherelevanceofornithologyinarapidlychangingworld.MyroleintheAOSistoadvanceitsboldvision,professionalizetheorganization,providestrategicdirection,cultivateandguidecooperativepartnerships,andsecurefundingtohelpsustainandgrowtheAOS.Havingleadorganizationsthroughperiodsofsubstantialgrowthandchange,IamfocusingonfosteringanorganizationalculturethatdrivesexcellenceandinnovationtobestpositiontheAOStoadaptandlead.

7

Councilors–Termsending2020AnnaD.ChalfounAbbyN.Powell

AndreaK.TownsendMichaelS.Webster

ANNAD.CHALFOUNAssociateProfessorandAssistantUnitLeader,USGSWyomingCooperativeFishandWildlifeResearchUnit,DepartmentofZoology&Physiology,UniversityofWyomingBIO:AssociateProfessorandAssistantUnitLeader,U.S.GeologicalSurveyWyomingCooperativeFishandWildlifeResearchUnit,DepartmentofZoology&Physiology,UniversityofWyoming.Ph.D.,2006,UniversityofMontana.PublishedinAnimalBehaviour,Auk,BiologicalConservation,Condor,ConservationBiology,EcologyandEvolution,EcologicalApplications,Evolution,JournalofAnimalEcology,JournalofAppliedEcology,JournalofOrnithology,JournalofWildlifeManagement,Oecologia,WilsonJournalofOrnithology,andothers.AOSTransitionAdvisoryTeam,2016–present;AOUElectiveMember2013;COSPresident-Elect2015–2017;COSNominationsCommittee2015;COSBoardMemberandStudentAwardsChair,2011–2014;COSMillerAwardCommittee2010–2011;ScientificProgramCommitteefor2016NAOC,2014–2016.AsaCoopUnitscientistandAssociateProfessorattheUniversityofWyoming,myprimaryroleistoaddressimportantresearchneedsrelatedtonon-gamewildlifespecieswithinthestateandbeyond,andtotraingraduatestudents.Myresearchinterestsincludehabitatselectionanditsconsequences,mechanismsunderlyingtheeffectsofhuman-inducedhabitatchangeonwildlife,nestpredationdynamics,andavianparentalcare.Mymainfocalstudysystemhasbeensagebrushpasserines.STATEMENT:IhavebeenamemberoftheAOUandCOS,andnowtheAOS,sinceIwasagraduatestudentandthesocietieshaveplayedacriticalroleinmyprofessionaldevelopment.Butmorethanthat,theyhaveprovidedasenseofcommunity.Idonotonlystudybirds,butitistheornithologicalmeetingsthatIhaveattendedalmosteveryyearforthelasteighteen,becauseoftheirquality,andthefriendshipsandcollaborationsIhavedeveloped.Indeed,oneofthemainlong-rangeplanninggoalsfortheAOSistopursueexcellenceinorganizingandhostingannualconferences,andIfeelstronglyaboutcontinuingtoensurethatmeetingsarewellattended,

8

enjoyable,andrelevanttothecontemporarychallengeswefaceasornithologists.RecentlyIservedonthescientificprogramcommitteefortheNAOCinWashingtonD.C.,whichprovidedvaluableinsightonmanyofthechallengesassociatedwithsuccessfullyputtingtogetheralargescientificmeeting.IalsofeelverystronglythattheAOScontinuetoprovidevaluableservicestoourearly-careermembers.Forthreeyears,IservedasthestudentawardschairfortheCOS,andwhileinthatroledevelopedastudentpresentationfeedbackprogram,thathascontinuedandbeenappreciatedbyourstudentmembers.Giventheverycompetitivecurrentjobandresearchgrantmarket,moreover,IthinkanotherimportantcontributionthattheAOScouldprovidewouldbemoresupportforpost-doctoralresearchersandearlyfacultyintheformofcompetitivescholarshipsandgrants.Iamalsokeenlyinterestedincontinuingtoexplorehowthesocietycanprovideeffectiveconservation-relatedservicesandoutreach.ThemergerbetweentheAOUandtheCOSwasanhistoricevent,andthoughsomehavebeenskepticalaboutthedecision,IwouldliketodoallIcantoensurethatthenewsocietycontinuestothriveandevolveinpositivedirections.

ABBYN.POWELLUnitLeaderandCourtesyProfessor,FloridaCooperativeFishandWildlifeResearchUnit,UniversityofFlorida,GainesvilleBIO:UnitLeaderandCourtesyProfessor,FloridaCooperativeFishandWildlifeResearchUnit,UniversityofFlorida,Gainesville;AssistantUnitLeaderandProfessor,AlaskaCooperativeFishandWildlifeResearchUnit,UniversityofAlaska2001-2015;USGSResearchWildlifeBiologistandAssociateProfessor,UniversityofArkansas(1999-2001);USGSResearchWildlifeBiologistsandAssistantProfessor,SanDiegoStateUniversity(1992-1999).Ph.D.1992,UniversityofMinnesota.PublishedinAuk,Condor,Ibis,JournalofAnimalEcology,JournalofAvianBiology,JournalofWildlifeManagement,Oecologia,Waterbirds.COSSecretary2008-2015;COSBoardofDirectors2002-2005;COSHonoraryMember2014;AOU-COSJointMeetingsTaskForce2012-2013;AOUElectiveMember1999;AOUFellow2012;AOSBylawsCommittee2016-present.AsaresearchwildlifebiologistforUSGSforthepast25years,Ihavebeeninvolvedinconducting

9

researchonavianecology,particularlyissuespertainingtoconservation.Iamalsoresponsiblefortrainingandmentoringgraduatestudentsandteachinggraduate-levelcourses.STATEMENT:Iamalong-termmemberofboththeAOUandtheCOS,andactivelyparticipatedinthetransitionofthemergerofthetwosocietiesintotheAOS.IchairedtheJointMeetingsTaskForceafewyearsbeforethetwosocietiesmergedtoidentifyredundancies,increaseefficiency,andbetterservethetwosocietiesasawholeinyearswhentheyhadjointconferences.TheAOScontinuestopursuethegoalofexcellenceintheopportunitiesandexperiencesofferedthroughannualconferences.Oneofthemostrewardingaspectsofmycareerhasbeenmentoringstudentsthroughgraduateschoolandthenontheirjourneysasprofessionalscientists.Ibelievethatfosteringtheirinterestandparticipationinornithologicalsocietiesisacrucialaspectofmentoring.Inaddition,Ihavehadtheopportunitytolistentoandinteractwithouryoungermembersthroughservingasajudgeforstudentpaperawards,interactingwiththechairsofstudentactivitiescommitteesandtheCOSYoungProfessionalAwardsrecipients,andfindingavenuesfortheirparticipationinsocietyleadershipinmyvariousrolesinbothsocietiesovertheyears.Theseupcomingornithologists,likemanyofthemoreestablishedcareerscientists,envisionedthecreationofanewsocietythatreflectsthestrengthsofboththeformerAOUandCOS.Iamdevotedtothedevelopmentandevolutionofournewpremierornithologicalsocietythroughfosteringprofessionaldevelopmentofallmembers,regardlessoftheircareerstage,andtoincreasingthediversityofboththemembershipandleadershipofAOS.IapplaudtherecentadditionofAOSawardstofacilitaterecruitmentofunderrepresentedgroupstoourmembership,andamcommittedtoexploringmoreeffortstoincreasediversityinalllevelsofoursociety.IamexcitedabouttheopportunitytoservetheAOSinaleadershiproleandfurtheringbothdiversityandmentorshipofourmembersandleaders.

ANDREAK.TOWNSENDAssistantProfessorofBiology,HamiltonUniversityBIO:AssistantProfessor,HamiltonCollege,2014-current.Ph.D.2009,CornellUniversity.NSFPostdoctoralFellow,SmithsonianInstitutionandCornellUniversityLabofOrnithology,2010-2011.AssistantProfessor,UniversityofCalifornia,Davism2011-2014.PublishedinGlobalChangeBiology,JournalofAvianBiology,Condor,ProceedingsoftheRoyalSocietyB,AmericanNaturalist,BehavioralEcology,AppliedandEnvironmentalMicrobiology,JournalofMedicalEntomology,PLoSONE,JournalofCaribbeanOrnithology,AvianDiseases,Environmental

10

Microbiology,MolecularEcology,ConservationGenetics,JournalofVeterinaryDiagnosticInvestigations,WilsonJournalofOrnithology,AnimalBehaviour,OrnitologiaNeotropical.AOUElectiveMember2013;AssociationofFieldOrnithologistsCouncilMember2010-2013;Assistanteditor,TheAuk:OrnithologicalAdvances,2014-present.MyresearchprogramatHamiltonCollegefallsattheintersectionofbehavioralecologyanddiseaseecology.Ihavebeenexaminingbehavior,urbanization,anddiseasesofAmericanCrowssince2005.Myrecentworkemphasizescognitivecapacityofcrows,withfocusonitsgeneticbasisandrelationshiptomigration.AsaprofessorataLiberalArtscollege,Iamcommittedtoprovidingornithologicalresearchexperiencesforundergraduatesandtosupportingtheirprofessionaldevelopment.STATEMENT:IamastrongsupporteroftheformationoftheAmericanOrnithologicalSociety,theimpactsofwhichIbelievewillbemagnifiedbytheunificationofitsmembersanditscouncil.IfeelpersonallycommittedtoandinvestedinthesuccessofAOS;forthisreason,IcurrentlyserveasanAssistanteditortoTheAuk:OrnithologicalAdvances.IwouldbeexcitedtoincreasemyservicetoAOSasaCouncilmemberanddomyparttolaunchitofftoastrongstart.Ihavebeenactiveinmultiplesocieties,havingservedontheCounciloftheAssociationofFieldOrnithologists,participatedontravelawardsandresearchawardscommittees,andhavingservedasajudgeatsocietymeetings.IwoulddrawfromtheseexperiencesasaboardmemberofAOS.Ihavealsobenefittedfrommultiplesocietiesinmeaningfulwaysthathelpedtoadvancemycareer.AsanearlyprofessionalwithexperienceatbothR1andLiberalArtsinstitutions,Iwouldbekeentopreserveanddevelopopportunitiestosupportundergraduates,graduatestudents,postdocs,andearlyprofessionalsinornithology.

MICHAELS.WEBSTERRobertG.EngelProfessorofOrnithology,DepartmentofNeurobiologyandBehavior,CornellUniversity,andDirector,MacaulayLibrary,CornellLabofOrnithology.BIO:RobertG.EngelProfessorofOrnithology,DepartmentofNeurobiologyandBehavior,CornellUniversity,andDirector,MacaulayLibrary,CornellLabofOrnithology.PhD1991,CornellUniversity.AssistantProfessor(2000-2004),AssociateProfessor(2004-2008)andProfessor(2008-2009),SchoolofBiologicalSciences,WashingtonStateUniversity.AssistantProfessor,DepartmentofBiologicalSciences,UniversityatBuffalo(1995-2000).Over90scientificpublicationinjournalsincludingAmericanNaturalist,AnimalBehaviour,Auk,Behavioral

11

Ecology,Condor,Emu,Evolution,andProceedingsoftheRoyalSociety.ElectiveMember(2008)andFellow(2009)oftheAmericanOrnithologists’Union(AOU),andFellowoftheAnimalBehaviorSociety(2015).ServedontheeditorialboardsforAnimalBehaviour(2011-2015),BehavioralEcologyandSociobiology(2000-2004),Evolution(2004-2006and2008-2010),andEmu(2007-present).AdditionalservicetoornithologicalsocietiesincludesAOUCouncilMember(2010-2012),AOUStudentAwardsCommittee(2005-2008;chaired2007-2008),andCOSlStudentResearchAwardCommittee(2004).CurrentlyViceChairfortheAOSMeetingsCoordinationCommittee.Myresearchandstudenttrainingcentersonabetterunderstandingoftheevolutionofbirdbehavior,andinparticulartheevolutionarycausesandconsequencesofvariationinsexualsignals(e.g.,plumageanddisplays,song),focusingprimarilyonAustralianfairy-wrensandNorthAmericanwoodwarblersasstudysystems.AstheDirectoroftheMacaulayLibrary,ascientificallycuratedcollectionof"digitalmediaspecimens"(audio,videoandphotos)thatcapturethebehavioralphenotypeofindividuals,Iamdedicatedtoimprovingthebreadthanddepthofourcollectiontomakeitasusefulaspossibleforresearch,education,andconservationofbirdsandotherorganisms.STATEMENT:IhavebeenamemberofboththeAOUandCOSsincetheearly1980’s,andbecameamemberoftheAOSassoonasthisnewsocietywasformed.IbelievestronglyinthemissionoftheAOS,andinparticularinitsfocusonpromotingornithologicalresearchandconservationacrosstheentirehemisphere.Ibelievethatthegreatestimpactofthisorganizationwillcomethroughpromotingandcoordinatingresearchonbirdsbothdomesticallyandacrossinternationalborders,andfromsupportingthetraininganddevelopmentofornithologistsatallstagesoftheircareers.Towardtheseends,IfeelthattheannualAOSconferencesshouldbedevelopedintoaneventthatnotonlyservesasavenueforpresentationofthelatest“cuttingedge”research,butalsofosterscollaborations,training,andprofessionaldevelopmentinmeaningfulways.ForthisreasonIrecentlybecameViceChairoftheAOSMeetingsCoordinationCommittee,andlookforwardtoseeinganewmodelforascientificconferenceemerge.Inaddition,IwillworktoensurethatAOSservesasanadvocateandsourceofsupportforornithologicalresearch,includingsupportforthoseintheearlieststagesoftheircareers.

12

Councilors–Termsending2019MelissaS.Bowlin

ReneeA.DuckworthScottV.Edwards

NathanielT.Wheelwright

MELISSAS.BOWLINAssistantProfessor,DepartmentofBiology,UniversityofMichigan-DearbornBIO:AssistantProfessor,UniversityofMichigan-Dearborn.Ph.D.2007,PrincetonUniversity.MarieCurieIncomingInternationalFellow,2008-2010(Lund,Sweden),PostdoctoralFellowinAvianBiology,2007-2008,UniversityofMontana.PublishedinTheAuk:OrnithologicalAdvances,AdvancesinPhysiologyEducation,PLOSONE,JournaloftheRoyalSocietyInterface,Bioscience,IntegrativeandComparativeBiology,FrontiersinEcologyandtheEnvironment,MethodsinEcologyandEvolution,andPNAS.AOUElectiveMember2012;AOU2017AnnualMeetingLocalOrganizingCommittee,2014-present;AOUEarlyProfessionalsCommittee,2007-2009;AOUStudentAffairsCommittee,2005-2007;AOUWebsiteCommittee,2005-2006;AssociateEditor,TheAuk:OrnithologicalAdvances,2015-present;SICBDivisionofAnimalBehaviorSecretary,2012-2015.Myresearchfocusesonthephysiologicalandbehavioralecologyofsmallmigratorybirds.Inparticular,wehaveattachedbothaltitudeandheartratetransmitterstoSwainson’sThrushes(Catharusustulatus)andthenfollowedthemastheymigratedtoinvestigateenergeticsandaltitudechoices.Atmyprimarilyundergraduateinstitution,IteachComparativeAnimalPhysiology,ComparativeVertebrateAnatomy,ConservationBiology,Ecology,IntroBio,andOrnithology.STATEMENT:Whenfundsandfieldworkhaveallowed,IhaveattendedAOUmeetingssince2002,whenIwasanundergraduatestudent.Ihavebenefitedtremendouslyfrommyinteractionswiththesociety,andIwouldlikeanopportunitytogivebacktoit.Moreover,IwouldliketoseethatsortofloyaltyformedbetweentheAOSandnewyounginvestigators.Theneedsofstudents(bothgraduateandundergraduate)andearly-careerscientistshavechangedovertime,andtheUnionmustadapttothesechangingneedsifwewanttoformahealthy,sustainablesocietywithloyalnewmembers.MytenureasAssociateEditorofTheAukandworkwithDr.Hauberhasleftmeconvincedthatoneimportantcomponentofthisadaptationisto

13

continuetopublishcutting-edgeornithologicalresearchinoursociety’sjournal,evenseekingoutyounginvestigatorswithinterestingscientificstorieswhennecessary.Ialsobelievehavingadditionalprofessionaldevelopmentopportunities(suchasthestudent-mentordinner)atannualmeetingswillfurtheradvancethesociety’sgoals.Finally,Ibelievediversityisimportant,andwouldliketoworktoincreaseopportunitiesforparticipationinannualmeetingsandotheraspectsofthesocietybyunderrepresentedgroupsandminorities.

RENEEA.DUCKWORTHAssistantProfessor,DeptEcology&EvolutionaryBiology,UniversityofArizonaBIO:AssociateProfessorofEcologyandEvolutionaryBiology,UniversityofArizona,Tucson,Arizona(2010-current).Ph.D.2006,DukeUniversity;NSFInternationalResearchFellow,EdinburghandHarvardUniversity2006-2008;G.SimpsonFellow,UniversityofArizona,2008-2009.PublishedinScience,Evolution,PNAS,ProceedingsoftheRoyalSociety,AmericanNaturalist,EvolutionaryEcology,FunctionalEcology,TheAukandJournalofOrnithology.AOUElectiveMember2012;NedK.JohnsonYoungInvestigators’Award(2010);StudentPresentationAwardsCommitteemember2008,2009and2013.AwardsCommitteefortheAOU(2009-2010);COSMillerAwardCommittee(2008-2011).AssociateEditorforCondor(2008-2011);BoardMemberoftheCOS(2012-2015);MembershipCommitteeChairforCOS.Mycurrentworkinvestigatesthedynamicsoftraitevolutioninthecontextofecologicalcyclesandspeciescoexistenceinpasserinebirds.Inparticular,successionalcyclesofpost-firehabitatprovideauniqueopportunitytostudyfeedbacksbetweenevolutionaryandecologicaldynamicsinsecondarycavitynestingaviancommunities.STATEMENT:ThisisanhistorictimeforAmericanornithology.Overthepastfewdecades,theinformationagehasbroughtinstantaneousmeansofcommunication,thenumberofscientificjournalshasproliferatedandnewtechnologiesinanimaltracking,genomicsandradioisotopesmakeitpossibletounderstandtheecologyandevolutionofbirdswithagreaterbreadthanddepththaneverbefore.WhilethecoremissionofAOSremainsthesame–tosupporttop-notch

14

researchinornithologyandtofacilitateinteractionsandcommunicationamongstornithologists–changesinthewaywecommunicateandintheglobalnatureoftheproblemswefacetodayprovidebothchallengesandopportunities.ThesechangeschallengeustodevelopanewvisionforhowAOScanservememberneeds.Ornithologistsareuniqueinthedepthofthedatatheycollect,oftenfollowingindividualsovertimewithmanystudiescontinuingfordecades.Intoday’sfundingclimate,weneedtothinkofcreativeandalternativewaystosupportsuchuniqueandoftenlong-termornithologicalresearch.Iwilladvocatefordevelopingbridgegrantsthatcaneitherbeusedtofillthegapsbetweenfundingcyclesoflargeragencygrantsorcanbeusedasseedgrantstospurnewresearchdirections.Alongthesesameline,manyjournalsnowrequiredatasetsbedepositedinarchives,yetmanyofthesedatabasesdonotfitornithologists’specificneeds.IwilladvocatefortheAOStodevelopadataarchivingservicethatallowsmemberstocontrolthetermsofaccesstolong-termdatasetsandideallywouldfacilitatecollaborationamongstsocietymembers.IamhonoredtoservetheAOSCouncilinthishistorictime,followingthemergerofAOUwithCOS.Ibringacross-societyperspectivegivenmyyearsasanactivememberofbothAOUandCOS.IseethemergerasanopportunitytoredefinehowAOSservesitsmembersandtoinitiateexcitingnewdirectionsforourfuture.

SCOTTV.EDWARDSAlexanderAgassizProfessorofOrganismicandEvolutionaryBiology&CuratorofOrnithology,MuseumofComparativeZoology,HarvardUniversity.BIO:AlexanderAgassizProfessorofOrganismicandEvolutionaryBiology&CuratorofOrnithology,MuseumofComparativeZoology,HarvardUniversity.PhD.1992.UniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley.DivisionDirector,DivisionofBiologicalInfrastructure(DBI),BiologyDirectorate,NationalScienceFoundation(2013-2015);Assistant,AssociateandFullProfessorofZoology,UniversityofWashington,andCuratorofGeneticResources,BurkeMuseum(1995-2003).PublishedinTheAuk,Nature,Science,PNAS,Evolution,AmericanNaturalist,SystematicBiology,Geneticsandseveralotherjournals.AOUElectiveMember1999;AOUFellow2006;AOUAwardsCommittee2013;AOUElliotCouesAward2015.AsCuratorofagloballyimportantornithologicalcollection,ateacherofstudentsinornithologyandevolutionarybiology,andafrequentpublicspeakertolayaudiences,Istrivetobringthewonderofbirdsandtheirlessonsforhumansocietytoabroadaudienceandtopushtheboundariesof

15

inquiryintotheirevolutionaryhistory.Myresearchspansdiverseaspectsofavianbiology,includingevolutionaryhistoryandbiogeography,diseaseecology,populationgeneticsandcomparativegenomics.Ihaveastrongpassionforpublicserviceandforbroadeningparticipationinscience,asevidencedbymytwoyearsserviceattheNationalScienceFoundationandmultipleoutreachactivities.STATEMENT:AsamemberoftheAOSCouncilIwillstrivetoworkwithotherstocontinuetomaketheAOSmoreeffective,relevantanddirectedtowardstheinterestsofitsmembership.Iamparticularlypassionateabout1)increasingthelinksoftheAOStopartnerorganizationsinLatinAmericaand2)increasingthediversityoftheAOSmembershipandtheconstituencyservedbytheAOS.IbelievetheAOScanplayanevenmoreimportantroleinthedevelopmentofornithologyandconservationbiologyinLatinAmericathanitalreadyis.IwouldfavoreffortstohelpsupportworkshopsandothermeansofexchangebetweenUSandLatinAmericangraduatestudentsandtohelpbuildtheintellectualandphysicalinfrastructureforornithologyintheNewWorldtropics.Iwillworkwiththesocietyinitseffortstoraisefundsforsuchactivitiesthroughprivateorfederalsources.IamequallyexcitedaboutbuildingsimilarlinkstoornithologicalcommunitiesinAsia,althoughrecognizethechallengesofdistanceandfundingforsuchefforts.Iamalsoeagertolearnaboutongoingactivitiestoaugmentthediversityofthemembershipandthenationalbird-lovingcommunity,andtohelprefineandexpandtheseefforts.IncreasingtheAOS’spenetrationintograde-schoolsandtheircurricula,partneringwithorganizationswithaccesstoyoung,diverseormarginalizedcommunitiesandtestingourcomfortzoneintermsofwhomtheAOSinteractsandcommunicateswithroutinelyareallwaystohelptheAOSincreasediversityandachieveitsmission.Myvariousactivitiesforincreasingdiversityintheenvironmentalsciences,somefundedbytheNationalScienceFoundation,havehelpedincreasemycontactbaseforthoseactiveindiversifyingscienceandgivenmeabroadawarenessofnationaleffortstodiversifythescientificworkforce.IwillusetheseskillsandcontactstobenefittheAOUanditsmission.

16

NATHANIELT.WHEELWRIGHTBassProfessorofNaturalSciencesandChairofBiologyDepartment,BowdoinCollege BIO:BassProfessorofNaturalSciencesandChairoftheBiologyDepartment,BowdoinCollege,Brunswick,Maine.Ph.D.1982,UniversityofWashington.Director,BowdoinScientificStation,KentIsland,NB,Canada(1988-2004).FacultyAssociate,DepartmentofWildlife,UniversityofMaine(1990-present).AssistantProfessor(Visiting),SectionofEcologyandSystematics,CornellUniversity(1984-86).Graduatefaculty,OrganizationforTropicalStudies,CostaRica(1979-2006).PublishedinTheAuk,TheCondor,Ibis,JournalofFieldOrnithology,Ecology,Evolution,PNAS,AmericanNaturalist,AnimalBehaviour,Oecologia,FrontiersinEcologyandtheEnvironment,amongothers.Co-editorofMonteverde:EcologyandConservationofaTropicalCloudForest(OxfordUniversityPress2000)andtheexpandedandupdatedopen-accesseditionMonteverde:ecologíayconservacióndeunbosquenubosotropical(2014).WinnerofNSFOPUSGrants(2008-10)andtheEcologicalSocietyofAmerica’sEugeneS.OdumAwardforExcellenceinEcologyEducation(2015).AOUElectiveMember1989;AOUFellow2001.Myfirstresearchexperience,astudyofeggneglectinFork-tailedStorm-PetrelsonEastAmatuliIsland,Alaska,inspiredapassionforunderstandingthebehavioralecologyandpopulationbiologyofisolatedbirdpopulations.Ihaveconductedlong-termstudiesofSavannahSparrowsandTreeSwallowsonaborealislandinCanadaandexploredcoevolutionoffruit-eatingbirdsandtheirfoodplantsinatropicalcloudforest.Myresearchhasalwaystieddirectlytomyteaching.AtBowdoinCollege,Ihavetaught14differentcourses,eachdesignedtohelpstudentsunderstandandappreciatenaturalhistoryandecologicalprinciples.Myapproachtoteachingemphasizeshands-on,curiosity-driven,rigorousfieldexperimentsinformedbyanunderstandingofthefundamentalecologyofspeciesinthewild.Atleast50undergraduateshavebeenincludedasco-authorsonmypeer-reviewedpapers,11formerstudentshavewonNSFGraduateResearchFellowships,anddozensofthemarecurrentlyonthefacultyofvariousuniversitiesandcolleges.IhavealsodeeplyenjoyedworkingwithgraduatestudentsonnumerousOTScoursesandleadingfieldecologycoursesinBolivia,CubaandBotswana.STATEMENT:FordecadestheAOUhadbeenmy“home”societyandaninspirationalresourceformeintellectually,professionallyandpersonally.Overthattime,Ihaveseenmanychangesinthesocietyandinthefieldofornithology,butamongthemostexcitingareAOS’snewinitiatives.

17

Theseincludeprofessionaldevelopmentformembers,especiallyatearlycareerstages;jointmeetings(andpossiblemergers)withotherornithologicalsocieties;jointpublicationofjournals;andincreasedemphasesonconservingbirdsandmakingourknowledgeofandenthusiasmforbirdsaccessibletodecision-makersandthepublic.AsamemberoftheCouncil,Iwillworktorealizethesegoals,drawingonmyresearchexperiencetopromotelong-termfieldstudiesandmyteachingexperiencetostrengtheneducationandpublicoutreachaboutbirds.IalsobelieveitiscruciallyimportanttobroadentheethnicandeconomicdiversityofourmembershipwithintheU.S.andCanada,andtostrengthentiesandinteractionwithstudentsandfacultyinLatinAmerica.

18

Councilors–Termsending2018

ElizabethP.DerryberryKatieM.DuggerKevinE.Omland

VivianaRuiz-Gutierrez

ELIZABETHP.DERRYBERRYTitle:Professor,DepartmentofEcologyandEvolutionaryBiology,UniversityofTennessee,KnoxvilleBIO:Professor,DepartmentofEcologyandEvolutionaryBiology,UniversityofTennessee,Knoxville(current).AssistantProfessorofEcologyandEvolutionaryBiology,TulaneUniversity.Ph.D.2007,DukeUniversity;LSUMuseumofNaturalSciencePostdoctoralFellow2007-2012.PublishedinOrnitol.Neotrop.,Auk,Condor,Anim.Behav.,Mol.Phylogenet.Evol,Evolution,ScienceandNature.AOUSeniorAwardsCommitteemember2015-2017.Istudytheeffectofecologicalselectionontheevolutionofbirdsongfromapopulationperspectiveinwhite-crownedsparrowsandusingacomparativeapproachinNeotropicalsuboscines.STATEMENT:AOSwillcontinuetothriveasanorganizationbecauseitembracesincorporatingearlycareerprofessionalsintoleadershiproles.Asanearlycareerprofessional,IamexcitedtoserveontheAOUCouncil.IvaluetheimportantpublicationsproducedbyAOS,thecuttingedgesymposiaofitsconferences,and,mostofall,itssupportandinvolvementofearlycareerornithologists.WorkingontheAOSCouncilgivesmetheopportunitytocontributetothemaintenanceandgrowthofthisorganization,whichisimportanttosomany.IworkwithothermembersoftheCounciltoengageingoodgovernance,promotethesociety'spublications,andmeettheneedsoftheAOSmembership.

19

KATIEM.DUGGERAssociateProfessor,OregonStateUniversity,andUSGS-OregonCooperativeFishandWildlifeResearchUnitBIO:U.S.GeologicalSurvey,AssistantUnitLeader,OregonCooperativeFish&WildlifeResearchUnit,AssociateProfessor,DepartmentofFisheries&Wildlife,OregonStateUniversity,Corvallis,Oregon.Ph.D.1997,UniversityofMissouri,Columbia.Publishedextensively(34)inawidevarietyofpeer-reviewedjournalsincludingTheAuk,Condor,EcologicalApplications,EcologicalMonographs,Ecology,FrontiersinEcologyandEvolution,J.ofAnimalEcology,J.ofFieldOrnithology,J.ofWildlifeManagement,MarineEcologyProgressSeries,ProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofScience,StudiesinAvianBiology,WildlifeMonographs,WilsonJournalofOrnithology.MemberofCooperOrnithologicalSocietysince1988,awardedLifetimeHonoraryMemberstatusin2014.MemberofAOUsince1988,ElectedMembersince2012.Memberoftheorganizingcommitteeforthe125thAOUmeetingheldwithCOSandSCOinPortland2008.ServedtheCooperOrnithologicalSocietyasaMewaldt-KingAwardCommitteeMember(2000-2002),aBoardMember(2006-2009)andtheTreasurer(2009-2012).STATEMENT:IamhonoredtoservetheAOSCouncil,particularlyduringatimewherethereisgreatpotentialforchangeandgrowth.IbelievemypreviousexperienceservingaspartofthegovernanceteamforTheCooperOrnithologicalSocietyhasgivenmeanincreasedunderstandingoftheuniquechallengesfacedbyprofessionalsocieties,particularlywithtechnologicaladvancesandtheeverincreasingneedtostayrelevanttothemembership.IcontinuetohaveaninterestinservingtheornithologicalcommunityandbelieveIcanprovidevaluableperspectiveasalong-timesocietymember,scientistandstudenteducator/mentorasamemberoftheAOSCouncil.IwillhelpguidetheAOSintoastrongandvibrantfuture.

20

KEVINE.OMLANDProfessor,DepartmentofBiologicalSciences,UniversityofMaryland,BaltimoreCounty(UMBC)BIO:UniversityofMaryland,BaltimoreCounty(UMBC)Ph.D.1995,UniversityatAlbany(SUNY);PostdocUniversityofMinnesota,1996-1997;PostdocSmithsonianNationalZoo(GeneticsLabandMigratoryBirdCenter),1998-1999.FacultymemberUMBC2000-present.Myresearchfocusesonunderstandingrecentspeciationinbirds,reconstructingpopulationandspeciesrelationships,andstudyingplumageandsongevolution(especiallyinducks,oriolesandravens).ElectiveMember2002;AOUFellow2009;StudentAwardsCommitteeMember2001-2003;StudentAwardsCommitteeChair,2004-2006;AOURepresentativetoAmericanInstituteofBiologicalSciences(AIBS),2004-2006;ResearchAwardsCommittee2015-present;NAOC2016ScientificProgramCommittee.CurrentlyChairoftheDiversity&InclusionAdHocCommittee.Over30publicationsinornithologicaljournals.STATEMENT:IbecameamemberoftheAOU"backinthe1900s".IwasfortunateenoughtobementoredbyproudAOUmembersincludingKenAble,ScottLanyonandRobFleischer.AOUwasmyprimaryscientificsocietyandmyresearchhasspannedawiderangeofornithologicalresearchtopics.TherecentmergerofAOU/COStoAOSisofftoagoodstart,andAOSshouldbeopentocontinuedcooperationamongbirdsocietiesforthelong-termviabilityofourfield.AOSisfinanciallystrong,soIadvocateusingthoseresourcestomakemeetingattendanceevenmoreaffordableforstudentsandpostdocs--gettingyoungermemberstoparticipateearlyandofteninmeetingsiskeytomaintainingaviableornithologicalresearchcommunityforthecomingdecades.Wemustkeeponthecuttingedgeofsocialmediaandelectronicdisseminationtoengageallmembers.Finally,increasedattentiontodiversitywillhelpensurethatawiderangeofstudentsandresearcherscareaboutornithologyandbirdsaswellasenvironmentalscienceandconservationmorebroadly.

21

VIVIANA RUIZ-GUTIERREZQuantitativeBiologist,DepartmentofBirdPopulationsStudiesandConservationScience,CornellLabofOrnithology.BIO:QuantitativeBiologist,DepartmentofBirdPopulationsStudiesandConservationScience,CornellLabofOrnithology(current).SeniorScientist,RockyMountainBirdObservatory,FortCollins,Colorado;ResearchAssociate,InstituteforBirdPopulationStudies,PointReyes,California;andLabAssociate,ConservationScienceProgram,CornellLabofOrnithology.Ph.D.2009,CornellUniversity;PostdoctoralResearchFellow,DepartmentofFish,WildlifeandConservationBiology,ColoradoStateUniversity,Colorado,2010-2013.AOUmembersince2006.AOUStudentActivitiesCommittee2007-2009;AOUHistoricalCommittee2013-2014.AOUEarlyCareerProfessionalsCommittee2013-2015.CentralAmericanSpeciesAssessmentOrganizingCommittee2014-present.NABCIMonitoringSub-committee2014-present.STATEMENT:Membershipforallornithologicalsocietiesisdeclining,challengingtheAOStoincreasetheutilityandbenefitsofcontinuedlong-termmembership.AsanAOSCouncilmember,Iwillactivelysupporttheworkofcommitteesfocusedonattractingstudentsandearlycareerprofessionalsbydevelopinginnovativewaystoincreaselearningandnetworkingopportunities.IhavehadextensiveexperiencewithsucheffortsduringmyyearsofservicewiththeStudentActivitiesCommitteeandtheEarlyCareerProfessionalsCommittee.Iwouldalsoworktobroadentheparticipationofunderrepresentedminoritiesinthesocietybyincreasingopportunitiesforfinancialsupport,communityandmentorship.