Our Work
The American Society for Microbiology strives to represent the interests of its membership and the field of microbiology. We are governed by bylaws and members who volunteer to lead the organization.
Overview
ASM Board of Directors
The ASM Board of Directors, supported by the Committees of the Board, provides strategic direction to our Society. It is responsible for the organizational, business, legal, financial and governance matters of our organization. The Board of Directors is chaired by the president. Annual elections to the board begin in the late summer each year with a call for nominations from ASM membership.
Serving on the ASM Board is an honor and a privilege, one that carries with it the responsibility to serve the interests of ASM, its members and stakeholders and to accomplish its mission. Board directors should conduct themselves and perform their duties in an exemplary fashion, commensurate with the position of leadership in which they serve. All board members are expected to abide by key legal duties, as defined in the D.C. Code of Law—the duties of care, loyalty and obedience. Directors have basic responsibilities that derive from these duties, which include the following:
- To support the mission and purpose of ASM and to abide by its policies.
- To be diligent in attending, preparing for and participating in board meetings and related activities on behalf of ASM.
- To ensure that the financial affairs of ASM are, to the best of the board members' knowledge, managed responsibly and prudently.
- To always act in good faith and in the best interests of ASM and not in the interest of a specific constituency, interest group or individual.
- To maintain the confidentiality of sensitive, privileged or proprietary information obtained because of board service.
