Have you ever considered being more involved in the American Association of Geographers? Are you looking to enhance your resume or CV with service experience? Consider volunteering for one of the many positions available for members of the AAG and help support the ongoing efforts of the Association in serving and representing our large community of geographers. Whether you are a student getting started in geography or a professional well into your career, there are plenty of opportunities available and we would like your help!

Volunteering for the AAG is a great way to become engaged in a national association in your field while boosting your professional credentials. Providing your service to the AAG enhances the discipline of geography, helping make connections among people and building a stronger geography community. It also expands your own network of colleagues and friends!

There are a variety of ways to contribute your skills to the AAG through volunteer opportunities. From serving on national committees to helping out in your regional division, read below to learn how you can become involved:

Members of the AAG can sign up to join up to 6 of our 70+ specialty or affinity groups that align with their interests in geography. Within these groups are countless opportunities to serve colleagues in a subdiscipline close to your own interests. You can gain leadership experience by volunteering to become an officer, or get organizational experience through managing and issuing the groups’ awards. You can also organize Annual Meeting sessions sponsored by the group, monitor and share relevant news, network with individuals in related fields, and help to make decisions on specialty group grants and awards.

Positions are available on elected committees as well as standing and ad hoc committees. Members can run for election to the Honors or Nominating Committees which are responsible for issuing the AAG’s highest awards and recruiting nominees for AAG elections. There are also a variety of Awards Committees for managing the diverse portfolio of AAG awards. Committee member duties include reviewing award applications and selecting awardees. Standing and Ad Hoc Committees deal with topics ranging from finance to membership to the annual World Geography Bowl.

The AAG has 9 Regional Divisions; do you know which one you are located in? Serve your AAG Regional Division as an officer, help organize the regional division annual meetings (held annually in the fall), run for election as a Regional Councilor to coordinate between the AAG headquarters and the regional division, or help to organize a regional geography bowl or paper competition, for students to get funding assistance to attend the AAG Annual Meeting! Contact your regional division officers for more details on getting involved in the AAG regions.

The AAG Council serves as the governing body for the Association and consists of elected councilors (six national Councilors, one Councilor from each of our nine Regional Divisions, and a Student Councilor), the AAG Vice President, President and Past President, the AAG Treasurer, AAG Secretary and the Executive Director of the AAG. Consider running for election for Vice President, as a National Councilor, or a Regional Councilor.

The AAG seeks interns year-round to work in our main office and participate in our ongoing work and activities including research, communications, and the Annual Meeting. Spend a semester in Washington, DC and see the discipline from the vantage point of the AAG!

Questions on the service opportunities offered with the AAG? Contact Candida Mannozzi at cmannozzi [at] aag [dot] org.

The AAG Snapshots series, first launched at the 2017 Annual Meeting, provides insight on and information about different aspects of the projects, programs, and resources of the association. Do you have suggestions for future Snapshots content from AAG staff? Email cluebbering [at] aag [dot] org.