Position Descriptions
Information on each position is listed below. Information on current leadership can be found
here. ASPA bylaws provide details on the nomination process;
click here for more.
District Representative
International Director
Student Professional Representative
Who is eligible? An ASPA member in good standing whose membership is current through the end of the voting period, who has been a member for at least one year immediately prior to nomination and whose primary residence or principal place of employment in the electoral district from which the individual is nominated and stands for election.
Who elects the district representative? ASPA members in good standing whose primary address is in the electoral district where the district representative is running.
How long is the term? Three years. A District Representative is eligible to serve no more than two full consecutive terms but is eligible to serve additional terms following at least one year of non-service. An incumbent seeking a second consecutive term shall be considered for, but is not guaranteed, renomination.
What are the responsibilities? A District Representative is expected to assume leadership responsibilities vital to ASPA’s effective operations, including national, district, Chapter and Section responsibilities. The individual:
- Actively supports ASPA’s goals, including leading development of its strategic direction and/or plan.
- Engages in policy deliberations and decisionmaking impacting ASPA.
- Represents ASPA’s goals and objectives to members and the general public.
- Supports and facilitates the work of Chapters and Sections and liaises between them and the national organization.
- Ensures prudent use of all assets, including financial resources, intellectual property, people, and goodwill; seeks to enhance such assets; and fulfills its fiduciary responsibility by supporting activities that advance ASPA’s effectiveness and sustainability.
- Makes an annual financial contribution to ASPA and participates in Council-led fundraising initiatives aimed at strengthening the organization’s financial position.
What are the districts?
- District 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
- District 2: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, West Virginia
- District 3: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
- District 4: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
- District 5: Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah
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Who is eligible? An ASPA member in good standing whose membership is current through the end of the voting period and who has been a member for at least one year immediately prior to nomination.
Who elects the district representative? ASPA members in good standing whose primary address on file is outside the United States.
How long is the term? Three years. The International Director is eligible to serve no more than two full consecutive terms but is eligible to serve additional terms following at least one year of non-service. An incumbent seeking a second consecutive term shall be considered for, but is not guaranteed, renomination.
What are the responsibilities? The International Director is expected to assume leadership responsibilities vital to ASPA’s effective operations, particularly related to our global members. The individual:
- Actively supports ASPA’s goals, including leading development of its strategic direction and/or plan.
- Engages in policy deliberations and decisionmaking impacting ASPA.
- Represents ASPA’s goals and objectives to members and the general public.
- Supports and facilitates the work of Chapters and Sections, particularly those related to international interests: the International Chapter and regional Sections.
- Ensures prudent use of all assets, including financial resources, intellectual property, people, and goodwill; seeks to enhance such assets; and fulfills its fiduciary responsibility by supporting activities that advance ASPA’s effectiveness and sustainability.
- Makes an annual financial contribution to ASPA and participates in Council-led fundraising initiatives aimed at strengthening the organization’s financial position.
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Who is eligible? An ASPA member in good standing whose membership is current through the end of the voting period, who has been a member for at least one year immediately prior to nomination, and who holds the student or new professional membership category.
Who elects the student representative? ASPA members in good standing who hold the Student or New Professional membership category.
How long is the term? One year.
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We seek candidates with a wide range of leadership skills, including a strategic and proven understanding of the public administration and public service profession—spanning practice and scholarship—to position ASPA for continued programmatic and financial growth. We welcome individuals with a commitment to the following:
- Building a positive organizational culture. Engage and convene Chapter leadership and provide a District/locally based voice at the national organizational level. Actively participate in Chapter visits, contribute to cultivating new Chapters and strengthening existing ones; attend and support District-based conferences.
- Participating in ASPA’s development activities. Support ASPA’s financial and programmatic position. Actively participate in fundraising-related efforts, including through an annual contribution; provide leads and recommendations on prospective donors/supporters. Recommend programmatic ideas that advance ASPA’s focus on the field’s most critical issues, including infrastructure, finance, social equity and public service.
- Demonstrating a Duty of Care, Loyalty and Obedience. Consistent with the role of governing boards, ensure ASPA’s mission and welfare stands at the forefront of the member’s contributions to the National Council.
In 2024, the National Council approved the following vision statement to guide its work:
ASPA’s significance of trust, respect, collaboration and commitment in building a cohesive and effective team—as well as the importance of active participation, open communication and integrity in leadership—should create the solid foundation for its governance excellence.
We, the members of ASPA’s National Council, commit to each other and our members that we will fulfill the expectations and responsibilities associated with our positions and articulated to us when we stood for election or appointment. As a community, we will trust, respect, collaborate with and be committed to each other throughout our individual leadership terms.
We also commit to building and maintaining group cohesion each year, so that we will work effectively as a whole and place the good of the organization above individual interests or concerns. We value active participation, open communication and leadership integrity; we will rely on those values as the foundation for all of our work, enabling us to focus on ASPA’s mission of advancing excellence in public service.
We are looking for thoughtful decisionmakers, strategic minds and action-oriented volunteers who are willing and able to work with the national organization’s professional staff as we continue to grow ASPA as the leading professional membership association for public service.
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