John Charles Nemeth

Present Position

President of Research and Education Consulting: CGJC Enterprises and Associates and former executive director and chief executive officer of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society

Chapter Affiliation

Radford University

Background Information

CV
Biography

Statement

In October of 2015, John Nemeth was invited out of retirement to become chief executive officer and executive director of the 100,000-member Society. He was honored to serve in that capacity through June of 2017. 
 
During his tenure, he implemented a series of administrative and human resources improvements at the headquarters and several society-wide improvements in communication and interaction with the Board of Directors, the delegates, and the approximately 500 chapters worldwide. This included an online, highly interactive communication capability and rethinking of the Annual Meeting format and objectives. He refocused and set the Society back on a manageable path to solvency by retooling and streamlining budgeting and expenditures processes, by reorganizing and staffing membership, chapter, and programs operations (the heart and soul of Sigma Xi) and helping develop a new operational model for American Scientist, the finest scientific magazine in the world. He also revitalized and staffed the Society development and philanthropy programs, and led the search for and successful hiring of the new, permanent chief executive officer and executive director.
 
Perhaps, the most significant accomplishment was re-establishment of the national presence of Sigma Xi and active participation in influencing national scientific and research policy. He was able to obtain a seat at the table with all the other major scientific societies, such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Research!America, American Geophysical Union (AGU), major academic and governmental entities including the Association of American Universities (AAU), Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), Council of Graduate School (CGS), the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and others. Importantly, he negotiated a physical presence in Washington DC, office space in AAAS headquarters with which in addition, he spearheaded a firm partnership and memorandum of understanding with AAAS. A particular point of pride is his leadership in bringing Sigma Xi to become the first national science society to partner with March or Science, and to allow New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, and Columbus to utilize its not-for-profit status for funding local marches.