2025 SIGMA XI ELECTIONS

Active members are encouraged to vote in the Sigma Xi elections starting at 8:00 a.m. ET on November 3, 2025, to determine who will become president-elect, directors, associate directors, and members of the Committee on Nominations. Members will receive an email from elections@vote-now.com that contains a ballot and instructions on how to vote online.

All who receive a ballot can vote for the president-elect and other open positions in their region and constituency. Ballots will be personalized with the candidates that pertain to each member.

Active members can identify the region and constituency that they will be voting for by identifying the region and constituency associated with their Sigma Xi chapter. Members who aren't affiliated with a chapter can vote for candidates in the Membership-at-Large Constituency.

List of Duties and Responsibilities for Elected Positions

President-Elect Candidates

The president-elect designee will serve a three-year term: Sigma Xi president-elect from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027; president of Sigma Xi from July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2028; and past president from July 1, 2028, to June 30, 2029.

Beverly Karplus Hartline

Presidential Candidate

Video Statement

"I am willing to be a candidate for president of Sigma Xi now, because I care. Importantly, as a recently retired person, my intellectual abilities and networks are still quite active and my other responsibilities have ebbed to a level that would allow me to invest the time and effort the Society deserves.

Moreover, with science (as well as democracy) under attack in America, we are in very trying times that discipline-centric responses can’t solve. The intellectual power, disciplinary span, geographic range, skills, ideas, and strong ethical values of Sigma Xi’s members can be harnessed to help each other and the research community overcome these threats and challenges, so that science and honest inquiry can thrive."

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Carlo Segre

Presidential Candidate

Video Statement

I have been a member of Sigma Xi since 1995 and have served as Illinois Tech Chapter President, North Central Director and on various committees (Awards, Finance, and Nominations). Sigma Xi occupies an important place among scientific societies because, as a Chapter-based organization, it has access to young people who are beginning their careers not only in science but in many other, nonscientific areas. No matter where their professions will lead them, Sigma Xi has a unique opportunity to keep them engaged in the scientific world. It would be an honor for me to help make this vision a reality as President.

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Jeffrey Vitter

Presidential Candidate

Video Statement

I am passionate about the power of higher education to transform lives, communities, and the world. It provides individuals — and their generations to come — with productive futures and self-esteem. A major priority for me is to increase pathways to education for all.

The research component of higher education — especially in science, engineering, and medicine — plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation and long-term economic prosperity. It also provides students with invaluable experiences in initiative, ethics, and independence. It turns a good education into a great education. It motivates me to serve as Sigma Xi president.

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Treasurer

Treasurer serves four-year term, starting July 1, 2026.

David Baker

Treasurer Candidate

Statement

I’ve been a full member of Sigma Xi since 1979, a life member since 2003, a member of the Committee on Finance since July 2012, and Treasurer/Chair of the Committee on Finance since July 2016. My educational background includes BS and MS degrees in Industrial Engineering from West Virginia University (WVU) and a Ph.D. in Mineral Economics (specializing in Operations Research) from the Colorado School of Mines (CSM). I’ve maintained close ties to both WVU and CSM, including election to the WVU Academy of Industrial Engineers in 1995, serving on the Visiting Committee of the Industrial and Management Systems Engineering department for over 20 years, and the Visiting Committee of the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources for 10 years.

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Ann Paterson

Treasurer Candidate

Statement

My vision is to see Sigma Xi managing its funds as wisely as possible to support its members and the community at large while working to grow the membership and financial resources. My philosophy is that a treasurer should always be ethical, conscientious, and transparent, providing confidence that resources are being managed wisely. The leadership, members, donors, and the community need to have confidence that funds are being managed responsibly and in a manner consistent with donor specifications and society principles.

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Director: Membership at Large Constituency Group

Directors serve three-year terms, starting July 1, 2026.

Sanie Samuel Sogoyan Sesay

Membership-at-Large

Statement

I am a full member of Sigma Xi, and I am proud to list my membership at the top of the professional organizations section of my curriculum vitae. Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, is one of the oldest, largest and most respected scientific organizations in the world. The Membership at Large Constituency Director plays a crucial role in representing the broader membership and helping guide the society's direction in promoting scientific research excellence and integrity.

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Mark Seielstad

Membership-at-Large

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Director: Research & Doctoral Universities Constituency Group

Directors serve three-year terms, starting July 1, 2026.

Allison Augustus-Wallace

Research & Doctoral Universities Constituency Group

Statement

As I have shared joyously, and previously, learning that I had been nominated for membership into Sigma Xi was and still remains one of the most jubilant moments of my twenty-five-plus year professional career. Sharing this amazing news with my husband that evening and erupting into an emotion of exhilaration, similar to the emotion that I experienced when I successfully defended my dissertation, remains. Over the past years as an active member since my 2020 Sigma Xi induction, that exhilaration has increased as I have served our Society in many capacities, most importantly, both thankfully and devotedly, representing you as your appointed and afterwards, twice-elected Associate Director.

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Alejandro Isabel Luna Maldonado

Research & Doctoral Universities Constituency Group

Statement

As a lifelong advocate for scientific advancement, innovation, and global collaboration, I am honored to seek the opportunity to represent the Research & Doctoral Universities Constituency on the Sigma Xi Board of Directors.

Over the past three decades, I have built a multidisciplinary research portfolio rooted in agricultural and biological engineering, postharvest technology, food science, bioelectrochemical systems, and artificial intelligence. My work has consistently bridged the gap between fundamental science and real-world application. From leading international research initiatives on sustainable wastewater treatment to developing hyperspectral image processing systems for food safety and precision agriculture, my focus has remained on delivering research with impact.

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Richard Spontak

Research & Doctoral Universities Constituency Group

Statement

I am a proud Member of Sigma Xi and consider my affiliation with Sigma Xi and for all it stands to be a career-long milestone. The organization epitomizes the ideals of science, as well as the accompanying moral and ethical issues. In this day and age, its righteous activities are necessary, and members need to be strongly supportive. Some topics that are close to my heart are in need of additional and immediate attention, in which case I have decided to run for a Member position on the Board of Directors for the Research and Doctoral University Constituency.

When highly respected universities came under political attack this year, my faith in the government-university partnership sank to a depth I've never known before. How could students, especially international graduate students, be made to pay the price for political whims? This was and remains unquestionably wrong. This nation…our nation…has, for a very long time, shone brightly as a beacon of hope for students, especially those pursuing careers in the sciences and engineering, beckoning from around the world. While we can all maintain and respect our political differences, students should never be pawns in a national game of no-win chess.

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Director: Northeast Region

Directors serve three-year terms, starting July 1, 2026.

Theodora Pinou

Northeast Region

Statement

Sigma-Xi is a collection of interdisciplinary scholars who practice scientific thinking and reasoning. Belonging to such an organization today is of paramount importance as scholars begin to realize the importance of reaching across disciplines to engage in scientific conversations that transcend traditional scholarly disciplines. Pinou was inducted into the Sigma Xi organization as a graduate student and recalls the special feeling of being nominated by her thesis advisor. She remembers that first sense of belonging and the impact it had on her sense of self, and her identity as a researcher. Pinou is an advocate of mentoring programs that support new scientists and scientific communicators. She is especially interested in strategies that support ethical meritorious research and encourage inclusiveness.

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Larry Spencer

Northeast Region

Statement

I became a member of the society in 1967 as a graduate student at Colorado State. There was no chapter of the society when I became a faculty member Plymouth State College, so my membership was loosely affiliated with the Dartmouth College chapter. Because of the distance between the two campuses, I never formally participated in any activities at Dartmouth. I have been an active reader of the American Scientist since joining the society. I have also taken advantage of the program to bring research scientists to the Plymouth campus. With the last change in leadership in Washington, DC, it became apparent to me that I needed to do something that would strengthen the role of science in the US, thus my desire to gain access to the board.

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Director: Mid-Atlantic Region

Directors serve three-year terms, starting July 1, 2026.

Mukund Chorghade

Mid-Atlantic Region

Statement

I am a serial entrepreneur and an experienced executive with multi-faceted skills, proven record of innovation and exceeding organizational goals. My forte is Creativity in problem solving. I am an ardent cheerleader for sciences, absolute unimpeachability and integrity of ethical professionals is encouraged and promoted by me. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity are not buzzwords or fads: we rejoice and do our utmost to spread the “innovate, inspire and be inspired” credo amongst members. I will encourage activities wherein the transforming power of Sigma Xi will be applied to new modalities for discovery, development and the uplift of global Societies and civilizations. I give back to the Society and community I love. I relish the thought of sharing expertise, knowledge, and wisdom; learning and being inspired by colleagues. I will be a guide by the side and not a sage on stage.

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Deborah Good

Mid-Atlantic Region

Statement

I feel that one of my greatest achievements has been in developing and finding funding for programs to support experiential learning for young scientists. I have a personal passion in this area, as I was one of those students who had the opportunity to do undergraduate research—it changed my life. That experience also led to one of the first times that I received recognition for my research, with a Sigma Xi chapter award from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia. I joined Sigma Xi after winning a Sigma Xi award as a graduate student, and I’ve never left the organization.

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Associate Director: Area Groups, Industry, State and Federal Laboratories Constituency Group

Associate directors serve three-year terms, beginning July 1, 2026.

Elizabeth Ambos

Area Groups, Industry, State and Federal Laboratories Constituency Group

Statement

I’m running for a second term as Associate Director for the AGISFL constituency. My views haven’t wavered about the importance of the AGISFL within Sigma Xi, which is why I’m deeply committed to this service. Sigma Xi is an impressive organization, vital to the health of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) enterprises. Our organization’s steadfast pledge to honor in science; its commitment to create, nurture, advocate for, and sustain a global community of zealous scholars; and the practical resources it provides to connect and support members are all powerful assets. Members of the AGISFL constituency are in a unique position to advocate for diverse research and career pathways for all STEMM students, through partnerships engaging academic, industry, and governmental organizations. My priorities are to support this advocacy, expand outreach to and connect AGISFL members, and foster STEMM research and workforce development pathways, such as undergraduate research and internship programs.

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Associate Director: Comprehensive Colleges and Universities Constituency Group

Associate directors serve three-year terms, beginning July 1, 2026.

Henry Wang

Comprehensive Colleges and Universities Constituency Group

Statement

I am very proud of being a long time Sigma Xi member for more than 20 years, during the years, I have enjoyed many benefits offered by the society. I am always encouraged every time when I think of the society’s mission statement, which is to honor scientific accomplishments, to encourage and to enhance the worldwide appreciation and support of original investigation in science and technology, and to foster worldwide a creative and dynamic interaction among science, technology and society. It is apparent that I can always do more than just being a regular member. It is indeed my obligation to participate in service within the organization.

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Associate Director: Southeast Region

Associate directors serve three-year terms, beginning July 1, 2026.

David Kerstetter

Southeast Region

Statement

At its core, Sigma Xi represents a fundamental part of the scientific identity – the drive to explore the world through research. The organization best represents that identity through
three core missions: (1) collective action to highlight the importance of research to policy-makers and the public as a whole, (2) defend the independence of scientists to conduct valuable research activities, and (3) to facilitate the research of the next generation of scientists through exposure to different disciplines via the American Scientist magazine and support via conferences and small grant programs. As the Associate Director for the Southeast Region constituency, I would work closely with the Director and help to further develop and implement new advocacy strategies especially to nurture and grow the coming generations of scientists...

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Lei Sun

Southeast Region

Statement

Lei Sun is honored to be nominated for Associate Director of Sigma Xi. She brings more than 14 years of experience across software engineering, systems performance, and program management in both academia and industry, combined with a strong record of leadership in professional societies. She is currently serving as Sigma Xi Southeast Associate Director and Technical Product Manager at Mercury Insurance, where she focuses on customer experience, benefits, and long-term engagement. These skills in user retention and community-building directly translate to strengthening engagement and support for Sigma Xi members. Her career includes leadership roles in autonomous systems, sensing technologies, and AI applications...

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Associate Director: Northwest Region

Two-year term, beginning July 1, 2026

Evan Hill

Northwest Region

Statement

Starting at an early age, I’ve always had a strong interest in learning and sharing science with anyone willing to listen. Thus, our mission in Sigma Xi to promote and enhance the public understanding of science has always resonated with me. One of the most valuable benefits of membership in our local chapter has been the opportunity to interact with and learn about the research of people in areas vastly different from my own, that I otherwise wouldn’t encounter. At its core, Sigma Xi aims to encourage the valuation, respect, and sharing of research with each other and the world. In the current state of our society and social culture, it is more imperative than ever that we strive to inform the public of the value and necessity of the scientific endeavor. My interest in this position is to contribute to the continued success of this organization and have the opportunity to be a voice that publicly advocates for the importance of continuing to make the world a better place through quality scientific work...

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Committee on Nominations: Canadian/International Constituency

Representatives serve three-year terms, starting immediately after the election.

Candidates TBD: Write-in option available

Committee on Nominations: Baccalaureate Colleges Constituency

Representatives serve three-year terms, starting immediately after the election.

Brian Haney

Baccalaureate Colleges Constituency

Statement

As a Sigma Xi Member since 2013, I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as a member of the Committee on Nominations. Quality leadership is crucial for the success of any organization, especially as we navigate the challenges of declining membership, participation, and the growing hostility towards higher education in our society and government. Our organization needs leaders with clear vision and commitment to our goals, for only through the continued advancement of scientific research will our civilization overcome the challenges we currently face.

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Committee on Nominations: North Central Region

Representatives serve three-year terms, starting immediately after the election.

Abhijit Chandra

North Central Region

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Committee on Nominations: Southwest Region

Representatives serve three-year terms, starting immediately after the election.

Lawrence Gettleman

Southwest Region

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2025 SIGMA XI ELECTIONS

List of Duties and Responsibilities for Elected Positions

President-Elect Candidates

Beverly Karplus Hartline

Carlo Segre

Jeffrey Vitter

Treasurer

David Baker

Statement

Ann Paterson

Statement

Director: Membership at Large Constituency Group

Sanie Samuel Sogoyan Sesay

Statement

Mark Seielstad

Director: Research & Doctoral Universities Constituency Group

Allison Augustus-Wallace

Statement

Alejandro Isabel Luna Maldonado

Statement

Richard Spontak

Statement

Director: Northeast Region

Theodora Pinou

Statement

Larry Spencer

Statement

Director: Mid-Atlantic Region

Mukund Chorghade

Statement

Deborah Good

Statement

Associate Director: Area Groups, Industry, State and Federal Laboratories Constituency Group

Elizabeth Ambos

Statement

Associate Director: Comprehensive Colleges and Universities Constituency Group

Henry Wang

Statement

Associate Director: Southeast Region

David Kerstetter

Statement

Lei Sun

Statement

Associate Director: Northwest Region

Evan Hill

Statement

Committee on Nominations: Canadian/International Constituency

Committee on Nominations: Baccalaureate Colleges Constituency

Brian Haney

Statement

Committee on Nominations: North Central Region

Abhijit Chandra

Committee on Nominations: Southwest Region

Lawrence Gettleman

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