EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OFFICERS
Immediate Past President: Cathy Skidmore-Hess
cskid@georgiasouthern.edu
President: Brian Parkinson
brian.parkinson@gsw.edu
VP/President Elect: Joseph Bangura
bangurajjoseph@gmail.com
Secretary: Philip I. Szmedra
szmedra001@gannon.edu
Treasurer: Paul Rodell
rodell@georgiasouthern.edu
Executive Director: Lauren Eastwood
lauren.eastwood@plattsburgh.edu
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS
Position #1: Alwen Yeung
alwen.yeung@gsw.edu
Position #2: Olufunke Fontenot
olufunke.fontenot53@gmail.com
Position #3: Doyin Coker-Kolo
ecokerko@ius.edu
Nominations & Elections Committee [chair]: Michael R. Hall
mrhall@georgiasouthern.edu
Information Services Committee [chair]: Jack Mangala
mangalaj@gvsu.edu
Teaching Committee [chair]: Jose de Arimateia da Cruz
jdacruz@georgiasouthern.edu
Journal of Global South Studies [editor]: Ryan Alexander
ralex006@plattsburgh.edu
As a result of the 2023 Executive Council elections conducted between 15 August and 15 September 2023, Joseph Bangura [VP/President Elect] and Lauren Eastwood [Position #1] joined the Executive Council after the Awards Banquet in Decatur, Georgia on Saturday 21 October. To rectify a void on the Executive Council caused by the Executive Director’s incapacitation and the Immediate Past President’s ongoing family care issues, the Nominations and Elections Committee made three proposals on Wednesday 25 October that were accepted by the overwhelming majority of the Executive Council, which is charged by the Constitution with filling vacancies on the Executive Council. Lauren Eastwood was selected to succeed Bill Pederson as Executive Director. Lauren Eastwood resigned her Position #1 seat and was replaced by Alwen Yeung, who was the runner-up for that position in the recent election. Cathy Skidmore-Hess, who served as Immediate Past President 2022/2023, was selected to complete Sura Rath’s term. Since the 2024 conference in Bulgaria will be held from 21 to 23 July, the Elections and Nominations committee must adjust the timing of nominations and elections. In 2024, the Call for Nominations will be from 1 March to 1 May and elections will be conducted from 15 May to 15 June. This year we need 14 candidates for 7 positions. Please consider nominating yourself if interested and willing to serve on the Executive Council.