2026-2027 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OFFICERS
President: Ryan Alexander
Professor of History, State University of New York, Plattsburgh
Immediate Past President: Sabella Abidde
Professor of Political Science, Alabama State University, Montgomery
Vice-President / President-Elect: José de Arimatéia da Cruz
Professor of Political Science and International Studies, Georgia Southern University
Secretary: Philip I. Szmedra
Professor of Economics, Gannon University
Treasurer: Danielle Smith
Assistant Provost, Global Education, Georgia Southern University
daniellesmith@georgiasouthern.edu
Executive Director: Lauren Eastwood
Professor of Sociology, State University of New York, Plattsburgh
lauren.eastwood@plattsburgh.edu
Executive Council Position 1: Joseph Bangura
Professor of History, Delaware State University
Executive Council Position 2: Assefaw Bariagaber
Professor of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University
Executive Council Position 3: Mihailo Vučetić
Chuck Green Civic Engagement Fellow, Macalester College
Chair, Nominations and Elections Committee: Michael Hall
Professor of History, Georgia Southern University
Chair, Information Services Committee: Brian Parkinson
Professor of History, Georgia Southwestern State University
Chair, Teaching Committee: Cathy Skidmore-Hess
Associate Professor of History, Georgia Southern University
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Global South Studies: Carolina Rocha
Associate Director, Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The official Call for Nominations was from 1 June to 1 August 2026. Elections were conducted from 15 August to 15 September 2026. The new VP/President Elect is José de Arimatéia da Cruz and the new representative for Position #1 is Joseph Bangura. In addition, the Executive Council appointed Mihailo Vučetić to fill the vacancy in Position #3. Lauren Eastwood [who completed her third year serving as Executive Director] agreed to serve in that position until the Executive Council identifies and appoints a new Executive Director [prior to 1 June 2027]. Members interested in serving as Executive Director should contact the President of the association before 1 May 2027. Members interested in serving on the Executive Council should contact the chair of the Nominations and Elections committee. Notwithstanding extenuating circumstances, all members of the Executive Council are expected to make a “good faith” effort to attend the annual conference.