The Global Membership Committee (GMC) will provide strategic guidance on the development and implementation of SfN programs and activities to increase value for the global membership, with the goal of enhancing year-round experiences for members worldwide and moving people toward lifelong membership. Working with other SfN committees, through SfN chapters, and in collaborative partnerships with other global and regional neuroscience societies, GMC will work to ensure programs effectively identify and serve the growing needs of members at various stages of their careers and to prioritize greater membership access, thereby enhancing member value and reinforcing the decision to join and renew.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Recognize that member needs and approaches are unique due to many factors, such as career stage, geography, etc., evaluate membership demographics to recommend strategies for enhancing membership and programming to better serve needs, engaging Council and Society committees for feedback and implementation.
- Monitor member value and experience, working with staff to develop and deploy periodic membership-wide surveys and more narrowly focused techniques such as focus groups and sampling surveys as appropriate.
- Create and/or evaluate and strengthen opportunities to experience the value of belonging to SfN throughout the year, in each of SfN's delivery venues (online, the annual meeting, chapters, as volunteers, etc.).
- Recognize that SfN is well positioned to identify and serve the substantial areas of common need and experience for scientists worldwide at a particular stage, work in partnership with other international, regional, and national societies to serve the unique needs of their constituencies.
The Global Membership Committee is part of the Membership Engagement Committee Cluster, which also includes the Trainee Advisory Committee.
Mission
To provide strategic guidance on the development and implementation of SfN programs and activities to increase value for the global membership, with the goal of enhancing year-round experiences for members worldwide and moving people toward lifelong membership.
Responsibilities
Align Unique Member Needs
- Recognizing that member needs and approaches are unique due to many factors, such as career stage, geography, etc., evaluate membership demographics to recommend strategies for enhancing membership and programming to better serve needs, engaging Council and Society committees for feedback and implementation.
Unique Member Value / Environmental Scanning
- Based on research and evaluation, ensure all committees are aware of growing needs of members in each category and provide feedback on potential program solutions.
- Consistently monitor member value and experience, working with staff to develop and deploy periodic membership-wide surveys and more narrowly focused techniques such as focus groups and sampling surveys as appropriate.
- Finalize and implement a framework of varied access levels to align Society programs and services (value) with opportunities to encourage and reward membership.
- Provide input and guidance to marketing and communications efforts that can enhance awareness, use and perceived value of SfN programs and services.
Engagement
- Create and/or evaluate and strengthen opportunities to experience the value of belonging to SfN throughout the year, in each of SfN's delivery venues (online, the annual meeting, chapters, as volunteers, etc.).
- Serve as primary liaison with SfN chapters to strengthen their presence and programming, adding to the value of the Society as a whole.
Global Relations
- Recognizing that SfN is well positioned to identify and serve the substantial areas of common need and experience for scientists worldwide at a particular stage, work in partnership with other international, regional, and national societies to serve the unique needs of their constituencies.
- Provide input into collaborative activities under the partnerships with the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), Chinese Neuroscience Society (CNS), and the Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS).
Composition
The committee is composed of SfN members recommended by the Committee on Committees and approved by Council. Composition of the committee typically includes representatives from diverse membership categories, the international community, and non-academic sector. The incoming chair serves as an ex officio member of the committee.
There is one standing sub-committee – the Chapters Subcommittee – to oversee and report to GMC, all chapters-related activities.
Schedule
The Committee will meet twice per year, including once during SfN's annual meeting and once usually in the spring season. Additional committee work is conducted via e-mail and conference calls, as needed, throughout the calendar year.
Global Membership Committee
Chairperson | Term Ends |
---|---|
Stoop, Ron
Ctr Psychiatric Neuroscience |
11/17/2026 |
Members | |
---|---|
Hsueh, Yi-Ping
Swets Information Services |
10/8/2024 |
Kemere, Caleb
Rice University |
10/8/2024 |
Farris, Shannon
Virginia Tech |
10/8/2024 |
Dzakpasu, Rhonda
Georgetown University |
11/18/2025 |
Lourenco, Mychael V.
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro |
11/18/2025 |
Serrano, Elba E Elisa
New Mexico State University |
11/18/2025 |
Nwoha, Polycarp Umunna
Obafemi Awolowo University |
11/18/2025 |
Gozes, Illana
School of Medicine/Tel Aviv University |
11/18/2025 |
Abrams, Mathew B
INCF |
11/17/2026 |
Yakovenko, Sergiy
West Virginia University |
11/17/2026 |
Segal, Richard L
Medical University of South Carolina |
11/17/2026 |
Johansen, Joshua P.
RIKEN Center for Brain Science |
11/17/2026 |