I hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer with a little time to unwind. At the start of the new Board year, I want to remind everyone that nominations for both the Board and the Nominations and Election Committee (NEC) are open on the AIR site at Nominations and Elections Process. Our volunteer leadership is vital to the functioning of AIR and helps keep us thriving as an organization. Additionally, as I begin the third year of my Board term, I can say that serving the AIR community as a volunteer leader has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It has allowed me to connect with more of my IR/IE colleagues and to gain a deeper understanding of the operations of a professional organization that has been a big part of my academic career.

I want to emphasize that first benefit of volunteer leadership—the opportunity to connect with a huge network of IR and IE professionals—because it is one of the core strengths and benefits of being actively engaged with AIR. There are many ways to connect and learn with your colleagues through AIR. One significant way is the annual AIR Forum. However, there are many other ways throughout the year—such as the virtual workshops and courses where you can build your knowledge and skills while connecting with other professionals. AIR also offers more informal methods like the monthly AIR coffee chats, where you can interact casually with Board members and other AIR members. Finally, there is a great source for asynchronous conversations and resources through AIR Hub, with its general discussion board, IPEDS knowledge exchange, and many other special focus groups.

By being a member of AIR, you are part of a thriving community with thousands of remarkable members. One of the greatest benefits of membership is getting to interact and learn with those individuals, so make use of that opportunity. And I hope that one day, maybe even this year, you will consider joining us as an AIR volunteer leader!