Leadership Development Committee

Purpose

The Leadership Development Committee (LDC) is responsible for identifying, recruiting and nominating a contested slate of candidates for APS President-elect, Treasurer and at-large Board Directors. Final selection of leaders is made through an election by APS membership. LDC accomplishes these tasks by:  

  • Soliciting candidate recommendations from the APS Advisory Council and APS members and leaders.
  • Conducting interviews and clarifying competencies and multirepresentational balance elements with the APS Board of Directors.  
  • Developing a rubric for the evaluation of candidates for consistent and uniform evaluation.  
  • Conducting a fair, transparent and consistently applied process for candidate evaluation.

Composition

The immediate past APS president serves as the chair of LDC for one year. The Board Directors who are serving their third year of their term also serve on the committee for one year. Five non-Board members selected by the Advisory Council serve a two-year nonrenewable term. The APS CEO serves as an ex officio member without a vote.

Current Leadership Development Committee

  • Timothy Musch, PhD, FAPS, FACSM, Chair
  • Michael Caplan, MD, PhD, FAPS, third-year Board member
  • Karla Haack, PhD, third-year Board member
  • Gina Yosten, PhD, third-year Board member
  • Carole Liedtke, PhD, FAPS, selected by Advisory Council
  • David Poole, DSc, FAPS, selected by Advisory Council
  • Timo Rieg, PhD, selected by Advisory Council
  • Kathy Ryan, PhD, FAPS, selected by Advisory Council
  • Loren Wold, PhD, selected by Advisory Council
  • Scott Steen, CAE, FASAE, APS CEO

2025–2026 Nominations Process and Timeline

Aug. 18—Candidate Nominations Open 

  • Nominations for President-elect and APS Board Directors open. APS members may submit nominations for 30 days.

Sept. 18—Candidate Nominations Close

  • LDC contacts all eligible candidates to confirm their willingness to serve.
  • LDC provides candidates with the required competencies for each position. Candidates complete an application describing how they have served the Society and how their skills or experiences demonstrate the required competencies.

Oct. 29—First LDC Meeting 

  • Committee convenes to discuss the candidates’ applications.
  • Committee reviews the candidates’ applications, considering the identified competencies: 
    • Qualifications, skill set and merit. 
    • Past participation in APS activities. 
    • Potential contributions to the Society as a future officer. 

Nov. 13 to Nov. 14—LDC Interviews Candidates

  • Committee schedules 15-minute interviews with potential candidates. 

Nov. 17—Second LDC Meeting 

  • Committee meets to finalize a slate with two names for President-elect and six names for Board Director.

Jan. 15—“Get to Know the Candidates” Town Hall Meeting

  • A 90-minute town hall event provides each candidate the opportunity to briefly introduce themselves and discuss their goals if elected. Member Q&A follows.

Jan. 15 to Feb. 16—APS-wide Election

  • APS dues-paying members receive a ballot with two candidates for President-elect (choose one) and six candidates for Board Director (choose three).

Feb. 20—New Officers Announced

  • The current APS president calls all candidates for President-elect and Board Director to share election results.
  • APS announces election results to the membership.

April 22—New President-elect and Board Directors Attend the American Physiology Summit 

  • New officers attend the American Physiology Summit.
  • Terms begin at the close of the annual business meeting at the Summit.

Eligibility for President-elect

Candidates for APS President-elect must have prior experience on the APS Council/Board of Directors as an elected Councilor/Director. They must complete their term on the Board before being eligible for the position of President-elect.

Eligibility for Board Members

Candidates for the APS Board of Directors should have recent experience serving the Society by participating in one or more of the following:

  • APS section or interest group steering committees.
  • APS committee
  • APS publications as an editor or editorial board member.
  • APS task force or other special project.