Board of Directors June 10-11, Meeting Summary

FASEB President, Louis B. Justement, kicked-off the June Board of Directors meeting by congratulating   Betsy A. Bove, PhD (AMP) and Eric E. Kelley, PhD (SfRBM) on their election as Executive Committee Board for 2021/2022. During this meeting, the Board approved Cherié L. Butts appointment as Treasurer-Elect and the appointments of Vijay P. Kale to serve as the Board Early Career Representative and Nele Haelterman to serve as the Science Policy Committee Early Career Representative (all effective July 1, 2021). 

FASEB’s legislative affairs team presented details on the bipartisan research and development bills currently pending in Congress. After a generative exercise, the Board agreed to respond by letter thanking Congress for passing such legislation and sharing the Federation’s concerns about certain provisions included in each bill.  

After reviewing the Federation’s multi-year financial forecast, the Board was provided a brief update on all current strategic initiatives and investments. Ongoing investments in technology and diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) programming were discussed extensively. The Board approved investing $1.5M in 2021-2022 to initiate a new program line promoting and accelerating data reuse and sharing in biological and biomedical research. 

The Board also considered several operational issues and voted to approve the 2020 audit and the unbudgeted expenses associated with holding an in-person Finance Committee and Board of Directors meeting in the final quarter of 2021. 

The meeting concluded with recognition of Board members ending their terms on June 30: Nancy Fisher (ABRF), William B. Farquhar (ACSM), Talat Alp Ikizler (ASCI), Pamela Stanley (SfG), and John B. Morris (SOT). Louis B. Justement formally passed the presidency to Patricia L. Morris, who will take office on July 1, 2021, and the Board expressed their heartfelt appreciation for Immediate Past President, Hannah V. Carey.