Nominating Committee
Chair
Marie Cartier
Past President
Marie Cartier
Past President
- Ph.D., Religion with an emphasis on Women and Religion, Claremont Graduate University
- Author of the critically acclaimed book Baby, You Are My Religion: Women, Gay Bars, and Theology Before Stonewall (Routledge 2013)
- Senior Lecturer in Gender and Women’s Studies and Queer Studies at California State University Northridge, and in Film Studies at University of CA Irvine
Committee Member
The Rev. Dr. Sakena Young-Scaggs
President
The Rev. Dr. Sakena Young-Scaggs
President
- Senior Associate Dean for Religious & Spiritual Life and Pastor of Memorial Church, Stanford University
Ph.D. in Women and Gender Studies at Arizona State University, 2019. Dissertation: Afrofuturism, Womanist Phenomenology, and the Black Imagination: A Liberative Revisioning of Black Humanity
Committee Member
Student Director
Kali (Meera) Tanikella
Ph.D. Candidate, Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion, Center for Dharma Studies, Graduate Theological Union.
MA Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, CA
Adjunct Faculty, University of San Francisco, School of Education
Therapist at Rula LLC and Trihealing LLC.
Kali (Meera) Tanikella is a Ph.D. Candidate in Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion at the Center for Dharma Studies, Graduate Theological Union. With a Master's in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University, she is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Kali uses a trauma-informed, embodied pedagogical approach as an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of San Francisco, School of Education. Beyond academia, she applies her skills to various mental health traumas as a therapist at Rula LLC and Trihealing LLC, offering compassionate care and insightful therapy.
Student Director
Kali (Meera) Tanikella
Ph.D. Candidate, Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion, Center for Dharma Studies, Graduate Theological Union.
MA Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, CA
Adjunct Faculty, University of San Francisco, School of Education
Therapist at Rula LLC and Trihealing LLC.
Kali (Meera) Tanikella is a Ph.D. Candidate in Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion at the Center for Dharma Studies, Graduate Theological Union. With a Master's in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University, she is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Kali uses a trauma-informed, embodied pedagogical approach as an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of San Francisco, School of Education. Beyond academia, she applies her skills to various mental health traumas as a therapist at Rula LLC and Trihealing LLC, offering compassionate care and insightful therapy.
Nominating Committee and Presidential Line Qualifications
NOMINATING COMMITTEES AND PRESIDENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Section 1. Nominating committee.
(a) 2 members of the Board of Directors and the Immediate Past President shall serve on the Nominating Committee, not later than at the Annual Conference Board meeting of each year. The Chairperson shall be the Immediate Past President or otherwise elected by the committee. In addition to the three elected members, the President shall serve as an advisory member of the Nominating Committee.
(b) To encourage the membership to submit names of proposed nominees for the Presidential Line, the names of the members of the Nominating Committee shall be published promptly on the organization’s website.
(c) The Nominating Committee shall determine the number of vacancies of Board, both full term and unexpired term, in the election next to be held. The Nominating Committee shall prepare and present to the Annual Conference Board meeting the slate of nominee(s) to be sent to the American Academy of Religion (National) to facilitate the annual election.
(d) At the Board of Directors' meeting prior to the Annual Conference Board meeting, the Nominating Committee shall present a list of nominee(s) for election to the Board. As nearly as practicable, nominees shall be designated with the intention of equalizing the numbers of males and females on the Board, regional participation, and diversity qualifications.
(e) Individuals who are recommended to stand for election by the Nominating Committee and submitted to the American Academy of Religion (National) shall meet the following minimum requirements: attend at least two AAR/WR conference in the last 5 years, served as a Chair and/or Co-Chair of Unit; and been a member of the Board and/or Advisory Board in good standing. At the Board meeting prior to the Annual Conference Board Meeting, following the presentation of the Nominating Committee’s list of nominee(s), the floor shall be open for additional nominations. Nominations will be accepted if supported by at least 2 current members of the Board present at the meeting. Such floor nominees must have previously been apprised of the qualifications, responsibilities, and commitment expected of Board Members and expressed willingness to serve if elected. Once the President determines at that meeting that there are no further floor nominations, nominations shall be closed. The Nominating Committee shall prepare and present to the American Academy of Religion (National) the names of the nominee(s) that they shall put forth via online ballot to be voted on by the American Academy of Religion Western Region (AAR/WR) members.
(f) The Nominating Committee, elected in any year, shall continue in office until a new committee is elected by the Board of Directors.
(g) Should there be a vacancy in the Board at any time, the existing Board of Director shall appoint an individual to serve the remaining term of the vacant Board position.
Updated: 10/8/24
Approved by the AAR/WR Board: 9/30/24
Section 1. Nominating committee.
(a) 2 members of the Board of Directors and the Immediate Past President shall serve on the Nominating Committee, not later than at the Annual Conference Board meeting of each year. The Chairperson shall be the Immediate Past President or otherwise elected by the committee. In addition to the three elected members, the President shall serve as an advisory member of the Nominating Committee.
(b) To encourage the membership to submit names of proposed nominees for the Presidential Line, the names of the members of the Nominating Committee shall be published promptly on the organization’s website.
(c) The Nominating Committee shall determine the number of vacancies of Board, both full term and unexpired term, in the election next to be held. The Nominating Committee shall prepare and present to the Annual Conference Board meeting the slate of nominee(s) to be sent to the American Academy of Religion (National) to facilitate the annual election.
(d) At the Board of Directors' meeting prior to the Annual Conference Board meeting, the Nominating Committee shall present a list of nominee(s) for election to the Board. As nearly as practicable, nominees shall be designated with the intention of equalizing the numbers of males and females on the Board, regional participation, and diversity qualifications.
(e) Individuals who are recommended to stand for election by the Nominating Committee and submitted to the American Academy of Religion (National) shall meet the following minimum requirements: attend at least two AAR/WR conference in the last 5 years, served as a Chair and/or Co-Chair of Unit; and been a member of the Board and/or Advisory Board in good standing. At the Board meeting prior to the Annual Conference Board Meeting, following the presentation of the Nominating Committee’s list of nominee(s), the floor shall be open for additional nominations. Nominations will be accepted if supported by at least 2 current members of the Board present at the meeting. Such floor nominees must have previously been apprised of the qualifications, responsibilities, and commitment expected of Board Members and expressed willingness to serve if elected. Once the President determines at that meeting that there are no further floor nominations, nominations shall be closed. The Nominating Committee shall prepare and present to the American Academy of Religion (National) the names of the nominee(s) that they shall put forth via online ballot to be voted on by the American Academy of Religion Western Region (AAR/WR) members.
(f) The Nominating Committee, elected in any year, shall continue in office until a new committee is elected by the Board of Directors.
(g) Should there be a vacancy in the Board at any time, the existing Board of Director shall appoint an individual to serve the remaining term of the vacant Board position.
Updated: 10/8/24
Approved by the AAR/WR Board: 9/30/24