The Call for Co-Chairs for the 2026 ASHA Convention is open. The 2026 Convention will take place at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, November 19–21, 2026. The submission deadline is Friday, May 31, 2024.

The two ASHA Convention co-chairs share responsibilities to select and manage the Convention Program Committee. One chair oversees audiology/hearing science programming, while the other oversees programming in speech-language pathology/speech and language science. The two co-chairs also work together on joint general interest topics.

• ASHA staff liaison: Senior Director, ASHA Convention and Meetings
• Works directly with: Program Team, ASHA Convention and Meetings
• Co-chairs' major responsibility: Coordination and oversight of the ASHA Convention program and Program Committee members (topic chairs)
• Co-chair term: ASHA Convention co-chairs serve a two-year term. During Year 1 (2025), the co-chairs serve on the ASHA Convention Program Committee as topic chairs, as well as serve on the Scientific and Professional Education Board (SPEB). During Year 2 (2026), they serve as the co-chairs for the 2026 ASHA Convention.

Note: Any member who has served as an ASHA Convention co-chair may apply again to serve as a co-chair five years after their term ends.

Responsibilities

Year 1 (2025): Co-Chair Elect

The first year of this volunteer position is the "warm up," in which the incoming co-chairs familiarize themselves with the process and responsibilities of the position.

• Serve as topic chairs for the 2025 Convention, including assisting current co-chairs with selection of topics and other topic chairs; attend the 2025 program finalization meeting at the ASHA National Office (June 2025); attend the 2026 Convention Program Committee kick-off meeting at the ASHA National Office as a topic chair (September 2025).
• Participate in preliminary site planning for 2026: Visit the host city for the 2026 Convention with Convention and Meetings staff to view/assign meeting space in the convention center, and to visit various hotels and other venues where meetings/receptions may be held (August 2025).
• Participate in other Convention discussions and conference calls as necessary.
• Attend SPEB meetings according to SPEB membership rotation schedule.
• Meet with the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association Executive Council.
• Attend other meetings as needed with the ASHA CEO and/or the ASHA president.

Year 2 (2026): Co-Chair

During their second year, co-chairs continue work from the Convention Program Committee kick-off meeting in September of 2025.

• Participate in conference calls and meetings as requested by the Board and other committees or councils (Board of Special Interest Group Coordinators, for example); direct the 2026 program finalization meeting (June 2026); attend the Annual Convention (November 2026).
• Develop, coordinate, and implement the overall direction and format of the Annual Convention's educational program, including input on the selection of keynote speakers, sessions, and presenters.
• Partner with ASHA's National Office staff and fellow co-chair to set and communicate goals and objectives for the ASHA Convention.
• Provide direction in Convention theme development in cooperation with the ASHA president and ASHA Convention and Meetings team.
• Consult with the Director of Convention and Meetings concerning the Convention budget, schedule, promotion, and overall Convention management; monitor and adhere to the prescribed budget and facilitate the distribution of allocated funds and waivers among topic chairs.
• Consult with Convention and Meetings team staff regarding pre-conference workshops, potential service projects, special activities, local arrangements, etc.
• Implement the Convention planning timeline as developed by the Convention Program Team.
• Organize and establish (or reorganize and modify as needed) the Convention program content Topic Areas.
• Identify and invite ASHA members to serve as topic chairs to plan and design Convention educational content.
• Support and encourage topic chairs in their efforts to recruit Convention Program Committee members to serve as reviewers. Provide training and orientation to topic chairs. Maintain frequent and thorough communication with topic chairs throughout all planning and review phases and facilitate communication among topic chairs.
• Coordinate the submission of invited/special sessions with topic chairs.
• Review for program content overlap across topic areas; ensure coverage of important content within relevant topic areas; incorporate current issues and trends in the professions when developing content and topic areas; foster cross-collaboration between audiology and speech-language pathology topic areas; encourage cross-membership on General Interest topic areas. Communicate with the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) about how to best collaborate within topic guidelines to reduce conflicting sessions on similar topics or duplicative sessions.
• Supervise and manage the review process and acceptance of proposals according to the established procedures and timeline; review program for overlapping or conflicting sessions during finalization meeting held at the ASHA National Office in Rockville, Maryland, in the spring.
• Respond to calls/e-mails from individuals whose papers were rejected and who seek substantive explanations, following the Call for Papers Appeals policy, and work with SPEB, as necessary, to resolve issues.
• Contribute written pieces for The ASHA Leader and other publications related to promoting and marketing the Convention.
• Work with Convention Program Team to develop Opening General Session presentation.
• Maintain frequent and thorough communication with Convention Program Team throughout the entire program planning process.

At the Convention

• Lead the Convention Program Team in execution of plans.
• Serve as the public face of the ASHA Convention with the Opening General Session keynote speaking assignment; host the First Timers' Welcome reception; and attend other engagements as needed.
• Attend and monitor various invited sessions during the Convention.
• Be in 14 places at once, smiling!

After the Convention

• Report and debrief on Convention results and feedback with National Office staff.
• Serve as a resource for the upcoming co-chairs and topic chairs.

Qualifications

Eligibility Requirements

• Be an ASHA member in good standing.
• Have served within the past 7 years on at least two prior Convention Program Committees, preferably at least once as a topic chair.
• Be willing to commit time in both 2025 and 2026.

Additional Skills and Qualities That Will Be Favorably Considered

• Experience organizing, presenting, and managing professional and scientific programs
• Past experience as an ASHA volunteer leader in other capacities
• Administrative, time management, and organizational skills
• Professional recognition
• Creative approach to considering new continuing education formats and methodologies
• Ability to problem-solve and develop creative resolutions
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)

Nominations

Before nominating someone, please confirm that they would be willing to serve. Self-nominations are typical and welcomed. ASHA members who wish to be considered should submit:

1. A letter of intent
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Three letters of support

Your nomination packet should be emailed to Jack Coursen (jcoursen@asha.org) or sent by mail to SPEB Chair, c/o Jack Coursen, ASHA, 2200 Research Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20850-3289.

Selection Process

• SPEB will review applications and recommend one audiology and one speech-language pathology co-chair candidate to the Committee on Committees.
• Decisions will be made by July 2024 and candidates will be notified thereafter.

Travel, Registration, Lodging

Official travel as co-chair or co-chair-elect is reimbursed per standard ASHA guidelines for volunteer leaders. Co-chairs receive complimentary registration for the ASHA Convention in both Year 1 and Year 2 of their terms. Complimentary lodging is also provided at the ASHA Convention for the year that they officially serve as co-chairs (Year 2).

Deadline

The submission deadline for the 2026 Call for Co-Chairs is Friday, May 31, 2024.