Action Required: Reset Your NCA Award Portal Password

On January 21, the National Communication Association launched its new member portal. If you updated your NCA Member Portal login credentials on or after January 21, you must reset your Awards Portal login information to match.

If you have not logged into the NCA Member Portal since before January 21, you can use your current NCA password to log in.

Deadline for Nominations: September 5, 2025, 11:59 PM (PST)

The 2025 NCA Nomination Committee requests nominations from Association members for candidates for the NCA Second Vice President, At-Large Members of the Legislative Assembly, and the Leadership Development Committee.

The Committee will review and narrow the slate of nominees for the general election ballot. To be eligible, all nominees must be current members of NCA and the time of nomination and agree to maintain their membership through their term of office.

Questions can be submitted to the 2025 Nominating Committee Chair, David McMahan, mcmahan.nca@gmail.com, or the NCA National Office at nomination@natcom.org.

Nominations must be submitted through NCA’s submission portal.

NOMINATE NOW!

The elected nominee will assume office as Second Vice President on January 1, 2026, plan the 2027 NCA convention in Salt Lake City, Utah as First Vice President, serve as NCA president in 2028, and as Immediate Past President in 2029.

 

Two candidates will be added to the general election ballot by the Nominating Committee. Self-nominations are strongly encouraged.

 

The Second Vice President is an Elected Officer who will serve on the Executive Committee for four years: As Second Vice President, First Vice President, President, and Immediate Past President, one consecutive year following the other.

 

Qualifications of nominees include:

  • A senior member of the Association at the time of nomination.
  • A record of ongoing involvement with NCA.
  • A record of successful leadership experience.
  • An understanding of the communication discipline and the Association.
  • An understanding of and commitment to work toward meeting NCA’s Strategic Plan.
  • Commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.

Nomination materials must include:

  • A cover letter explaining one’s interest and reasons for seeking nomination.
  • Current curriculum vitae.
  • Up to a 1000-word statement of goals for or vision for the Association. (If selected by the committee, this statement will be included in the general election ballot)
  • Three letters of recommendation.
  • Letter of institutional support for the specific duties of the position. Self-nominations are strongly encouraged.
  • A professional photo or headshot.

 

Candidates will be asked to create a short video no longer than five minutes to address candidate goals. The video will be posted on the NCA website and available for review while voting is open.

Responsibilities during the full four-year term: 

  • Promote mission and strategic plan/goals of the association. 
  • Submit reports for Executive Committee meetings and the annual Legislative Assembly meeting. 

 Please Note: This list is not exhaustive and subject to change depending on the approved annual budget by the Legislative Assembly. 

 

Responsibilities during the Second VP year: 

  • Begin discussion with convention and events staff in the National Office about convention planning responsibilities 
  • Serve on the Executive Committee 
  • Serve on the Legislative Assembly 
  • Serve on committee reviewing proposals for Advancing the Discipline Grants 
  • Serve on the Leadership Development Committee 
  • Attend Interest Group Business meetings during the convention 
  • Serve on the Award Trustee Committee 

 

Responsibilities during the First VP year: 

  • Serve as the convention program planner 
  • Site visit to convention location (reimbursed by NCA) 
  • Work closely with NCA convention and events staff throughout the year in preparation for the Annual Convention 
  • Serve on the Executive Committee 
  • Serve on the Legislative Assembly 
  • Attend the American Council of Learned Societies leadership training in September with Executive Director (reimbursed by NCA) 
  • Serve on the Leadership Development Committee 
  • At the annual NCA convention, in addition to program planner responsibilities, facilitate newcomers’ orientation using standardized materials, help lead the memorial session, and various other duties 

 

Responsibilities during the Presidential year: 

  • Preside over EC meetings; Help create EC meeting agendas with Executive Director; Review EC meeting binder materials 
  • Preside over the Legislative Assembly 
  • Participate in routine calls with the Executive Director 
  • Serve as a spokesperson for the Association 
  • Write three columns for Spectra 
  • Serve on the Leadership Development Committee 
  • At NCA annual convention: host the presidential party, give the presidential address, give presidential citations, hand out awards at awards ceremony, participate in past presidents’ lunch, participate in the Distinguish Scholars luncheon, and help lead the memorial session 

 

Responsibilities during the Immediate Past President year: 

  • Chair the Leadership Development Committee 
  • Serve on the Executive Committee 
  • Serve on the Legislative Assembly 
  • Serve on committee reviewing proposals for Advancing the Discipline Grants 
  • At NCA annual convention: participate in past presidents’ lunch 
  • Serve on the Award Trustee Committee 

 

Officers, chairs, trustees (the LA and its EC who are listed on the IRS Form 990), key employees, substantial contributors or employees thereof, and grant selection committee members are not eligible to receive grants from NCA. NCA reimburses officers for travel and food for Executive Committee meetings. NCA does not cover travel to/from the Annual Convention or for membership. Elected Officers are expected to maintain membership with NCA while serving the four-year term.

 

At-Large Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected to a three-year term to begin January 1, 2026. Up to six members will be nominated and three will be elected by the membership.

 

The Legislative Assembly serves as a key liaison between the leadership and the broader membership. The strength of NCA relies in significant part on informed responses to the questions that come before the LA. The business at the LA meetings is legally governed by the NCA Bylaws, and decisions are guided by the Association’s strategic plan towards inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.

 

Expectations: The LA meets each year in tandem with NCA’s annual convention and is the principal policy- making body of NCA. There is typically a full afternoon session the Wednesday before the convention begins, as well as a shorter morning session on Saturday. Additional work is completed electronically throughout the year.

Officers, chairs, trustees (the LA and its EC who are listed on the IRS Form 990), key employees, substantial contributors or employees thereof, and grant selection committee members are not eligible to receive grants from NCA.

 

General duties and responsibilities for members of the Legislative Assembly include:

Attending the Legislative Assembly meetings held during the Annual Convention. The LA traditionally meets the Wednesday afternoon before the convention and that Saturday morning if needed.

Reviewing, deliberating, and voting in respect to Association matters as brought forth to the Legislative Assembly.

 

Qualifications:

Nominees can be at any stage of their professional careers. At-Large Members represent emerging interests and critical problems and help the LA achieve a balanced representation of teaching levels, ethnic and minority group interests, gender, age, and academic status.

 

Each nomination must include:

  • Statement no longer than 300 words explaining one’s interest and reasons for seeking election. (If selected by the committee, this statement will be included in the general election ballot)
  • Current curriculum vitae.
  • A professional photo or headshot for election ballot.
  • Self-nominations are strongly encouraged.

At-Large Members of the Leadership Development Committee are elected to a two-year term to begin January 1, 2026. Up to four members will be nominated and two will be elected by the membership.

 

The Leadership Development Committee solicits, nominates, and forwards a slate of candidates to the Legislative Assembly for approval to fill vacancies on association committees, councils, award selection committees and such other vacant positions within the association governance.

 

General duties and responsibilities include:

Attending the annual leadership retreat in Washington, DC in February.

Attending Leadership Development Committee meetings held during the NCA annual convention and virtually throughout the year.

Encouraging members to stand for nomination to NCA committees.

Reviewing, deliberating, and approving a slate of nominees for various governance positions that are forwarded to the Legislative Assembly for final approval.

 

Qualifications:

A nominee should have a broad understanding of the discipline and NCA and have knowledge of and appreciation for the contributions made by members of NCA committees in the variety of work they do for the discipline and the Association.

 

Each nomination must include:

  • Statement no longer than 300 words explaining one’s interest and reasons for seeking election. (If selected by the committee, this statement will be included in the general election ballot)
  • Current curriculum vitae.
  • A professional photo or headshot for election ballot.
  • Self-nominations are strongly encouraged.