AVMA volunteer opportunities and vacancies

Councils with vacancies

View the council description, open positions, and nomination instructions:

• Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents (COBTA)
• Council on Public Health (COPH)
• Council on Research (COR)
• Council on Veterinary Service (COVS)

Term information

Council members are elected to a once-renewable three-year term by the House of Delegates at the AVMA Annual Session, with the exception of Council on Education positions, which hold a six-year term. Council and committee members make a trip to AVMA Headquarters twice a year.

Vacancy announcements and deadlines

Upcoming council vacancies are announced in September or October of each year, and the nomination deadlines are usually in February or March.

Nomination information

Nominations are accepted from organizations represented in the AVMA House of Delegates or by the signature of ten voting AVMA members.

To assist delegates and alternate delegates in choosing individuals for council positions, AVMA staff will prepare a yearly campaign guide listing nominees for these positions. Nominees will be included only if they have submitted an application or nomination form by the deadline. Council nominees must also provide an appropriate biographical sketch, photograph, and a link to a two-minute introductory YouTube video.

Nominations received after the deadline will be announced from the floor of the House. However, information regarding these candidates is limited to the information contained on the nomination form.

Committees with vacancies

View the committee description, open positions, and nomination instructions:

• American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS)
• Animal Welfare Committee (AWC)
• Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee (AqVMC)
• Committee on Advancing Veterinary Technicians and Technologists (CAVTT)
• Committee on Antimicrobials (CoA)
• Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee (CPAC)
• Convention Education Program Committee (CEPC)
• Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues (CDEI)
• Council on Education Selection Committee (COESC)
• Committee on Environmental Issues (CEI)
• Committee on International Veterinary Affairs (CIVA)
• Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)
• Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities Selection Committee (CVTEASC)
• Early Career Development Committee (ECDC)
• Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG)
• Food Safety Advisory Committee (FSAC)
• Legislative Advisory Committee (LAC)
• Political Action Committee Board (PAC)
• Steering Committee on Human-Animal Interactions (SCHAI)
• Veterinary Economics Strategy Committee (VESC)
• Veterinary Leadership Conference Planning Committee (VLCPC)

Term information

AVMA committee members generally serve a three-year term. Where applicable, committee members may seek a second three-year term. Committee members make a trip to AVMA Headquarters twice a year.

Vacancy announcements and deadlines

Upcoming committee vacancies are announced in September or October of each year, and the nomination deadline is usually 45 days before the following year's April Board of Directors meeting.

Nomination information

Depending on the position, nominations are accepted from organizations represented in the AVMA House of Delegates or from any voting AVMA member. Most committee members are appointed to three-year terms at the April Board of Directors meeting.

Officers

President-elect (2027-28)

Nominations due May 21, 2026, for candidates wishing to present to the House of Delegates

For AVMA president-elect for the 2027-2028 association year, the nomination deadline to formally announce candidacy and present to the House of Delegates is May 21, 2026. After that, nominations will continue to be accepted for this position until July 12, 2027.

Learn more about the president-elect position

President-elect (2026-27)

Nominations due July 6, 2026.

Nominations continue to be accepted for the position of AVMA president-elect for the 2026-2027 association year. The deadline to formally announce candidacy and present to the House of Delegates has passed.

Learn more about the president-elect position

Vice president (2026-28)

Nominations due July 6, 2026.

Nominations continue to be accepted for the position of AVMA vice president for the 2026-28 association years. The nomination deadline to formally announce candidacy and present to the House of Delegates has passed.

Learn more about the vice president position

District Directors

Districts 4 and 11: Nominations due February 1, 2026

Nominations are open for candidates to represent Districts 4 and 11 on the Board of Directors. District 4 includes Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico. District 11 includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

The new directors will serve six- year terms beginning in July 2026 and ending in 2032. Nominations are due February 1, 2026, and voting will be conducted March 1–31, 2026.

Learn more about the district director positions

At-large (4 Positions available)
Must be a current member of the House of Delegates
Term ends: July 31, 2029
Nominations due: May 1, 2026
Outgoing members: Lindy O Neal, Juan Amieiro, Theresa Kelliher*, Douglas McInnis*
Nominees: None to date

*Outgoing member eligible for reappointment

• HAC nomination form
• HAC campaign guide form

The HAC is composed of seven delegates and/or alternate delegates elected by the House of Delegates for a three-year term. Members are eligible for a second, consecutive three-year term.

The HAC usually meets 12 times per year—twice during the AVMA Convention, once immediately prior to the Veterinary Leadership Conference, once each in the fall and spring, and seven times via videoconference.

Among its responsibilities, the HAC acts in a leadership capacity to the House of Delegates on all matters referred to the House of Delegates' reference committees, acts as the Bylaws committee for the House of Delegates, and reviews and approves the credentials of candidates for president-elect, vice president, councils, the HAC, and, when necessary, the president.

Learn more about the House Advisory Committee (HAC)