I strongly encourage you to ask questions of these candidates, and openly discuss their plans for the present and future of the organization. The statements alone are rarely enough to judge the ways in which they will lead AoIR. A vibrant discussion is not just good for the election, it’s good for the health of the organization, and a good way for those of us who are not running to know what is on the mind of the membership.

I encourage you to leave questions or comments on the candidates statements on the website, or if you would prefer, to post them here to AIR-L. In the latter case, I will attempt to do a bit of copy-pasty back over to the website so we have an easily found record.

And the candidates are…

VICE-PRESIDENT
Ted Coopman
Lori Kendall
Monica Murero

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Anthony Hoffmann
Trent Kays
Kelly Quinn

TREASURER
Michael Zimmer (acclaimed)

SECRETARY
Catherine Middleton (acclaimed)

OPEN SEATS (3)
Andrea Baker
Andrew Herman
Soraj Hongladarom
Mark Johns
Gene Loeb
Christopher Paul
Ulf-Dietrich Reips
Cristian Berrio Zapata

1) What is your interest in this position?

My interest in the open seat position is to give back to AoIR in the form of service to the organization and to work with like-minded, committed individuals on the executive committee.

2) What are your qualifications for this position (including prior experience and participation in AoIR)?

I was at the first AoIR meeting in Kansas, with a panel and paper on the program, and thereafter, with yearly panels and/or papers on online relationships, identities and communities, and research ethics. I have missed only one AoIR conference so far since 2000. I also participate in the AoIR Ethics Committee, which has provided some of the earliest, most thorough guidelines for scholars researching aspects of computer-mediated communication, and continues to evolve to address various types of research methodologies through case studies. People I’ve met at AoIR in different countries connected me with others with similar research foci, including an editor and publisher for my book on couples who met online (Double Click, 2005), and collaborators to edit a book of readings (Online Matchmaking, 2007). Recently I’ve communicated with some scholars who study online communities and networks, particularly people who examine offline and online ties, as well as with faculty who teach online and write about issues of distance education.

The informal conversations with colleagues at AoIR and feedback between meetings have proven invaluable for me, personally and professionally. AoIR’s interdisciplinary, international emphasis and pioneer role in internet research has made it my primary conference.

3) What are two or three short-term goals you would like to achieve through membership of the executive (include a rationale for each and how you would contribute to their achievement)?

(1) A goal is to provide spaces at future meetings for informal sharing of data and perspectives on specified topics. Organizers at prior Aoir conferences solicited suggestions, and announced the topics in the program. At one such session, I recall a large number of people gathered around a long table for spirited and fruitful sharing of their ongoing research projects.

(2) A goal is to have scholars at conferences held by a variety of other disciplines from gender studies to computer science become more aware of the benefits of AoIR by attending co-sponsored sessions or pre-conference workshops at their national and international meetings led by members clearly identified with AoIR. Through this method, they would learn firsthand more about our philosophy, research and support network.

4) What is your long-term vision for AoIR?

A long-term view is to expand the group, to have it grow in size and scope, and yet retain the camaraderie and sense of “home” that members have felt from the start.

5) What else should voters consider when deciding whether or not to vote for you?

I have a background of nearly fifteen years of research in internet studies and can perhaps provide a long-range view on the field, at least on certain aspects of it.

1. What is your interest in this position?

I have had a long-standing involvement with AOIR. Although I was not present at the creation of AOIR , I did stage the conference –The World Wide Web and Contemporary Cultural Theory at Drake University in 1999–that inspired Steve Jones and Nancy Baym to do IR 1.0, which in turn became the founding moment of organization. Since that time I have either presented papers and/or organized panels at IR 4 (Toronto), IR 6 (Chicago), IR 8 (Vancouver), IR 9 (Copenhagen), IR 10 (Milwaukee) and IR 11 (Gothenburg). I also have a panel and paper accepted for IR 12 (Seattle). I have also served as a reviewer for conference paper proposals for IR 6-IR 11 (not sure what happened this year). AOIR is the one and only professional academic organization that I consider to be my “home” and, as such, want to contribute to its well-being in ways different than the conference itself.

2. What are your qualifications for this position?

I am presently Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario (that’s in Canada!) with prior institutiona stints as Visiting Professor at York University (Toronto-Communication and Culture) and College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA-Sociology). I was a tenured Associate Professor of Sociology at Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa) before moving to Canada in 2004. I have a long history of research and scholarship in the field of Internet Research beginning with my co-edited book, The World Wide Web and Contemporary Cultural Theory (Routledge, 2001). Since then, I have published on digital media and internet issues in an array of journals, ranging from DePaul Law Review and South Atlantic Quarterly to Cultural Studies and Anthropological Quarterly. I am current working on sequel to the World Wide Web book that was based on a workshop I just hosted in February called “Materialities and Imaginaries of the Mobile Internet”. My work is promiscuously interdisciplinary in theory and method, qualities that I adore and treasure in AOIR as an academic organization and as an intellectual community

3. What are two or three short-term goals you would like to achieve through membership of the executive?

First, I would like to see AOIR make a sustained effort to broaden our membership to regions outside of Europe, North America and Australia. There is so much exciting work being done by scholars in South America, South Asia, South Africa and East Asia and it behooves us to widen the circle of our community to include them if we are to be the leading organization of Internet scholars on the planet (see below). If elected to the executive, I promise I will call forth the heavy metal spirits to convince the organization to hold an IR in the near future in either Brazil, India or Korea.

Secondly, I would like to see us development a more compelling and dynamic Internet presence. I realize that this takes a lot of work and creativity, but we of all academic organizations should be able to work the medium to our advantage in terms of community, collaboration, and advancement of the project of critical internet studies.

4. What is your long-term vision for AoIR?

World domination. Period. \,,/

5. What else should voters consider when deciding whether or not to vote for you?

I am at the stage of my career where I can say that the only reason I want to be on the Executive is to help take the organization to the next stage of its existence, however we collectively define it, without regard for recognition or recompense of any kind.

1) What is your interest in this position?

I am glad and honored to be nominated for the open seat position of the AoIR executive committee. I have been involved with the association since its beginning when Steve Jones was President. I served in the AoIR ethics committee under the leadership of Charles Ess and later with Elizabeth Buchanan. We deliberated on how best to undertake “research on human subjects” in an ethically sound manner when the “subjects” in question are those who participate in various ways on the Net. My interest in this position is to expand the scope of the Association so that it become genuinely international. Though the Net originated in the US, it has expanded to cover all corners of the globe as we know. So it is fitting that our association should expand its reach internationally too.

2) What are your qualifications for this position (including prior experience and participation in AoIR)?

I am now associate professor of philosophy and Director of the Center for Ethics of Science and Technology at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. I have published a number of works on the interdisciplinary areas where philosophy, sociology and new media studies intersect. As I said I have served under the AoIR ethics committee for a number of years and have been a long standing member of the association since its beginning. Though I have not participated in an AoIR conference (due mostly to budgetary reasons) I have followed its progress since AoIR 1 many years ago.

3) What are two or three short-term goals you would like to achieve through membership of the executive (include a rationale for each and how you would contribute to their achievement)?

One thing I would like to explore is the possibility of holding an AoIR conference abroad, perhaps in Asia, where it not been held before. Asia is the region where the internet is expanding most rapidly, and there are a growing number of scholars there who are investigating the phenomenon from their perspectives. This will fit with my interest in expanding the scope of our association to be more international.

Another thing is that I would like to help promote the activities of our association in my region. This can take many forms, such as organizing smaller local seminars under the auspice of the association on topics such as internet governance, freedom of expression, comparative studies of values in the east and west, and so on. This will do a great deal toward raising the awareness of the association among Asian internet scholars.

4) What is your long-term vision for AoIR?

Usually scholarly associations are eventually associated with teaching programs. Perhaps there will be a “discipline” of internet studies which has a firmer shape and boundary. This will certainly remain interdisciplinary at its core, but it would be great for training newly emerging scholars in our field. So one vision I have is for our association to do what it can to nurture these younger scholars, as well as to integrate teaching and research in such a way that the knowledge we produce will help all of us in the world better reflect and understand the internet situation which is highly volatile. Our strength lies in this interdisciplinary nature where we come from different fields, backgrounds and methodologies to work together on the same set of problems. This has of course been our vision now and we can certainly look at it and find ways to adapt and modify that vision for the future while keeping our core value of camaraderie and interdisciplinarity.

5) What else should voters consider when deciding whether or not to vote for you?

Those who know me usually say that I am easy to work with and are helpful to others. I am dedicated to working for the group, a great team player and I am committed to working hard to complete the task at hand. I would be a very good choice if you consider expanding the scope of the association to become more international.

1) What is your interest in this position?

I am pleased to have been nominated by someone, and would be very happy to serve if elected.

2) What are your qualifications for this position (including prior experience and participation in AoIR)?

I have been a member of the AoIR Ethics Committee, have participated in almost every IR conference (missed only Lawrence and Melbourne), and have served as a reviewer of papers and/or session chair in many of those years. I also coordinate the annual Couch Award for student scholars.

3) What are two or three short-term goals you would like to achieve through membership of the executive (include a rationale for each and how you would contribute to their achievement)?

I would advocate for increased presence of the organization in Asia and the global south, and finding ways to help scholars in these areas to participate. As the internet becomes increasingly important in these areas it is vital to cultivate scholarship that contributes to understanding its place in these cultures. I would also like to see greater efforts to promote and publicize the organization among scholars in North America and Europe who have yet to discover it. Internet research was esoteric a decade ago, but is now mainstream. However, many entering the field are unaware of what resources and support are available through this organization.

4) What is your long-term vision for AoIR?

I have no grand design in mind, but wish to see the organization continue to be strong, to mentor students and new scholars, and to provide resources in research methods and ethics that can be utilized across a wide range of disciplines.

5) What else should voters consider when deciding whether or not to vote for you?

Since I will have responsibilities in the UK during the 2011-12 academic year, I unfortunately will be unable to be in attendance at IR 12. But I’ll be with you all in spirit (and on the Twitter back channel).

1)What is your interest in this position?

I have been involved in the organization mailing list, utilizing it for information and for sharing resources for several years. With the expansion of uses of the internet, I found his organization of extreme importance to me in my research and teaching. I am an active participant in scientific organizations by nature rather than just passive, and I identify with the scope and objectives of AoIR deeply and wanted to be a bigger part of it. I therefore wanted to offer my skills and contributions. I wanted to facilitate the improvements and optimize the achievements of the association.

2)What are your qualifications for this position (including prior experience and participation in AoIR)?

My qualifications for this position include prior experience with aoIR, and activities with other organizations with similar goals and operations.

1. I have been active with AoIR interactive as an active participant. I have read the listserv regularly and interacted with individuals requesting assistance and have myself requested assistance, sharing information on social media for a syllabus, for example, or requesting coauthors on articles I am writing. I have regularly forwarded selected items to another international list and to individuals needing information. I have also read other materials such as research and the guide to ethical internet research. I have also reviewed the wiki.

2. I have had experience with other organizations with some of the same objectives or functions, involving aspects of the internet including the Community Informatics Researchers international organization, and am editor of an international journal issue, Informing sciences, and involved in an organization developing an international online open source university.

3) What are two or three short-term goals you would like to achieve through membership of the executive (include a rationale for each and how you would contribute to their achievement)?

The association has accomplished much. My first objective is to maintain and enhance the present activities of the association of advancing the cross-discipline field of internet studies through communications, sharing and a variety of means for members to participate and be involved. Much progress has been made through these functions and operations. There are several short term goals that would enhance the association’s effectiveness and implement the development and growth of internet functions.

1. The involvement of the internet scientific community needs to be increased. The mailing list is 2000 persons, for example. It is a “support network promoting critical and scholarly Internet research independent from traditional disciplines and existing across academic borders,” As such, its work needs to be better known, and access to it increased in order to meet its goals. The association is “international in scope” providing scholarly Internet research independent from traditional disciplines and existing across academic borders. Consequently, there is the potential of a vast amount of involvement but few know about its work and goals. An effort is necessary to increase communication in the association increasing those knowing about it and increasing participation. The first goal, of increasing communication among its participants, and increasing the number of participants is achieved by expanding the use of social media and internet tools. This would include Webinars, mobile phone access, courses, and expansion and use of its wiki, adding to it with google docs. I woud discuss this with the other members of the executive body, and assist in its implementation.

2. Develop or add to avenues of access of information for internet researchers. Now requests are given on the listserv. The success of the association and the centrality of its purpose in internet research and need of the research community requires that more needs to be done to provide researchers support. I would provide an increase in publications and types of publications including a journal, but also shorter or themed publications online. A well used and developed google docs, frequent webinars, and a mechanism to make available references online, pointing to library or database sources. Publicize these activities to bring in more participants and ask them their sources of information. In addition, develop and utilize a LinkedIn program or similar one for researchers to communicate with each other. I will provide in this by developing the projects to accomplish this, communicate with the executive group and communicate with members.

I have the skills to promote collaboration among people and I would use these skills to promote collaboration on these goals.

4) What is your long-term vision for AoIR?

I envision a dynamic, interactive organization that is future-oriented keeping up with and PROMOTING the advancements of the internet through its support of researchers. It will include a broadbased collaborative body of researchers, actively involved, communicating with each other and promoting collaboration. The association will be using the leading means of communications including social media. The organization will be truly international, and bring together many disciplines. It would promote the use of internet in more situations and making access to its benefits available to all.

The organization will maximize the resources available to researchers and encourage interaction among the research community.

I envision many educational and informational opportunities including webinars and seminars, social media and interdisciplinary visits and online conferences. Finally, I envision the easy access to the research of the community through a variety of means.

5) What else should voters consider when deciding whether or not to vote for you you?

I have the experience with international research technology organizations, experience in a variety of disciplines related to internet research. and have familiarity with AoIR goals and functioning, and have provided leadership with similar organizations. I have the experience and success in working with international collaboration and am enthusiastic about it.

I have an orientation toward the human element, the persons involved in the use of the internet, people oriented research from my work with elderly use of internet.

I am very collaborative oriented, successful in achieving objectives by assisting persons to work together and in initiating international groups to work together to achieve goals.

I’m interested in running for an open AoIR seat as I believe AoIR carefully runs the balance between inviting new ideas and developing on the rapidly building corpus of knowledge in new media studies. I always find AoIR to feature a striking, invigorating conference; one that features both those who’s work I’ve been reading and people with great ideas, but a lesser published profile. I find that balance fantastic and think it is what makes AoIR special, as the diversity of ideas, backgrounds, and experience makes for an exhilarating group of people who provide wonderful knowledge and great questions. I feel compelled to support the organization and offer to serve a term on the board in repayment for the beneficial experiences I have had as a member of the organization.

To date, my participation in AoIR has been limited to regular attendance at conferences, but I’m seeking to expand that commitment to support and develop a dynamic organization that I greatly appreciate. I’ve been to several conferences and now consider AoIR to be my first stop in conference planning each year.

In my tenure on the board I would seek to build on what I see as the existing strengths of the organization, most notably the inclusive tendencies of the annual conference and the diversity of disciplines included in the discussions about what internet research is and will be. In the medium and long term, I would love to see AoIR continue to develop connections outside of North America and Europe in order to reach out to communities of researchers who can build on the strengths of the organization and make it even more dynamic than it is today.

Two ways in which I would seek to see AoIR accomplish these goals would be: 1) to actively seek out conference locations outside of Europe and North America in order to enable different groups of people relatively easier access to the conference and 2) work to develop scholarship and/or award funding to subsidize first-time attendance at the conference of those from countries underrepresented at the annual conference.

1) What is your interest in this position?

I have been following aoir with great sympathies since its beginning. Back then the association was written “a(o).i.r. – the association(of).internet.researchers” and the range of topics was more narrow. Over the years, the association became much more professionalized and now provides many services to its members. Today’s wide range of topics and the many tasks of the executive require a diversified expertise. I would happily add mine and enjoy working with many esteemed colleagues from around the world in steering the association.

2) What are your qualifications for this position (including prior experience and participation in AoIR)?

If elected I will bring in my substantial experience from 17 years of academic devotion to Internet research and executive work in two other related societies, the German Society for Online Research that I co-founded in 1997 and the Society for Computers in Psychology, of which I am a former president and long standing board member. My experience as an editor of the International Journal of Internet Science (http://ijis.net) and of several books on Internet research provides me with an in-depth view of much of the field will help me in creating initiatives.

3) What are two or three short-term goals you would like to achieve through membership of the executive (include a rationale for each and how you would contribute to their achievement)?

My goals for the position would be to (1) create helpful repositories of software, educational materials, and methods descriptions for the society and its members and (2) network with other societies.

4) What is your long-term vision for AoIR?

Make AoIR THE leading international association in the field.

5) What else should voters consider when deciding whether or not to vote for you?

Picture a handsome guy holding his four year old kid on his arms

1) What is your interest in this position?

a. Include the developing countries perspective into AOIR activities

b. Help to develop/retrieve academic/research activities related to internet in Latin America

c. Support the development of Latin American chapters and conferences as satellites to AOIRs activities, including Spanish/Portuguese languages.

2) What are your qualifications for this position (including prior experience and participation in AoIR)?

7 years following AOIR’s work, my MA work was about web impact to university student in Bogotá-Colombia, my PHD proposal is an extension of this work to SMEs and rural communities. My area of research is digital divide and knowledge gap in developing countries.

3) What are two or three short-term goals you would like to achieve through membership of the executive (include a rationale for each and how you would contribute to their achievement)?

a. Enhance visibility in Latin America, beginning Colombia.

b. Support a Latin American AOIR network to produce regional and/or local events.

4) What is your long-term vision for AoIR?

Follow the steps of IEEE and generate a wide impact on the course of IT-Internet technologies to avoid more exclusion, and work towards inclusion and human development for those that need it more.

5) What else should voters consider when deciding whether or not to vote for you?

a. I am accustomed to work with extremely limited resources, and get things done anyway.

b. Integrating better Latin America may generate interesting opportunities of development, exchange and growing to all AOIR community

c. Latin America is investing strongly in the digital society projects, although sometimes not very wisely. AOIR can make a difference in the outcome of this.

Bio:

Ted M. Coopman (Ph.D. University of Washington, 2008) is a lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies at San José State University and Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Communication, University of Louisville, Kentucky. His research on free radio, media-based social movements, and the use of technology by activists is informed by his own experiences as an activist since 1993. His research has been published in Critical Studies in Media Communication, First Monday, the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, the Journal of Radio Studies, the American Communication Journal, 2nd Internet Research Annual, and Political Communication as well as in the edited volumes Representing Resistance: Media, Civil Disobedience, and the Global Justice Movement (Greenwood), and the award winning Communication Activism, Vol. 2 (Hampton Press).

Position: Vice President

1) What is your interest in this position?

Having now served as the Graduate Student Rep and an at-large Exec member, I feel a have a good understanding of how AoIR works as well as areas that I feel we could improve on. I have a lot of policy and organizational experience and as VP (and after that President) I would have the opportunity to create and enact policies to take the association into its next phase of development. I am in a position where I can make long-term commitment and help to contribute to an organization and a membership that has given me so much.

2) What are your qualifications for this position (including prior experience and participation in AoIR)?

My association with AoIR began in 2001 (participating in all but two conferences since) and I earned the Best Student Paper Award in 2003. I served as the Graduate student representative on the Executive Committee from 2005-2007, on the Publishing Group in 2007, as a Conference Panel Chair in Sussex, UK, 2004 and Brisbane, AU, in 2006, reviewed papers in 2009 and 2010, and finally served as an at-large member of the Exec from 2009-present. As the Graduate Student Representative I created graduate student research teams to involve student members in research that benefited the association and I advocated for cost controls to encourage student attendance to our conferences. As an at-large member, I have actively help shape policy as we slowly update our bylaws and rules and created a deliberation and voting policy and procedure for the Exec list.

In the past, I have served as an Executive Board Member for the American Communication Association (1997-2002) and as a Co-Convention Program Planner for the national convention in Reno, NV in 1998. My service was recognized by ACA with an Outstanding Service to the Association Award. As a graduate student at the University of Washington I was elected as a Board Member to the Communication Graduate Students Association (2004-2005) and was a co-founder of the Communication Graduate Student Poster Session/Scholar Slam Series and the Communication Graduate Student Salon Series, as well as a member of the University of Washington’s Digital Media Working Group. I also created the University of Washington Communication Graduate Program Alum Facebook Group in 2008. A Communication Graduate Student Outstanding Service Award recognized my overall service to my graduate program. Most recently, I served as a Panel Chair (2009) and as a Faculty Mentor for the Annual Bay Area Undergraduate Research Conference (April 2009, 2010, and 2011). I serve on my departmental Faculty Student Activities committee and on the Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability. I also have experience as a community organizer in Santa Cruz, CA and as a media democracy activist in the area of broadcast regulation reform.

I have extensive experience in volunteer organizational governance and activities as well as working in co-located and distributed environments. Moreover, I have research and teaching expertise in small group communication and deliberation processes. With my long history in AoIR and a record of participation and service and feel I could contribute much to the organization and its members.

3) What are two or three short-term goals you would like to achieve through membership of the executive (include a rationale for each and how you would contribute to their achievement)?
My primary short-term goal as Vice President would be to work closely to support the agenda of the in-coming president (Alex Halavais -whom I have worked with for two terms) and finish the process of updating association by-laws and procedures. It is important that each President has the opportunity and support to enact her/his agenda.

My secondary goal is to continue the work of bringing consistency to AoIR conferences and planning begun during the last year. Systems should be put in place to ensure that past mistakes are not repeated and best practices kept in place. This reduces stress for program planners and staff and ambiguity for participants. The Exec is at the point where the founding and early members are cycling out and we need a more consistent and dependable way of passing along organizational knowledge that is not dependent on specific people. Moreover, as the nature and purpose of academic conferences and of AoIR participation and submissions evolve, we should take a look at the ways we can innovate by focusing on the positive affordances of physical meetings.

Finally, after having tried several different membership systems, I feel it is time to create a new system that better fits the unique structure of AoIR. I have been talking with our current Treasurer Michael Zimmer about novel options that would maintain a more consistent year-to-year membership level.

4) What is your long-term vision for AoIR?

My long-term vision for AoIR is to grow our membership both inside academe and in the public and private sectors. With the current fiscal situation I feel it would benefit the membership to facilitate interaction between people in industry, foundations, NGOs, and government agencies. While I do not see a political role for AoIR, I would like to help motivated members to gain access and resources as well as influence the creation of informed public and private sector policy. Past fiscal policy and hard work by former Execs have placed the organization on a solid financial footing. I would like to see AoIR push ahead with more aggressive outreach to generate funds that would help us to expand membership and participation especially in the global south. While I do not see AoIR as ever becoming a large association, it is important that we can demonstrate that that we are a consistent and viable organization.

5) What else should voters consider when deciding whether or not to vote for you?

In the past, I have asked the members to consider that AoIR is not just an organization that they belong to and that it does not exist to simply do things for its membership. I still envision AoIR as framework that facilitates our own individual and collective work – it is our infrastructure for action. It is not something the Exec runs for us – it is the sum of our own collective energies. The Exec helps to create a space for all of us to act and interact. I feel my time as a contributing member participating in our conferences and serving on the Exec as the Graduate Student Rep and an At-Large member has provided me a unique perspective on what AoIR is, how it works, and what it could be. I have had the privilege to serve with our founding members and some of the best, brightest, and most dedicated people in academe. I have learned a lot from these colleagues, not only of the mechanics of the association, but about leadership, compassion, and integrity. I feel I am ready to try and follow in their footsteps and put these lessons to good use.