Board of Directors

About the Board

Election of JAWS officers and new board members takes place at the annual business meeting, in conjunction with our fall Conference and Mentoring Project.

Eligibility for the JAWS board: Any active member who has camped with JAWS twice. Officers and board members serve one- or two-year terms. All are elected by a vote of the membership.

Job description for the board: The primary responsibility of the board of directors is to ensure that the organization operates in a fashion true to its stated mission and principles. The board provides continuity to the organization as individual members come and go.

The board has two trusts: The group’s growth and future, and to further the group’s goals.

It is responsible for setting policies, making decisions, delegating work and assuring the decisions are carried out. The board is legally responsible for governance of the organization and adherence to federal, state and local laws, audits done annually and income tax form filing.

A director’s responsibilities include:

  • Maintain a current membership in JAWS and attend the annual conference.
  • Know the bylaws, mission, purpose, goals, strategic plan, programs and services for the organization.
  • Raise funds and actively seek financial support and donations for JAWS and its projects; The goal is for each board member to give or get $500.
  • Prepare for and attend all board meetings. The board holds regular in-person meetings twice a year, spring and fall. The date of the spring meeting is determined by the president, in consultation with other board members.  The fall meeting is held immediately preceding JAWS CAMP, at the same location. In addition, the board convenes every month via conference call. The president and committee chairs will schedule additional meetings as needed.
  • Build and guide long-range plans for membership, programming, fundraising, staffing and resources.
  • Ensure programs and services address membership needs.
  • Recruit members and attendees for annual conferences, contribute program ideas and make sure members are involved in the group.
  • Contribute and/or solicit stories for the JAWS newsletter, listserv, social media accounts and website.
  • Review the minutes to ensure that critical matters, resolutions and topics of discussion have been adequately covered.
  • Be willing to commit at least several hours per week of volunteer time to areas such as membership, social media, programming, fundraising and CAMP.

For more about the board and the by-laws governing JAWS, see the JAWS Bylaws.

To read our plans, see the 2012-2017 Strategic Plan.

The members of the JAWS Board of Directors set policy and represent the organization as we pursue our mission of supporting the professional empowerment and personal growth of women in journalism. Each has committed to helping strengthen and grow our unique organization.

Email board member

We would like to hear from you. Please send us a message by filling out the form below and we will get back with you shortly.

Secretary: Mira Lowe

mira-loweMira Lowe is Director of the Innovation News Center (INC) at the University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications.

Emily DeRuy

emily-deruy Born and raised in the Bay Area, Emily DeRuy covers higher education for the Bay Area News Group, including the Mercury News and East Bay Times.

Deputy Vice President: Jane Isay

jane-isayBefore becoming a writer, Jane Isay was an editor and publisher for over 40 years, publishing a broad range of nonfiction, with a special focus on psychology. She developed the Yale University Press’s distinguished list in the behavioral sciences and published leading psychoanalysts and child development experts.

Rachel Sams

rachel-samsRachel Sams is editor-in-chief of Albuquerque Business First, where she manages newsroom strategy and has the privilege of helping amazing journalists do their best work online every day and in print once a week.

Andrea Stone

andrea-stoneAndrea Stone is director of career services at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, where she loves her job, helping launch the careers of a new generation of journalists.

Sarah Garrecht Gassen

sarah-garrecht-gassenSarah Garrecht Gassen is the Editorial Page Editor, award-winning columnist and host of the opinion podcast “The Point Being” at the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, where she has taught at the University of Arizona School of Journalism for more than a decade.