Benjamin Schapiro

MAPOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING AGENDA

February 13, 2026

Attendance: Alex, Benjamin, Beth, Betsy, Brian, Brittany, Caroline, Curtiss, Erik, Erin,  Jamie, Lindsey, Paul, Rebecca, Semilla

Jan minutes approved 

Agenda:

  1. Secretary Treasurer’s Report                 (Semilla/Nadia)
    • Financial updates
  • Checkings: $21,333.92
  • Savings: $42,225.89
  • Membership list updates 
  • 321 members (261 general members, 60 student members)
  • Membership lists are posted in Google drive
  • 2026 mailing lists are created and updated in CVENT
  • It looks like the 2026 membership links on website are not working – did we update to the new link?  https://cvent.me/lq3lWN 
    • Ben is making this update
  1. Update on website enhancements (Ben/all)
    • Making some smaller, more book keeping updates over the next few weeks and then making main updates that we will be working on long term: 

1) Template we are happier with 

2) trying to password/member protect parts of the site so we can start to build up a media archive 

  • There is a committee that is working on this – they are meeting again next week to finalize some ideas and will bring to next council
  • If we cannot figure out how to password protect part of the site, we might think about moving it off of WordPress. 
  1. Conference planning update (Lindsey/all)
    • Patrica Moy for keynote address on something about elections. Lindsey going to reach out to Betsy to help connect with Patricia. 
    • Michael Link for pedagogy hour on something about AI, how it is coming into our lives, leadership, etc. Lindsey going to reach out to Brittany to help connect with Michael 
    • Stats Horizons – have a lot of great stuff if the price is right. Erik does have a connection there so he is going to reach out (it has been a while). Lindsey and Erik going to sidebar about this.
    • Thinking call out April (early April might be best since some universities finish)
    • Send any ideas about topics/theme in next few weeks – don’t need to have a ton here to get things started
  1. Brainstorm ways to engage more students (Paul/all)
    • Reach out to students as early as possible 
      1. Earlier call for abstracts
      2. Announcement for fellowship in mid-late March. Maybe we should do this sooner? Then this can tie into early call for abstracts.
    • More one on one outreach – both students and faculty 
    • Recognize mentors more visibly during/before conference – maybe list on program or on website along with the fellows? 
    • Naming the fellowship program after one of the previous fellows/mentors (Paul Lavrakus coming up a lot here!)
    • Can we tie the fellowship mentors into the webinars? I keep thinking about asking them to to share a favorite finding or presentation with the broader community, but that may just be more labor than appreciated
    • Make the fellowship more of a cohort – introductory webinar with ground expectations/rules, check ins throughout, meet up beforehand, etc. 
    • Different approaches for undergrad vs grad? Divide between masters and PhD students (different goals, expectations, mentorship needed).
  • This is information we should get early on / in application 
  • Curtiss noted we have vastly more grad (vs undergrad) students 
  • Ideas for recruiting: 
  • Jamie: 1) put together a video that goes on the website or is sent around to show “What is it like to attend MAPOR” — could walk through what the days look like, things in the area to do, etc. 2) hosting a webinar related to ‘best tips for presentations’ that might get students confident in attending (and presenting!) — or perhaps hosting a brainstorming session in the early spring for topics that students could consider. 
  • Erik: recruited students by 1) personally emailing faculty who do public opinion research to get their advisees to come (as well as themselves) 2) emailing the abstract call to the major listservs in political science and communication, and posting on political science and communication social media pages
  • Betsy: distributing a flyer/call for submissions to social science admin staff at universities (could be simple to compile that contact list). We get so much of our information from our admin stuff forwarding opportunities to the department grad students!
  • Erik: send to DGSs and staff (directors of graduate studies and their program admins)
  1. Other business
    • OLC is looking to do something on AI related to ethics and best practices in our field, pros and cons on different spots (where does it help vs hinder). Sourcing names from council on who can help here! 
      1. Brittany is sharing a name from UChicago Data Science 
      2. Erik has a contact (Lisa Argyle)
      3. Paul will share a substack author 
      4. Trent Buskirk

Council members

President – David Sterrett 

Vice President / President Elect – Paul DiPerna

Past President – Patrick Hsieh

Conference Chair – Lindsey Witt-Swanson

Associate Conference Chair – Erik Nisbet

Secretary-Treasurer – Semilla Stripp

Associate Secretary-Treasurer – Nadia Assad

Sponsorship Coordinator – Patrick Hsieh

Student Liaison – Curtiss Engstrom and Betsy Broaddus 

Communications & Website Chair – Benjamin Schapiro

Members at Large – Erin Heiden, Rebecca Powell, Jerry Timbrook, Brian Wells, Alexandros Gkotinakos, Beth Fisher, Carolina Smith,  Miranda Kaye, Jaime Faus, Brittany Creel, and Betsy Broaddus

Proposed Committees

Conference Committee – Lindsey, Erik, Beth, David

Online Learning Committee – Rebecca Powell (Chair),  Erin Heiden, Jerry Timbrook

Awards, Grants, and Support Committee – Paul DiPerna, Curtiss Engstrom. Miranda Kaye, and Brian Wells

Secretary Treasurer Support – Semilla Stripp, Nadia Assad

Communications Support – Benjamin Schapiro, Jaime Faus, Brittany Creel, and Betsy Broaddus

MAPOR Mission Statement

We provide high-quality educational and conference programs to encourage scholarly exchanges across disciplines and geographies, broaden member access to mentors and resources, and bolster opportunities for leadership and innovations. We join forces with AAPOR, academic institutions, and government and industry employers to develop a thriving community that supports all MAPOR members, including students, scholars, and professionals in every stage of their career.

MAPOR Vision Statement

MAPOR is a leading voice in public opinion, survey, and social science scholarship, methods, and practice among regional professional associations. We are an inclusive and supportive community that enables our diverse members to achieve their educational, professional development, and networking goals. 

GO MAPOR GO!