The SIM Communications Committee is excited to share a message from our Division Chair, @Erica Steckler, with updates on current SIM events and future plans.
Dear SIMians,
Our "final" 2026 AOM-SIM-Philadelphia countdown is on!
In parallel, building on the Division's revitalized structure since Copenhagen, and thanks to a veritable legion of stellar SIM Leader-Volunteers, the countdown for SIM year-round virtual programming is now perpetually on!
Punctuated by annual meeting gatherings, SIM's all-season horizon of professional development focused events, workshops, and resources reflects our Division's ambitious stewardship of AOM's Vision 2030:
"… AOM is committed to advancing the science of organizations by delivering innovative content, fostering inclusive communities, and expanding access for faculty worldwide-amplifying its global impact and reinforcing its leadership in research and teaching through a focus on relevance, equity, and reach."
AOM's Vision 2030:
On behalf of the SIM leadership team, we are eager to continue connecting, learning, growing, and contributing together with the SIM community in Philadelphia!
AOM circa-2007: Fun fact! My first AOM as a brand-new doctoral student and SIM member was also Philadelphia. The theme in 2007 was "Doing Well by Doing Good." I still have the 540-page printed program with dog-ear creasing directing me to a wildly unrealistic number of sessions I had manually highlighted as interesting. While SIM session topics have evolved over the decades, the SIM tradition of tackling important questions remains an absolute constant. Also a constant-conference anticipation adrenaline!
AOM circa-2026: In addition to all the PDWs, paper sessions, symposia, caffeine breaks, meals, and social events already plugged into conference calendars, here are a few more SIM-Philly events we recommend for all SIM Members and Friends:
Friday July, 31:
SIM/SBE Joint Keynote & Reception (ID: 24496), 5:45pm-8:30pm
Keynote (5:45-7:00pm) , Reception (7:00-8:30pm), with Dr. Joshua Knobe (Yale), "Moral Behavior and the True Self."
Note: Location is offsite at the Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square, Wyeth Ballroom
Saturday, August 1:
SIM Plenary Keynote featuring R. Edward Freeman (ID: 22447), 4:30-6:00pm, Loews Philadelphia, Second Floor Mezzanine, Regency.
Honored in 2025 with the Ann K. Buchholtz Mentor Award, Dr. Freeman (UVA/Darden) will share the Keynote Address: "10 Most Critical Problems in Business, Society and Ethics".
Sunday, August 2
SIM Remembrance of Andy Wicks (ID: 22461), 11:00am-1:00pm, Loews Philadelphia, Third Floor, Anthony Room.
All are welcome to attend this celebration of the life and contributions of SIM's past Division Chair, Andy Wicks. Remarks will be shared in the first hour; community gathering follows.
Monday, August 3
SIM 2026 Outstanding Awards Finalist Presentations
Opportunity to learn from SIM Outstanding Scholarship! All are invited to attend finalist presentation sessions for Outstanding Student Paper, Outstanding Business Ethics Paper, Outstanding Paper, Outstanding Book, and Outstanding Dissertation.
· SIM Outstanding Student Paper Award Finalists (ID: 22771), 09:45 - 11:15am
· SIM Outstanding Ethics Papers Award Finalists (ID:22765), 11:30am-1:00pm
· SIM Outstanding Paper Award Finalists (ID: 22770), 1:15-2:45pm
· SIM Outstanding Book and Dissertation Awards (ID:22455), 3:00pm-4:30pm.
SIM Business Meeting (ID: 22450), 4:45-6:15pm
& SIM Social (ID: 22452), 6:30-9:00pm.
Please join the SIM Business Meeting for Division updates and announcements of 2026 SIM award-winning scholarship. See you at the SIM Social for further connection, community, and merriment!
Connecting dots: Philadelphia is famously associated with the Liberty Bell, a long-scrutinized symbol of freedom and independence. As the United States observes the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence this summer-and as SIMians convene just blocks from where this historic document was signed-it's timely to consider the common logic of SIM scholarship:
"… our shared interest in understanding responsible behavior by organizations and the people and groups in and around them."
This logic highlights the common gravitational pull among SIM Division Members toward high-relevance scholarship that probes and advances responsible leadership, ethical management, human rights, sustainable development, and generative societal impact.
Member Gratitude. Thank you for choosing SIM as "home" at AOM. Collectively, our Membership's research, teaching, service, thought-leadership, innovation, energy, care, and impact across the terrain of social issues in management is testament to the standards of excellence our Division values and uniquely embodies. SIM is also regarded as one of the most warm and welcoming scholarly communities within AOM – a distinction we celebrate and honor!
Conference Gratitude. Special thanks to the SIM Scholarly and PDW Program Team led by Punit Arora and Jegoo Lee; to our SIM Governance Committees (Membership, Research, Curriculum Development, Doctoral Student, Impact / Outreach, Global Scholar, and Communications); to our SIM-sponsored PDW leadership teams (Doctoral Consortium, Junior Faculty Consortium, Research Development Workshop, Teaching Workshop, Speed Networking); and to our SIM Award Committees!
Kudos to all for thoughtfully architecting a conference filled with engaging and impactful sessions that support and inspire world-class SIM scholarship.
Very much looking forward to gathering in Philadelphia!
Warmly,
-Erica
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Nabi Ebrahimi
PhD in Management
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell MA
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