2025 SIM STRATEGIC REVIEW

Michelle Westermann-Behaylo

2024-2025 SIM Division Chair

University of Amsterdam

Dear SIM Members,

I am pleased to notify you that AOM has approved the results of SIM’s 2024/2025 strategic review—a process AOM requires of each division every three to five years. The review and results are explained in detail in the 2025 SIM Strategic Review report posted on the home page of the SIM website. To summarize, based upon the outcome of our member survey, the SIM Review Team determined that a revitalized structure will help to improve the division’s governance, enhance SIM member engagement, and provide more opportunities for members to participate in shaping the direction and contributions of our division. Such participation will also help develop SIM’s next generations of senior leadership. 

This message summarizes the revitalized structure and immediate opportunities for members to be involved with a number of key SIM initiatives. It concludes with a call to you, dear SIM members, to volunteer on one of the committees or task forces explained below through this form:

https://forms.gle/UmdQzj49LP6WpWcm7

The SIM Review Team clarified SIM’s existing organizational chart, and built upon this by refining some roles and adding several new standing committees and chair roles as indicated in the chart below in red.  The 2025 SIM Strategic Review report details the responsibilities of each revised or new role. A proposal to amend the SIM Constitution to institutionalize these changes will be voted on by SIM members this month. In order to begin implementing this new structure, Erica Steckler and I (SIM Division Chair-Elect and Division Chair, respectively), have appointed SIM members to take on roles as detailed below.

SIM Revised Organizational Chart

Communications Committee

Starting from the left of the above chart, the first refinement is to change the title “Webmaster” to “Communications Chair”.  The Communications Chair (elected three-year term) leads the Communications Committee, which is responsible for designing and maintaining specific communication channels including the Division website, managing the SIM listserv, facilitating podcasts, and contributing to other aspects of the Division’s communications strategy. David Skandera was elected in the recent SIM elections to serve in this role. Jae Lee and Susan Cooper serve in the Communications Committee, taking charge of specific communication channels and providing opportunities for member engagement. There are openings for two to three new Communications Committee members and a few task force team members. Please use the link below to express interest and sign up.

NEW! Program Development Committee

Second, a new standing committee called the Program Development Committee is added. This committee will assist SIM’s elected Program Chair and Program Chair-elect with organizing and developing SIM’s Annual Meeting program. This includes coordinating and inputting information into AOM systems and advising on program enhancements to better meet current and future member needs. The first members appointed to this committee are Susana Esper and Mehdi Samimi. – There are openings for one or two more Program Development Committee members and a few task force team members. Please reference the link below.  

NEW! Impact/Outreach Committee

Third, a new Impact/Outreach Committee has been added as a standing committee. The Impact/Outreach Chair (appointed one-year term) leads this committee to help SIM members amplify the impact of SIM research by disseminating insights to practitioners and policymakers, and honor SIM research, teaching, and service with high societal impact. Sana Chiu has been appointed SIM’s first Impact/Outreach Chair, with Emilio Marti appointed to serve as a contributing member of this committee. There are openings for three to four more Impact/Outreach Committee members and a few task force team members. Please reference the link below.  

Curriculum Committee

Fourth, the role of the Curriculum Committee has been revitalized as a standing committee. The Curriculum Chair (appointed one-year term) leads this committee to develop a SIM curriculum-focused PDW at the Annual meeting, and also to gather and disseminate best SIM curriculum and teaching practices outside of the Annual Meeting through webinars and SIM’s website. The committee connects SIM’s curriculum development work with UN Principles for Responsible Education (PRME) and the annual AOM Teaching and Learning Conference (TLC). Finally, the committee organizes awards focused on SIM curriculum and pedagogy. Sheldene Simola has been appointed SIM’s Curriculum Chair. There are openings for four to five more Curriculum Committee members and a few task force team members. Please reference the link below.

Research Committee

Fifth, the role of the Research Committee has been re-energized as a standing committee. The Research Chair (appointed one-year term) leads this committee to organize the Research Development Workshop at the Annual Meetings, and also to explore several new ideas including a “First Cut” research initiative to provide constructive feedback on work in progress, a webinar and/or podcast series to equip SIM members with strategies for manuscript writing, research methods, and the peer review process, and the establishment of small groups organized by emerging research themes to foster collaborative, ground-breaking research. Jegoo Lee is serving as the current Research Chair; as he is elected incoming PDW Chair, Lucas Amaral will be appointed Research Chair, and Junghoon Park is serving on the Committee. In addition, there are openings for three to four more Research Committee members and a few task force team members. Please reference the link below.

Membership Committee

Sixth, the role of the Membership Committee has been enriched as a standing committee. The Membership Chair (appointed one-year term) leads this committee to organize the SIM Speed Networking event at the annual meeting, and also to help to plan community-building offsite social events at the conference. The committee is expanding SIM’s virtual offerings throughout the year to deepen ties within the community, such as webinars that address conference preparations or career advice for different stages of a scholar’s career. Finally, the committee coordinates meetings between SIM senior scholars and junior faculty and/or doctoral students throughout the year. Sarah Stephen has been appointed Membership Chair. Natalia Vidal has been appointed to the committee. There are openings for three to four more Membership Committee members and a few task force team members. Please reference the link below.  

NEW! Global Scholar Committee

Seventh, a new Global Scholar Committee has been added as a standing committee. A Global Representative at Large (RAL) (appointed one-year term) will chair this committee, to enhance SIM’s engagement in underrepresented regions, particularly Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East & North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. This committee aims to gain a deeper understanding of regional needs to determine how SIM can effectively tailor programming and resources to address specific regional requirements in research, teaching, and career development (co-operating with the research, curriculum and membership committees). Maria Jose Murcia has been appointed SIM’s first Global RAL (Representing the Latin America region). Petya Koleva has been appointed to the committee (representing the MENA region). There are openings for three to four more Global Scholar Committee members to represent other regions of the world, as well as a few task force team members. Please reference the link below.  

NEWLY FORMALIZED! Doctoral Student Representative at Large

Finally, the position Doctoral Student Representative at Large (RAL) was proposed two years ago by AOM and SIM has decided to formalize this role. This is a one-year appointed role for a doctoral student to represent students’ perspectives within SIM governance decision-making. Catherine McDonald served with distinction in this role previously. Moving forward, the Doctoral Student RAL role will also entail participating in SIM’s bi-annual governance meetings, and initiating student-friendly SIM activities during the AOM annual meeting and/or through the course of the year. Bart Leyen has been appointed current Doctoral Student RAL. There are openings for a few task force members. Please reference the link below.  

With Gratitude

Thank you to the dedicated members of the SIM Review Team: Lucas Amaral, Punit Arora, Sana Chiu, Ed Freeman, Jegoo Lee, Catherine McDonald, Cristina Neesham, Rajat Panwar, Jason Pattit, Kathleen Rehbein, David Skandera, Erica Steckler, and Harry van Buren. Also thank you to Ed Freeman for hosting the Review Team’s mid-winter strategy meetings at the Darden School!

Next Steps: SIM Call for Committee Volunteers

Now comes the call, dear SIM members, for you to take on a leadership role in the organization and development of your Division. There are many opportunities for you to volunteer either on a short-term basis on a task force, or for a one-year appointed role on a committee. Please fill in the Form to indicate in which roles you would be interested to contribute to our SIM community:

https://forms.gle/UmdQzj49LP6WpWcm7