Cast Your Vote!
The ballot for the 2026-2027 election is now available. Members must log in to access the ballot and vote. Voting is open through Friday, April 10; results will be announced in early May. Candidates appear below in alphabetical order.
In addition to the Board of Directors election, we are asking our members to vote on three proposed bylaw changes. SSP President, Rebecca McLeod, outlines the proposed bylaws changes in her most recent President’s Letter.
Election Overview
| President-Elect: | Robert Harington | Hannah Heckner Swain | Mia Ricci |
| Treasurer: | Ben Mudrak | Laura Ricci | |
| At-Large Members: | Beth Craanen | Erin Foley | Camille Lemieux |
| David Myers | Anne Stone |
Candidates for President-Elect
Robert M. Harington D.Phil., Chief Publishing Officer, American Mathematical Society
Bio: Robert serves as Chief Publishing Officer at the American Mathematical Society (AMS). Robert has the overall responsibility for publishing at the AMS, including books, journals, and electronic products. Robert is a “Chef” for SSP’s Scholarly Kitchen blog and a current board member of STM. Robert is a member of the National Academy of Sciences Consensus Study Committee on Retractions and Corrections. Robert also serves on the arXiv Ethics Committee and the arXiv Institutions Advisory Council. Robert actively leads strategic growth and development of publishing at the AMS in addition to managing the publishing staff across editorial, marketing & sales, customer service, production, printing & distribution. Robert holds a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Oxford and a first-class honors degree in chemistry from the University of London.
Vision Statement: I am excited and honored to be nominated for President-Elect of SSP.
As your President-Elect and then President, I will emphasize several themes that I feel are important, especially in the divisive and polarizing times in which we live and work.
- I will listen to and draw on the accumulated wisdom of our membership.
- I will help us adapt in this ever-changing environment by listening to and engaging with non-members to understand the prevailing winds of change.
- I will bring us together to understand the future of scholarly communication careers as we welcome the next generation of SSP members.
- I will strive to inspire all of us at SSP—membership, leadership, and staff—to be inclusive and welcoming to all members of the publishing, library, funder, and business worlds in which we operate.
- I will actively facilitate discussion and action to bring the value of SSP to a broader definition of SSP membership across scholarly communities, business, funders, and policy makers, leveraging the power of The Scholarly Kitchen and SSP’s unique collaborative nature.
For me, SSP is and will continue to be a unique organization; one that represents all of us, from early career employees to leaders. I will strive to bring us together to harness this power of unity in service of the SSP and you – our members.
Hannah Heckner Swain, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Silverchair
Bio: As Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Silverchair, Hannah Heckner Swain is responsible for working with Silverchair’s clients, prospects, and the industry at large to shape and communicate Silverchair’s approach to partnership. These partnerships include 3rd party integrations and participation in industry initiatives across the Silverchair Platform and ScholarOne products, as well as driving Silverchair to be an effective technology partner to its publishers through investments in Accessibility and Search, and Generative Engine Optimization. It’s a role that satisfies her love of collaboration and allows her to stay abreast of the impressive innovation happening in our space and think of ways to channel that innovation to solve the core needs of publishing organizations.
Hannah has worked within academic publishing for over 15 years and has experience with both commercial and non-profit publishing, and has served in roles that span the publishing lifecycle. She is a past Member-at-Large of the Society for Scholarly Publishing Board of Directors (’22-’25) and a proud member of the ever-growing North Carolina Triangle-Area Community Engagement Group.
Vision Statement: I started my publishing career in 2010 as a journals production assistant at Taylor & Francis at a time when one would (and did!) periodically have to call to ‘stop the presses.’ It was done via email, sure, but print was very much the default manner of content consumption. Sixteen years later, and much of what shapes our industry, its opportunities, and challenges, is unrecognizable.
As someone energized by change, I don’t say this as a bad thing. The glacial pace of innovation in our industry that served as a historic punch line is something I see becoming less and less true in the crucible that is today’s global economic and scholarly communications market. Esteemed, “conservative” institutions are exploring revolutionary experiments at a pace that would’ve seemed unimaginable in 2019, and previously locked doors are now open for conversation and collaboration.
As a convener of organizations, institutions, and service providers whose common purpose— delivering respected and authoritative knowledge to the world— is more valuable than ever, SSP holds more value and responsibility than ever before. As president, I would guide SSP to continue to nurture our values of community, inclusivity, and integrity while honing our value of adaptability. As our Core Values state, we must arm our members to challenge the status quo and embrace new ideas while maintaining effectiveness in an evolving environment, as this is a key time to learn from mistakes to improve all aspects of scholarly publishing.
Mia Ricci, Director of Publications Operations, American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Bio: Mia Ricci is the Director of Publications Operations at the American Geophysical Union (AGU), where she oversees the strategic management, editorial offices, and publishing operations of AGU’s 24 scientific journals and the ESS Open Archive. Mia has 18 years of experience in scholarly publishing, managing journal editorial operations and publishing partnerships. She also leads the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts for AGU’s publications and volunteers for various industry committees. She is a member of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Geosciences and was the co-founder of Wiley’s Asian and Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group.
Mia has been part of the SSP community for many years, serving in various roles: as Co-Chair of C4DISC’s Communications Committee, as Founder and Co-Lead of the C4DISC Guidelines on Inclusive Language and Images in Scholarly Communication, as organizer of SSP Leadership Forums, as member of the SSP Education Committee, and the SSP DEIA Committee. Mia is a current at-large member of the SSP Board of Directors.
Vision Statement: I’m humbled and honored to accept this nomination for President-Elect. When I joined the SSP Board in 2024, my vision centered on community support. Since then, our industry, the communities we serve, and society at large have faced unparalleled challenges. As SSP President, I will double down on that commitment — championing initiatives that advance scholarly publishing and the professional development of our members.
Community support at SSP looks like (non-exhaustive list!):
- Meeting the moment: finding new advocacy opportunities to communicate the value of our work to key collaborators and the public, pursuing cross-community collaborations with other industry groups. We are stronger together.
- Translating DEIA principles into action: funding accessibility initiatives for our events, updating our website to be more accessible, providing travel support for underrepresented speakers at annual meetings, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to listening (Pulse Surveys!).
- Building community and skills at all levels: more thematic town halls, growing the Fellowship Program, supporting the Leadership Academy, and developing new offerings for executive-level members.
- Maintaining financial resiliency: so SSP can continue funding the core initiatives our members value most.
And simply: being present, together. I would nurture a culture where members feel recognized and encouraged to show up — at annual meetings, in committees, or in the chat.
My time on the SSP Board and committees has shown me the tremendous passion, collaboration, and strength within our volunteer groups, staff, and leadership. I will continue to protect what we’ve built together and lead us to new heights. Drawing on my expertise in operations and experience embedding DEIA into organizational structures, I’m ready to help SSP weather whatever comes our way.
Candidates for Treasurer
Ben Mudrak, Senior Product Manager, American Chemical Society
Bio: Ben Mudrak is a Senior Product Manager at the American Chemical Society, where he oversees solutions for authors publishing research, including ChemRxiv. In his 14 years in scholarly publishing, Ben held roles spanning product management, communications, business development, and researcher education, with responsibility for budgets, revenue projections, and financial metrics for a range of services and accounts. Ben holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and just completed a two-year term as Treasurer for his son’s school PTA.
Ben has been involved with SSP since being invited to speak on a panel at the 2012 Annual Meeting. He is currently in his second year on the Finance Committee, having also spent time as co-chair of the Education Committee, a member and co-chair of the Annual Meeting Program Committee, and a co-founder of SSP’s second regional group.
Vision Statement: SSP is more critical than ever, with its capacity to bring together a diverse community to address challenges facing research sharing globally. The knowledge, training, and space to connect SSP provides are crucial for collective problem solving, professional development, and keeping up with changing trends.
While SSP is more important and relevant than ever, the costs of running its programs and meetings are growing rapidly due to outside factors. My goal is to thoughtfully steward SSP’s finances alongside the Finance Committee to maximize its impact on our members and community, working closely with the Board to support the valuable initiatives they prioritize to further the organization’s mission. There are also exciting opportunities ahead to diversify the Society’s offerings, providing new revenue sources to sustain its current and future programs.
Thanks to strong leadership, the Society is well-positioned to remain a leader in our space. Through coordination with the Board and our committees, careful management of our investments, and support for staff in optimizing annual budgets, I aim to help the organization maintain its strong financial position so it can continue to serve its indispensable role in our community.
Laura Ricci, Senior Consultant, Clarke & Esposito
Bio: Laura Ricci is a Senior Consultant at Clarke & Esposito, a consulting and research firm dedicated to helping not-for-profit organizations navigate complex business and publishing challenges. She leads projects and performs analyses for both large and small clients across diverse scientific and scholarly disciplines. Laura specializes in helping societies and associations advance their missions through sustainable financial and business strategies, translating complex publishing and operational issues into clear, practical guidance.
Her earlier roles span market analysis (Outsell, Inc.), channel partnerships (EBSCO), and international experience with a digital rights licensing agency in Oxford, UK, and with Pearson Education in New Delhi, India. She holds an MA in International Publishing from Oxford Brookes University. An SSP member since 2013, Laura is a current Co-Chair of the Audit Committee, having previously served on the Finance Committee, Generations Fund Steering Committee, and Annual Meeting Program Committee. She was a member of the SSP Board of Directors from 2018 to 2021.
Vision Statement: I count myself privileged to have observed—and experienced firsthand—the impact that SSP can have on a professional career. In my early career, I gained exposure to new colleagues and corners of the industry from my first committee experience. I had my first conference presentation at the SSP Annual Meeting. Later in my career, I benefited from SSP’s mentorship program (as both a mentor and a mentee), and grew my leadership skills as an SSP committee co-chair. This is why, during my service on the SSP Board of Directors in 2020, I voted proudly and emphatically for the launch of the Generations Fund—because I understand the importance of SSP’s work to grow an industry of engaged, knowledgeable, diverse professionals with the skills needed to succeed.
In today’s uncertain environment, sustainability is an imperative for any society. Financial health is the fuel that makes it possible to continue mission-oriented activities and investment in the future, even while navigating periods of turbulence. I look forward to the opportunity to serve as SSP Secretary/Treasurer, to combine my experience helping societies navigate difficult business decisions with my appreciation for the unique role that SSP plays in our industry.
Candidates for Member-at-Large
Beth Craanen, Director of Editorial Operations, American Physical Society
Bio: Beth Craanen is Director of Editorial Operations at the American Physical Society, where she leads strategy and execution across a global portfolio of high-impact physics journals. With more than 20 years of experience in scholarly publishing and nonprofit leadership, she is recognized for building resilient teams, strengthening operational infrastructure, and guiding organizations through complex industry change.
Beth previously held senior leadership roles at the American Chemical Society and served as Director of Publications at The Electrochemical Society, where she advanced innovative open access models and led a successful publishing partnership with IOP Publishing. Her career began in higher education, including foundational work launching Fairleigh Dickinson University’s School of Pharmacy and consultative roles at MIT and Northeastern University. A Certified Association Executive (CAE), Beth brings strategic insight grounded in operational expertise and mission-driven leadership.
Vision Statement: Serving on the SSP Board this past year has deepened my belief in the Society’s essential role as a convener, educator, and catalyst for progress in scholarly communication. As I seek to continue my service, my vision centers on strengthening SSP’s influence and relevance during this period of accelerating change.
Over the past year, I co-chaired a Board-level task force on advocacy. This work underscored the importance of ensuring SSP has a clear, confident voice on the issues shaping our community. Scholarly publishing is navigating rapid transformation, including shifts in open access models, AI integration, research integrity expectations, and evolving global partnerships. SSP is uniquely positioned not only to inform these conversations but also to help guide them responsibly and constructively.
I am committed to advancing programming, partnerships, and advocacy efforts that equip members with practical tools, strategic insight, and inclusive spaces for dialogue across sectors and career stages. Drawing on my experience in nonprofit governance, I understand the responsibility to balance innovation with fiscal stewardship and long-term sustainability.
I would be honored to continue serving to help ensure SSP remains forward-looking, financially strong, and impactful.
Erin Foley, Director, Rightsholder Relations, Copyright Clearance Center
Bio: Erin Foley has been working with publishers throughout her 14 years at Copyright Clearance Center. In her current role as the Director of Rightsholder Relations, she leads a team of account managers collaborating with internal colleagues, publishers, and partners to adapt current solutions and explore new opportunities in the rapidly changing scholarly landscape. Along with her team members, she acts as the voice of the publisher within CCC.
Over her 10-year tenure with SSP, Erin has volunteered for numerous committees: Early Career, DEIA, Annual Meeting Program, Career Development, EPIC Awards, and Boston Regional Chapter. She has held multiple leadership roles as a co-chair of several committees. Erin is most proud of her work as one of the Annual Meeting Program Committee co-chairs for the 2024 and 2025 Annual Meetings, and for receiving both a 2023 SSP Emerging Leader Award and a 2025 SSP Appreciation Award.
Vision Statement: It might sound cheesy, but when talking about SSP, I most often refer to our community as my work family and to the Annual Meeting as our family reunion. Like many of you, finding my place within SSP (and the friends, mentors, and opportunities that have come along the way) has been meaningful to me both professionally and personally.
What makes SSP such a special and powerful place for learning, networking, and skill building is the volunteers, members, and staff joining together in a shared commitment to community, adaptability, integrity, and inclusivity. This cross-stakeholder collaboration and steadfast focus on both advancing our mission and living our values are especially important when scholarly publishing and society at large are under threat. Now, more than ever, family matters.
My vision for the SSP Board is to keep people and relationships at the center of what we do by supporting diversity in membership, advocating for equitable participation and accessibility, driving professional development opportunities, and championing mentorship for all career stages. As a truly passionate member of SSP, I will work to ensure that we achieve our objectives and continue to be a safe space for dialogue and creativity.
Camille Lemieux, Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager, Springer Nature
Bio: Camille helps teams use data to track progress toward inclusive and equitable processes and serves as the community manager for nine global employee networks whose 1,000+ members build connections among colleagues, provide educational experiences, consult on business initiatives, and advocate for their communities. Since joining the scholarly communications industry, she’s been passionate about promoting inclusive publishing practices and helping the industry reflect the diversity of the world we serve. She is co-chair of SSP’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (DEIA) Committee. Previously, she was a research associate at global non-profit EDC, researching and evaluating equity programs in school settings.
Vision Statement: Since joining the scholarly communications industry, SSP’s values resonated with my own. As I’ve gotten to meet and work alongside some incredible people through volunteer work, I realize these values are lived by so many of us daily, regardless of our role, location, or time in the industry. Our communal values are the connective tissue that helps us find a home in SSP and help it move forward.
I’m humbled to be considered for a position on the Board. If elected, I would apply the unique skill set I’ve gained in my career to help SSP engage the global community, advocate for scholarly communications, ensure accessibility, support volunteers, and promote development opportunities for early and mid-career professionals.
My goal is to help SSP advocate for our industry while remaining a home for collaboration, advancement, and opportunity where everyone who contributes to scholarly communications can see themselves reflected in its future.
David Myers, Senior Lead Publisher, Wolters Kluwer Health
Bio: David Myers is a scholarly publishing professional with more than 30 years of experience. He began his career as an assistant at a small independent medical publisher and has since held a wide range of roles, including journal production editor, advertising traffic coordinator (JB Lippincott), book and journal production manager (Current Science), manager of a medical society’s books program (American College of Physicians), and for the past 23 years medical journal publisher (Wolters Kluwer Health) currently responsible for 17 journals.
David has contributed extensively to professional development within the publishing community. He served as an instructor at Drexel University in a publication management master’s program, teaching courses on publishing budgets. He has been an active volunteer in the SSP Mentorship Program, chaired the SSP Webinars Subcommittee, presented during the SSP Journals Academy, and currently serves as co-chair of the SSP Education Committee. David has also planned webinars and live educational meetings at Wolters Kluwer.
David lives in Philadelphia and enjoys taking pictures of the city, exploring new locations, and supporting the local Little Free Libraries.
Vision Statement: Over the course of my career, I’ve witnessed the publishing industry go through major transformations, from the days of camera-ready layouts and bluelines to the print‑to‑online migration, the rise of open access and preprint servers, and now the rapid evolution of AI. One constant has defined my work: a deep commitment to supporting people.
Whether mentoring, managing, coaching, leading industry workshops at Wolters Kluwer, or teaching in a graduate‑level publishing program, I’ve found the greatest reward in sharing knowledge and learning from others.
The Society for Scholarly Publishing plays a vital role in that work. As the primary source of education for our profession, SSP ensures our community stays informed and prepared. I’ve had the pleasure of developing SSP and Wolters Kluwer webinars and now co‑chairing the Education Committee, where I’ve seen firsthand the impact of strong, accessible programming.
My vision is for SSP to work with our members to develop educational content that they will find rewarding and deliver that content in the most impactful manner.
Anne T. Stone, Consultant, Stone Strategic Marketing Services
Bio: Anne Stone has worked in marketing for more than 30 years. An SSP member since 2016, she has volunteered on the Annual Meeting Committee, DEIA Committee, and as current co-chair of the Marketing Communications Committee. A significant contribution to the industry was her contributions to the C4DISC’s working group, producing the 2023 Workplace Equity in Scholarly Communications industry survey and report. Previous volunteer leadership also includes President for Project Management Institute’s Central Massachusetts and planning four Transforming Research meetings, a unique forum convened by researchers, funders, technologists, librarians, and publishers.
Professionally, Anne primarily works with global publishers and professional associations. As an Associate Director at Wiley and Blackwell Publishing, she was recognized with an award for global collaboration. Starting at TBI Communications as a marketing consultant and now independent, she has led strategic planning, brand strategy, market research, product launches, and business development for non-profit and commercial organizations.
Vision Statement: My enthusiasm for SSP comes out of the work and relationships I’ve developed with so many talented, collaborative professionals. It is an honor to stand for Member-at-Large. I appreciate how people offer their best to the many projects we undertake and create a respectful culture for everyone’s participation. What delights me most is when a person participating in SSP for the first time says, “I felt really welcomed,” only to share later, “I’m connected.”
Together, we create a community that learns from each other and fosters professional growth. and meets new challenges. Across a career, engaging professionally, beyond one’s own organization, can offer a lifeline—and lifetime—of support, a new pathway for career development, and a vantage point for new perspectives. My goal is to encourage every individual to find personal connections and opportunities that help them nurture and even discover their strengths. Whether in a quiet corner, a Zoom room, or a platform, I value the honest and respectful conversations we have.
Adaptation is a core value of SSP, naturally, as we all work to advance knowledge and understanding. Still, we must also lead change—especially for equity, inclusion—within SSP and the global communities we serve.
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