How can SSA best serve your professional needs and continue making advances in the field of seismology?
Keep that question in mind as you read the candidate statements below for our 2026 Board of Directors Election. Then be sure to cast your vote!
As the governing body for SSA, the Board of Directors helps set the broad policy and direction for the Society.
Voting in this election is a responsibility shared by every member of our community.
This is your opportunity to select the individuals who will steer the Society’s course for the next three years and set the course for years to come.
Together, by casting your vote in this important election, we advance earthquake science worldwide. Make your voice heard and vote today!
SSA members are invited to vote for members of the Board of Directors in the 2026 election as part of the annual membership renewal and update process. Members may log in here to cast their vote. Candidate statements are presented below, in alphabetical order by last name.
The election will be open for voting from 1 September 2025 until 5 p.m. PST on Friday, 9 January 2025. SSA strongly urges members to participate in the Society’s future by casting ballots. For assistance, contact election@seismosoc.org or phone 510-525-5474.
For a full list of the current Board of Directors, visit this page. The date next to the name indicates the end of their current term.
Candidate Statements (in alpha order):
Aybige Akinci
Senior Researcher, National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Italy (INGV)
Principal Fields
Geophysics, Seismology, Seismic Hazard Analysis, Earthquake Ground Motion Characterization, Earthquake Hazard Mitigation
Candidate Statement
I am honored and excited to be nominated for the upcoming 2026 ballot for the Seismological Society of America (SSA)’s Board of Directors. Over the past few years, I have served as an Associate Editor for BSSA, a role I have greatly enjoyed. I would be pleased to contribute further by serving on the Board and supporting SSA’s mission.
My work focuses on earthquake seismology and seismic hazard assessment in seismically active regions such as Türkiye and Italy—countries where the societal impact of seismic risk is a daily reality. I am deeply committed to advancing science while building stronger connections between research and public safety. I believe that our work as seismologists plays a vital role in promoting risk mitigation and resilience, and I strive to make that connection more visible and actionable.
If elected, I will promote initiatives that strengthen the bridge between science and society. I aim to support the organization of international conferences and workshops that encourage collaboration among researchers, engineers, and local authorities. These platforms can enhance knowledge exchange, foster interdisciplinary communication, and raise public awareness of earthquake hazards and risks.
Serving on the SSA Board would also be an opportunity for me to help engage young researchers in the Society, supporting them as much as possible, as they represent the future and deserve to be encouraged. At the same time, I would contribute to shaping the Society’s strategic direction and support the next generation of earthquake scientists and practitioners.
I look forward to contributing to SSA’s continued efforts to advance science for the benefit of society.
Esteban J. Chaves
Seismologist, Director of the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) at Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica
Principal Fields
Earthquake Physics, Seismic interferometry, Forensic Seismology, geoscience communication, geoscience education
Candidate Statement
I am honored to be considered for a position on the Board of Directors of the Seismological Society of America (SSA), an organization whose mission and values I deeply respect. I serve as Director of the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (OVSICORI-UNA), where I lead multidisciplinary efforts in earthquake and volcano monitoring, early warning, and public outreach. My academic training in geophysics, combined with more than 15 years of research and institutional leadership, has shaped my commitment to seismology as both a scientific discipline and a tool for societal resilience.
My work has focused on understanding crustal deformation, seismic sources, and the dynamics of active faults and subduction zones in Central America. I have also had the privilege of serving as President of the Latin American and Caribbean Seismological Commission (LACSC), where I supported regional integration and scientific collaboration among seismologists in our region.
I believe the SSA plays a critical role in fostering open scientific dialogue, supporting young scientists, and ensuring that seismological knowledge informs decision-making worldwide. If elected, I will advocate for greater international participation within SSA, the inclusion of underrepresented regions, and the strengthening of science-policy-society interfaces in our field.
I approach this opportunity with humility, a collaborative spirit, and deep gratitude for the mentors and colleagues who have shaped my journey. I am eager to contribute to SSA’s mission and to serve the global seismological community with dedication and integrity.
Xiaowei Chen
Robert R Berg Associate Professor, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University
Principal Fields
earthquake seismology, induced seismicity, fiber-optics
Candidate Statement
I am deeply honored and excited to be nominated to serve on the SSA Board of Directors. My journey in earthquake physics began with simulating ground motions and intensity maps during an undergraduate summer internship. Witnessing earthquake damage and hearing stories of escaping rockslides connected my computer models to real-world hazards and inspired me to further investigate earthquake mechanisms and hazard mitigation.
In graduate school, joining SSA and attending annual meetings greatly enriched my professional development. From building networks at these meetings to publishing in SSA’s journals, the society has been instrumental in shaping my career. I am especially grateful for the support I received as an early-career member, which has motivated me to give back as a mentor to students and peers, as well as through service as a community mentor and on the Early Career Award Committee. I am committed to strengthening SSA’s supportive and inclusive environment for early-career members.
SSA continues to lead in addressing society’s evolving challenges—whether mitigating earthquake hazards, improving energy exploration, understanding human and the environment, or integrating emerging technologies from AI to photonics. At the forefront of these efforts, seismology not only drives innovation but also fosters cross-disciplinary collaborations. I look forward to contributing to these opportunities and helping broaden and strengthen our community.
Victor Huerfano
Director, Puerto Rico Seismic Network and Geology Professor, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
Principal Fields
Seismic network and tsunamis monitoring, disaster risk managenment, early warning systems
Candidate Statement
Over the past three years, I’ve had the opportunity to serve on the Seismological Society of America (SSA) Board of Directors, this position has been a tremendous learning experience and allowed me to continue my professional growth while contributing in some committees. I’ve had the chance to share personal experiences and exchange ideas with distinguished colleagues, while also humbly contributing to various aspects of the Society (SSA). I greatly appreciate the nomination to be considered for a second term in this position. I share and fully support the SSA mission, particularly in contributing to the resilience of our communities. Especially, in matters such as earthquake and tsunami preparedness, as are my areas of work for the past three decades in the Puerto Rico Seismic Network.
Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and the World are frequently exposed to diverse natural events. As I’m writing these lines, Hurricane Erin is moving to the north of the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is therefore necessary for the scientific community to work hand in hand with emergency management agencies, decision makers, and the community to mitigate potential impacts to our society. We have made great progress in scientific knowledge, technology, and monitoring, and are moving in the right direction on the path of disaster risk management. I offer my years of experience to the SSA, and if supported, I will continue my efforts to promote both the mission and vision of the Society.
Maureen Long
Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University
Principal Fields
Observational seismology, structure and dynamics of Earth’s interior, seismic anisotropy, continental lithosphere, subduction zones, core-mantle boundary
Candidate Statement
I am honored to have been asked to stand as a candidate for the SSA Board of Directors this year. I have been a member of SSA since 2008 and I’ve been particularly active as a member of the Eastern Section; I have come to appreciate the annual Eastern Section meeting as a favorite venue for scientific exchange among those of us working on the structure and seismicity of eastern North America. I have also been an enthusiastic participant in the SSA publications program for my entire career as an author and reviewer – one of my first publications as a graduate student was in BSSA – and it has been fantastic to see SSA’s publication portfolio expand in recent years through the debut of the open-access The Seismic Record. I’ve previously served SSA as a member of its Ethics Committee and its Reid Medal Subcommittee, and I would be delighted to serve on its board should I be chosen by the community.
This is a difficult moment for science in the United States. Now more than ever, it is crucial for us to have strong and well-run scientific societies who can help us to articulate the value of what we do to the public and to taxpayers. The research, teaching, and applied work that the earthquake science community does contributes enormously to society and to the safety and security of our nation and the world. I feel strongly that SSA can play a key role in keeping earthquake science strong, and I would be happy to contribute to that effort should I be elected to its board.
German Andres Prieto Gomez
Associate Professor, Departamento de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Principal Fields
Earthquake Source, Ambient Noise, Tectonics, Subduction zones, Time Series Analysis
Candidate Statement
I was initially trained as a geologist in my home country, Colombia, and later pursued graduate studies at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, focusing on earthquake source problems. I still remember my first SSA meeting as a graduate student — my first talk in English. Like many of today’s students, I was nervous, excited, and unsure. That experience, and the welcoming community – with lots of questions of course – I found at SSA, shaped my career from the very beginning.
SSA has always been a place where scientists from graduate students to senior researchers can share their work in a familiar, collaborative and engaging setting. Through its journals, meetings, workshops, awards, and grants, SSA continues to advance seismology and support the next generation of scientists.
Today, as an international member, I am committed to advocating for our growing global community. If elected to the Board, I will work to expand opportunities for seismologists worldwide through initiatives such as targeted grants, virtual career and research workshops, lower publication and meeting costs, and broader access to SSA resources.
I also want to ensure that SSA continues to invest in programs that engage, support, and mentor early-career scientists — just as previous generations supported us. I believe it is our responsibility, as senior members, to strengthen the various ways that help young scientists grow into the future leaders of our field.
The election will be open for voting from 1 September 2025 until 5 p.m. PST on Friday, 9 January 2025.