NIRSA Member Network 2025-2026
The NIRSA Member Network…
The NIRSA Member Network serves as a vehicle for communication between NIRSA’s many leadership groups and our diverse body of professional and student members.
The Member Network focuses its efforts on recruitment, retention, engagement, advocacy, networking, oversight of NIRSA’s State/Provincial Directors and Student Leaders, and the facilitation of regional educational opportunities.
NIRSA’s Member Network helps to coordinate activities and communication between members— especially on the local and regional levels. Regional Representatives work alongside the Student Leadership Team as NIRSA leaders committed to ensuring that members in their area have the information and resources they need to do their jobs well. They also serve as advocates for their constituents to NIRSA policymakers on the national level.
As our association continues to grow, NIRSA’s Member Network is here to connect you with information, support, and opportunities. You are encouraged to directly contact your Regional Student Leader or Regional Representative with your questions, suggestions, and ideas.
Composition
The Member Network is composed of the following 18 members:
- Members of the NIRSA Board of Directors
- Seven Regional Representatives, one from each region (staggered two-year terms)
- In even years, Regions II, IV, VI will elect Regional Representatives. In odd years, Regions I, III, V and Canada will elect Regional Representatives.
- Seven Student Regional Leaders, one from each region (one-year terms)
- NIRSA Student Leader (one-year term)
- Member Network Chair (one-year term)
- Past Presidents’ Representative (one-year term)
- Member of the NIRSA Board of Directors (annual appointment)
Position Descriptions
- Regional Representative position description
- Regional Student Leader position description
- NIRSA Student Leader position description
If you have questions about the positions on the Member Network, please contact your Member Network Regional Representative or Student Leader.
Recruitment and Application Process
During the recruitment and application period of July to September, members are encouraged to forward names of qualified candidates to the Member Network by sending the person’s name and school to elections@nirsa.org or a member of the Member Network.
Region II, IV, and VI Regional Representatives
The Regional Representatives for Regions II, IV, and VI are elected to a two-year term during even-numbered years. Initial application forms will be available August 8, 2025, and are due September 12, 2025. A resume and completed Institutional Support Form are required when submitting the initial application.
The regional Nominations & Appointments Committees will complete their review of initial applications by October 6; they will then invite finalists to the second stage of the application process. The final application will be due by October 24, 2025. Please note that if you submit an initial application and are invited to advance and submit a full written application, this occurs on a very tight timeline. The committees will then determine which candidates will be slated to stand for election.
Those applicants slated to stand for election will have their written application materials posted on the website, for review by the membership, exactly as received by the committee. Therefore, it is in each candidate’s best interest to seek out peer-reviewed feedback on issues of grammar and clarity.
If an applicant would like NIRSA Communications to assist with a basic grammar review, their application must be received by October 16, 2025. This review is only for correctness (such as correct punctuation or correct use of homophones) and not for clarity (such as improving sentence structure or sharpening prose) so as not to alter the candidate’s message in any way. After receiving basic grammar feedback, the candidate will have to approve the edits and resubmit the document by October 24.
The final slate of candidates will be approved by the current NIRSA Board and announced to the membership in mid-December. Electronic elections will occur January 16-27, 2026 with results announced in early February.
Regions I, III, V, and Canada Regional Representatives
Regional Representative positions for Regions I, III, V, and Canada will open again for the 2027 elections.
NIRSA Student Leader & Regional Student Leaders
Apply today for NIRSA Student Leader and Regional Student Leader positions. Due January 30, 2026.
NIRSA student members elect the NIRSA Student Leader & their Regional Student Leaders annually.
The recruitment and slating process for the NIRSA Student Leader is conducted by a subcommittee of the NIRSA Nominations & Appointments Committee, which includes the current and previous year’s NIRSA Student Leader.
The recruitment and slating process for Regional Student Leaders is conducted by regional committees headed by current Regional Student Leaders. The final slate of candidates will be certified by the NIRSA Nominations & Appointments Committee.
Electronic elections for student positions will take place March 2026, with results announced shortly thereafter.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Riley Feiner, 2025-2026 NIRSA Student Leader, or a member of the Student Leadership Team.