TAA Committees

TAA conducts many mission and operational activities with the help of volunteers serving on Committees. Standing Committees are specified in the Bylaws but any TAA member can volunteer to serve on an Ad Hoc committee.

Meet Current Committee Members

Interested in serving on a Committee? Contact TAA Executive Director Kim Pawlak at [email protected] 


Standing Committees:

Executive Committee

Members of this committee are charged with guiding the Executive Director in the event that decisions must be made in the interim between Council meetings and meet on an as-needed basis. Committee members include the four TAA Council officers - President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary - plus the Immediate Past President and a Council Representative appointed by Council. It is chaired by the TAA Council President.

Finance Committee

Members of this committee are charged with overseeing the budget process and investment strategies of TAA. It is chaired by the TAA Council Treasurer and committee members include the TAA Council President, Executive Director, and other appointed Council members.

Governance Committee

Members of this committee oversee TAA elections by announcing the call for nominations, vetting nominees, determining the final slate and reviewing and approving the winners. Committee members include the TAA Council Vice President (chair), Immediate Past President, and one other representative appointed by Council.

Personnel Committee

This committee oversees TAA's hired staff compensation and benefits policies, and advises the Executive Director on personnel matters, including changes to personnel policies. Committee is also primary contact for any issues staff has with Executive Director. Members are appointed by the TAA President.

Conference Committee

Members of this committee assist in all aspects of program planning for the TAA's annual Textbook & Academic Authoring Conference, including developing the Call for Session Proposals, and evaluating all session proposals to compose a balanced and high-quality program for attendees. Any member of TAA is eligible to serve on this committee.

Awards Committee

Members of this committee meet on as-needed basis to develop and vet nominees for induction into the Council of Fellows and review candidates for other TAA Recognition awards. They also review and approve the final slate of winners for the TAA Textbook Awards program. In addition, they advise and approve changes to awards' criteria. Two committee members must be Council of Fellows. Any member of TAA is eligible to serve on this committee.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

The DEI Advisory Committee serves in a consultative and educational capacity to support Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA) members as they navigate evolving institutional, political, and professional expectations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In a climate where government directives, legislative changes, and institutional policies have created uncertainty and confusion for many academic professionals, the Committee’s role is to help authors understand these shifting landscapes and consider how they may affect textbook development, academic writing, and professional practice, including:

  • Equipping authors with information, tools, and perspectives that help them respond thoughtfully and professionally to changing DEI expectations within higher education, publishing, and institutional environments.
  • Identifying emerging trends, requirements, and challenges related to DEI that may affect textbook and academic authors
  • Providing non-binding advisory insights to the TAA Board when requested.
  • Developing informational resources, programming, and professional development opportunities to assist members in their own work.
  • Facilitating dialogue and knowledge-sharing among authors regarding best practices and practical considerations

Any member of TAA is eligible to serve on this committee.

Ad Hoc Committees:

AI Committee

This Committee was formed in June 2023 to help the association stay abreast of developments in artificial intelligence and its impact on textbook and academic authors and to share resources for members navigating AI tools. Meetings are on an as-needed basis.

Recent activities of this committee include:

Grants Committee

Members of this committee oversee TAA's Grant program are responsible for establishing, maintaining, and revising as needed the policies that will govern TAA Grants. They also review all grant applications and make the final determinations about whether to issue grants. Meetings are on an as-needed basis.

Publishing Practices Committee

Members of this committee stay abreast of and communicate important developments in the textbook, academic, publishing, and legal communities that may have important ramifications for TAA members and their publishing interests. Meetings are on an as-needed basis.