Colleagues, I hope your summers have been restful and regenerative. It is hard to believe that we are just weeks away from the annual conference in San Francisco. There is a spectacular history program planned, and all my gratitude to Caitlin Cieslick-Miskimen (Idaho) and Jason Guthrie (Clayton State) for the tireless work they’ve put into this program over the past several months. The state of the division is strong, thanks in no small part to the service of this leadership team and the exceptional quality of contributions to research, teaching, and PF&R demonstrated across the program.

As you finalize your schedule for the conference, please make plans to join us for the Division’s awards gala on Wednesday, August 6, at 7: 30 p.m. to mingle and to celebrate this year’s award winners. We will also take time to commemorate and honor the memory of our dear friend and former Journalism History editor Pam Perry. The fellowship of the gala is one my favorite parts of AEJMC, and it sets a great tone of community and connection felt during the rest of the conference.

This year, the business meeting is back in person and will feature updates on our activities from throughout the year. We will present candidates for the Vice Chair (Program) and Second Vice Chair (Research) roles, though voting will happen virtually the following week. The conference marks a time for leadership transitions throughout the division, and if you are interested in standing for election for the Vice Chair or Second Vice Chair role, please feel free to reach out at brc623@lehigh.edu. Beyond the leadership ladder, though, there are many ways to serve the division: membership, chairing the Joint Journalism and Communication Historians Conference, or serving on an award committee. In the week following the conference, I’ll be circulating a call for service roles next year, but if you want to talk more, please e-mail, or let’s find time to chat in San Francisco.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who gave any amount of time to the History Division this year. There is so much that happens any given academic year, none of which would be possible without the people who review, who submit, who share feedback, who negotiate with Taylor & Francis, who submit their news to Clio, or who encourage their grad students to get involved in the division. Thanks so much for keeping this community vibrant and for embodying the value of membership. Can’t wait to see you in San Francisco.