Dear ARNOVAns,

The Board of Directors of ARNOVA announces that Lynnette Cook has departed from her role as Executive Director, effective March 1, 2025. Since joining ARNOVA in November 2019, Lynnette has provided executive leadership through significant organizational transitions, including the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board appreciates her contributions over the past five years and extends best wishes for her future endeavors.

ARNOVA faces several significant challenges at the moment.  These challenges are similar to those that many other membership associations have experienced over the past several years, particularly a decline in membership.  Our membership has declined by nearly fifty percent since its peak, just before the start of the COVID pandemic; during the same period, our net worth has dropped over 80%.

Membership and conference attendance are the primary drivers of our operating model.  As a result, a decline in membership has significant financial implications.  We have already engaged in several changes to our operations, and additional cost reductions and reorganization efforts are underway. Lynnette Cook’s departure forms a part of that broader array of planned changes that will enable us to rebuild and strength our capacity.

Over the next several months, we will be considering and selecting new approaches that will work better for an international and interdisciplinary association like ours. In keeping with the new operating model, we will also be looking at alternative staffing arrangements to best serve ARNOVA members.  We aim to have a new operating model in place by the 54th Annual ARNOVA Conference in Indianapolis, IN, this November. A long-term strategy task force, which consists of Emily Barman, David Campbell, Bok Gyo Jeong, Huafang Li, Paloma Raggo (Chair), and Margaret Sloan, will research various models and present their recommendations to the Board in May.

Meanwhile, a transition team, which consists of Alan Abramson, Will Brown, Chao Guo, Jennifer Madden, and Elizabeth Searing, will work closely with the staff to help maintain ARNOVA’s day-to-day operations.  The transition team and staff will also consult with a short-term strategy task force, which consists of Mirae Kim (Chair), Alisa Moldavanova, Gregory Saxton, and Nathanial Wright, to ensure ARNOVA’s resilience during the next year. All teams and task forces will report to the Board and its Executive Committee.

Once again, the Board expresses its appreciation for Lynnette Cook’s dedication, leadership, and service over the past five years. We acknowledge her contributions to ARNOVA and wish her success. We also thank you, our members, for your continued support and for helping us navigate this organizational transformation. Should you have any questions or concerns during this transition, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at chaoguo@upenn.edu.

Sincerely, Chao Guo
President

Board of Directors, ARNOVA