Black Professionals in International Affairs

BPIA 2026 ELECTIONS CYCLE - Announcements

ELECTIONS ANNOUNCEMENTS

2025 BPIA Annual General Body Meeting: Moving Forward Together

Join us for BPIA’s 2025 Annual General Body Meeting — a high impact gathering designed to reconnect our community, celebrate our progress, and prepare for an ambitious year ahead. This convening brings together members, partners, and emerging leaders across international affairs for a day of reflection, fellowship, and strategic engagement.

Throughout the program, attendees will hear key organizational updates, including the President’s Report and the installation of the newly elected Board of Directors. Members will also learn about upcoming initiatives, opportunities to participate in BPIA committees, and ways to contribute to the work shaping our 2026 agenda.

This year’s meeting also features an optional interactive workshop led by UNA–NCA’s Kristen Hecht focused on resilience, community, and leadership in complex global environments.

Whether you are a long-standing member or newly engaged in the BPIA community, this gathering is designed to strengthen our collective impact and ensure every member has a place to contribute. We encourage in-person attendance to fully experience the connection, conversation, and collaboration this moment is built for.

Event Details

Saturday, December 6, 2025
Doors open at 9:30AM EDT
Location: GWU Elliott School of International Affairs (Floor 6),
1957 E St NW, Washington, DC 20052
Hybrid Zoom Option Available

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9794618227

Agenda Highlights

9:30am ET - Doors Open
10:00am ET — Meeting Begins -- President’s Report
11:30am ET — Installation of New Board of Directors
12:30pm ET — Lunch Break
2:00pm ET — Optional Interactive Workshop
“Resilience & Community” ft. UNA–NCA’s Kristen Hecht
4:00pm ET — Concludes

Who Should Attend

BPIA General and Student Members
BPIA Collegiate Council Leadership
BPIA Committee Members and Chairs
Partners and collaborators
Students and early professionals interested in global affairs
Anyone seeking community, leadership pathways, and impact

Your voice matters, and this is the moment to use it. If you are receiving this email, your vote has not been captured.

This is a reminder that voting ends tomorrow, Friday, November 28 at 11:59pm EDT.

The BPIA 2026 Election is now live, and your vote directly shapes the leadership, direction, and priorities of our organization for the year ahead. The individuals you elect will guide our programs, advocate for our community, and steward the mission that connects us all. Your participation ensures that our leadership reflects the values, needs, and aspirations of our full membership.

Please log in to your BPIA account to access the poll page and submit your ballot.

VOTE HERE

Additional Relevant Information

Candidate Bio Books (View Here)

Recording of Candidate Town Hall (View Here)

Any Elections Related Questions email governance@iabpia.org.

If you did not receive the election email or are experiencing any issues, please contact the Governance Committee at governance@iabpia.org.

Thank you for helping strengthen our community by taking part in this important process.

Warm regards,

BPIA Governance Committee

2026 Elections Process Overview

Oversight

The elections process is overseen by the BPIA Governance Committee
Per our bylaws, BPIA holds elections for all leadership positions annually

Terms and Eligibility

The term of all roles runs January–December
All candidates completed an eligibility and suitability review

Voting

General Body members vote only for the Board of Directors
Committee leadership and advisory council roles are elected exclusively by the Board of Directors
All Board of Directors and Committee Leadership are invited to participate in the candidate meet & greet
Only active General Body members (registered on iabpia.org) may participate in elections
Ballots are sent via our WildApricot voting system, so you must be active in the system to receive it
Voting goes live immediately following today’s meeting
Candidates may campaign and share campaign flyers

Timeline

Nov 21 — Voting Opens
Nov 28 — Voting Closes
Dec 6 — Election results announced at the BPIA Annual Meeting

Support

For any voting questions, challenges, or access issues, email governance@iabpia.org
All election and candidate materials are available at iabpia.org/2026-elections

KEY DATES

Oct. 9: Interest Meeting: Board of Directors and Leadership (Register Here)
Oct. 10 - Nov 7: Board Nominations Application Open
Nov. 7: Board Nominations Application Deadline
Nov 21: Virtual Candidate Meet & Greet Register Here (View Candidate Bio Book here)
Nov 21-26: Elections Voting Period
Dec 1: Candidates Notified of Results
Dec 6: Results announced during BPIA Annual Meeting

FAQ

QUESTION	ANSWER
Do I have to be a BPIA member to run for a BPIA leadership role?	Yes.
What roles are available?	All BPIA leadership roles are open for elections. To see the listing of Board and Committee chair roles, please view the interest meeting powerpoint.
What are the requirements to run for a position?	All requirements are listed in the Prospective Candidate Memo.
Is there an age limit to who can run?	No.
How long is the term of each position?	All BPIA leadership positions run for one calendar year (from January-December)
Can I run for multiple roles?	No, only one.
Can I run for a Board of Director role and a Committee Chair role?	Yes.
Can I run for the Board of Directors if I have been a member less than 6 months?	No. Candidates running for board of director roles must be a member for at least 6 months.
Is it required that I serve as a Committee Chair to serve on the BPIA Board of Directors?	Not required but suggested.
Is there a minimum professional experience requirement to serve on BPIA leadership?	No, however, demonstrated leadership and professional experience is strongly suggested.
How do we get selected?	Board of Directors (Voting and Non-Voting are elected by the BPIA General Body). Committee chairs are voted on by the incoming board of directors.
Who do I contact if I have questions?	Email goverance@iabpia.org.
Can I nominate someone else for a role.	It is advised to encourage them to submit the nomination form themselves (as the form gets specific)
Can I serve on the elections committee and run for a role?	Yes, but candidates must opt out of any vetting that includes them.
How many years can I hold a position?	There is no term limit, as long as the individual is elected by vote.

KEY DOCUMENTS

Memo - 2026 Prospective BPIA Board of Directors Informational Packet

Join the BPIA E-newsletter Mailing List
BPIA sends monthly e-newsletter to the BPIA community highlighting upcoming events, job announcement, fellowships, news, and more.

BPIA membership is open to all applicants who support our mission and goals without regard to race, religion/creed, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual preference or identity.

Email
bpiaoutreach@iabpia.org

Mailing Address

BPIA

P.O. Box 55922

Washington, DC 20011