Officer Descriptions

Elected Officer Information:

President

The President-Elect is an elected officer which has a three (3) year term. The first year as President-Elect, second year as President, and third year as Past President. Student status is only required during the President and President-Elect terms.

As President-Elect you prepare for your year as President. You will serve as a non-voting observer on the IFT Board of Directors. In addition, you will be required to help coordinate the IFTSA Closing Ceremony at the IFT Annual Meeting and assist with budget and annual plan preparation for your year as President.

As President you are the veritable CEO of the Student Association. You will serve as a voting member on the IFT Board of Directors. You run the organization through meetings and memos, communicate often through e-mails and phone calls with the Board and other IFTSA leaders.

During Past Presidency, you will preside over the nominations and elections process while helping guide the other Presidents from your previous experience. You will serve as a non-voting observer on the IFT Board of Directors, and Feeding Tomorrow, the IFT Foundation, Board of Trustees.

Recommendations:

That you have at least one to two years of previous experience with IFTSA

That you consult your advisor or department head to inform them of your future time constraints pertaining to this role.

Travel Required:

Attendance at the IFT Board Orientation immediately following your election (April/May)

Attendance at IFT Annual Meeting (June/July) the summer directly following the elections

Attendance at IFTSA Mid-Year Meeting (JNovember) and IFT Annual Meeting (June/July) during your term

Attendance at Attendance at IFT Board of Directors meetings (October, March, and June/July) during all three years as President

Attendance at IFT Foundation Board Meetings (December, March, and June/July) during your year as Past President

Area Representative

The Area Representatives are elected as voting members of the IFTSA Executive Committee who are representatives of membership from their respective geographical areas (North Atlantic, Central Atlantic, South East, Midwest, North Central, South Central, Pacific West, and Mountain West). They are responsible for communications between the IFTSA Board and the local student chapters and members through memos, newsletters, and e-mails. Most importantly, the Area Rep organizes their respective regional Area Meeting and College Bowl Competition.

Recommendations:

Previous experience in their local Food Science Chapter

Travel Required:

Attendance at IFT Annual Meeting (June/July) the summer directly following the elections

Attendance at the IFTSA Mid-Year Meeting (November) and IFT Annual Meeting (June/July) during your term.

Appointed Officer Information

Vice Presidents:

VP of Finance

The VP of Finance is charged with guiding the financial wellbeing of IFTSA, working with sponsors and potential sponsors, and participating on the Fun Run Committee.
Recommendations:

Leadership experience in IFTSA and experience with budgets, fundraising and strategic planning preferred.

Travel Required:

Attendance at the IFTSA Mid-Year Meeting (November) and IFT Annual Meeting (June/July) during your term.

VP of Development and Communications

The VP of Development and Communications is charged with overseeing all communication and outreach from IFTSA, including the website, Community group, membership announcements, blog, Science Meets Food, and newsletter, Midnight Snack.

Recommendations:

Interest in developing and maintaining effective communication to IFTSA members and brainstorming and implementing new outreach initiatives and member benefits.

Travel Required:

Attendance at the IFTSA Mid-Year Meeting (November) and IFT Annual Meeting (June/July) during your term.

VP of Membership Experiences

The VP of Membership Experiences is charged with ensuring maximum member value for IFTSA membership and managing and coordinating the Excellence in Leadership Award, as well as the IFTSA party and booth at the Annual Meeting.

Recommendations:

Previous attendance at IFTSA programs &/or events and program coordination skills.

Travel Required:

Attendance at the IFTSA Mid-Year Meeting (November) and IFT Annual Meeting (June/July) during your term.

VP of Competitions

The VP of Competitions is charged with overseeing all competitions and their promotion, planning and execution.

Recommendations:

Previous involvement in student competitions.

Travel Required:

Attendance at the IFTSA Mid-Year Meeting (November) and IFT Annual Meeting (June/July) during your term.

VP of IFT Relations

The VP of IFT Relations is charged with establishing and maintaining the connection with IFT including serving as the liaison between the Board and all student reps to IFT Workgroups and organizing the Chapters Leaders Workshop.

Recommendations:

Previous experience as a student representative and good communication skills.

Travel Required:

Attendance at the IFTSA Mid-Year Meeting (November) and IFT Annual Meeting (June/July) during your term.

Chairs:

Fun Run Co-Chair

The Fun Run Co-Chair is a two year commitment and is responsible for managing the Fun Run and working directly with IFT Feeding Tomorrow staff to solicit funds in support of the Fun Run, held at the IFT Annual Meeting. Race management includes communicating with race management companies, organizing race-day logistics and volunteers, and ordering/designing shirts.

Recommendations:

Previous participation in the Fun Run &/or other fundraising experience.

Travel Required:

The IFT Annual Meeting during their term and the year following.

Competition Directors:
Chapter of the Year (COY) Chair

The Chapter of the Year Competition Chair oversees the COY competition from entries, to judges, and the finalist announcement at the IFTSA Closing Ceremony

Requisite Appointment: Member of the SA Rule Change Sub-Committee

Recommendations:

Interest in Food Science Chapter activities and their benefits.

Travel Required:

IFT Annual Meeting during term.

College Bowl Competition Chair

The College Bowl Competition (CBC) Chair oversees the CBC in its entirety. These responsibilities include; soliciting and adding new questions to the questions bank, soliciting judges for both editing submitted questions and the national competition, compiling and sending question sets adequate for each (8) area competition, and managing the logistics for the national competition at the IFT Annual Meeting, in conjunction with the VP of Competitions and IFT Staff.

Requisite Appointment: Member of the SA Rule Change Sub-Committee

Recommendations:

Preferred to have previous active participation in the CBC at the national level. After holding this position, the chair will no longer be eligible to participate in future College Bowl Competitions.

Travel Required:

IFT Annual Meeting immediately following appointment and during term. You will be funded for travel to the IFT Annual Meeting directly following appointment where you will shadow the current chair during organization and execution of the National CB Competition.

Developing Solutions for Developing Countries Competition Chair

The Developing Solutions for Developing Countries (DSDC) Chair oversees the DSDC in its entirety. These responsibilities include; soliciting judges for the preliminary and final reports, organizing and overseeing the oral finals of the competition, along with the overall promotion, management, and execution of the competition at the IFT Annual Meeting, in conjunction with the VP of Competitions and IFT Staff.

Requisite Appointment: Member of the SA Rule Change Sub-Committee.

Recommendations:

Preferred to have previous active participation in the DSDC at the national level.

Travel Required:

IFT Annual Meeting immediately following appointment and during term. You will be funded for travel to the IFT Annual Meeting directly following appointment where you will shadow the current chair during organization and execution of the DSDC Competition.

Heart Healthy Competition Chair

The Heart Healthy Competition Chair oversees the competition in its entirety. These responsibilities include; soliciting judges for the preliminary and final reports, organizing and overseeing the oral, poster, and tasting portion of the competition, along with the overall promotion, management, and execution of the competition at the IFT Wellness Conference.

Recommendations:

Preferred to have an interest in health and wellness.

Travel Required:

IFT Wellness Conference during term.

Disney/IFTSA Product Development Competition Chair

The Disney/IFTSA Product Development Comptition Chair oversees the competition in its entirety. These responsibilities include; soliciting judges for the preliminary and final reports, organizing and overseeing the oral and tasting portion of the competition, along with the overall promotion, management, and execution of the competition at the IFT Annual Meeting, in conjunction with the VP of Competitions and IFT Staff.

Requisite Appointment: Member of the SA Rule Change Sub-Committee

Recommendations:

Preferred to have previous active participation in this competition at the national level.

Travel Required:

IFT Annual Meeting immediately following appointment and during term. You will be funded for travel to the IFT Annual Meeting directly following appointment where you will shadow the current chair during organization and execution of the National PD Competition.

IFTSA & Mars Product Development Competition Chair

The IFTSA & Mars Product Development Competition (PDC) Chair oversees the PDC in its entirety. These responsibilities include; soliciting judges for the preliminary and final reports, organizing and overseeing the oral, poster, and tasting portion of the competition, along with the overall promotion, management, and execution of the competition at the IFT Annual Meeting, in conjunction with the VP of Competitions and IFT Staff.

Requisite Appointment: Member of the SA Rule Change Sub-Committee

Recommendations:

Preferred to have previous active participation in the PDC at the national level.

Travel Required:

IFT Annual Meeting immediately following appointment and during term. You will be funded for travel to the IFT Annual Meeting directly following appointment where you will shadow the current chair during organization and execution of the National PD Competition.

Undergraduate Research Competition Chair

The Undergraduate Research Competition (URC) Chair oversees the URC competition including entry and compilation of abstracts, solicitation of judges, organization of oral & poster presentations, and announcement of winners at the Closing Ceremony in conjunction with the VP of Competitions and IFT Staff.

Requisite Appointment: Member of the SA Rule Change Sub-Committee

Recommendations:

Preferred status as an undergraduate student with an interest in Undergraduate Research.

Travel Required:

IFT Annual Meeting during term.

Reps to IFT Workgroups:

IFT has moved on from the old structure of committees to a more strategic and mission driven structure of task forces, workgroups, advisory panels, and other groups that support IFT's goals and objectives. Students' participation is important to the success of these groups and you are encouraged to participate. If you are interested in being a student representative, fill out the IFTSA Official Nomination Form. These appointments are made on an as-needed basis and cannot be guaranteed each year.