Strengthening Community Connections

The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) is pleased to announce several updates that reflect our continued commitment to fostering inclusive engagement and recognizing impactful contributions across our membership.

Committee Name Change: The Diversity Outreach Committee has officially been renamed the Community Connections Committee. This change reflects a broader mission to build meaningful relationships and foster inclusive practices across the forensic sciences community.

Award Renaming and Submission Deadline: The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Award has been renamed the Community Connections Committee Award. This is a temporary name, as the committee has expressed interest in naming the award in honor of an individual. 

New Submission Deadline: October 1
We encourage members to submit nominations for the Community Connections Committee Award by October 1. Any member of the AAFS may submit nominations directly to the Community Connections Committee Chair (marshallp@duq.edu). All nominations must include a letter detailing the candidate's accomplishments and the reasons the candidate(s) are deserving of the Award, together with a current copy of the candidate's curriculum vitae, and any relevant supporting documentation. All nominations shall be in writing and shall be submitted electronically to the Chair of the Community Connections Committee.

Award Criteria:

1. The recipient must be an AAFS member in good standing and may be active or retired at the time of the nomination, and
2. The recipient must have made an outstanding contribution to their specific discipline or the forensic science community within the AAFS. Contributions may be a single distinctive activity or cumulative activities over time, and
3. The Awards Committee is allowed discretionary judgement when considering the all-inclusive criteria as they pertain to an individual nomination and to base their recommendation upon objective evaluation of the accomplishments, knowledge of professional activities, and peer review. 

PPM Amendments Approved: The Board of Directors has approved the committee's proposed amendments to the Policy and Procedure Manual (PPM), which include the updated committee and award names.

These changes reflect AAFS's ongoing efforts to evolve with the needs of our members and to ensure our policies and recognitions align with our values of equity, inclusion, and community engagement.

Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for being part of a vibrant and connected forensic science community.