Volunteer Opportunities at SPR

Help advance prevention science through leadership, collaboration, committee service, training, communications, advocacy, and member engagement within the Society for Prevention Research.

Getting Involved with SPR

Talented volunteers are the lifeblood of every membership organization. The Society for Prevention Research offers a range of opportunities for members to contribute to advancing the Society’s mission, vision, values and the strategic priorities through committee service. Annual committee work begins each September. Committee member recruitment begins at the annual conference and through the summer each year. Please click here to view the list of committees and their chairs.

Most committee work is conducted through monthly Zoom meetings; days and times are set annually. There are also between-meeting email communication, which may vary based on the committee and selected work for the year. Committee members also have opportunities to participate in specific projects that support each committee’s goals and objectives.

Committee chairs will receive the interest survey results and invite prospective volunteers to join based on the committee needs, available space, and applicants’ interest. Members can reach out to Executive Director, Jennifer Lewis, at any time to inquire about committee participation. We encourage SPR members of all career types including researchers, practitioners, educators, and administrators to participate. Additionally, members of all career stages, including early career professionals, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate students are welcome!

Please click here to express your interest in committee service. Brief descriptions of committees are provided below.

How Committee Service Works

Explore Volunteer Opportunities

Conference Program Planning Committee (Conference)

The Conference Program Planning Committee develops the program for the SPR Annual Meeting. The committee develops the Call for Papers, each July-August, which includes the three special themes and the general themes. The committee develops and invites the speakers for the three plenary sessions through the fall. Small working groups (chair/co-chairs and 4-6 members) plan the three plenary sessions. The working groups meet 1-2 times via Zoom. The co-chairs of the abstract review committee oversee the abstract review and selection process during winter. The Call for Papers will be announced in early September, and the deadline to submit is late October/early November each year. Opportunities to volunteer to serve as an abstract reviewer and on the thematic abstract review committees open in the fall; review processes occur in the winter.

The Conference Committee will meet in July and August and then monthly from September through December.

Advocacy (The Prevention Science Advocacy Committee)

The Prevention Science Advocacy Committee (Advocacy) works to further the identification and adoption of evidence-based prevention practices and methods. The committee will advocate for the use of evidence-based prevention methods. It will collaborate with the other committees and task forces relevant to training, publications, and other special projects and activities of the Society. The committee will collaborate with partner organizations to advocate for the funding of science-based prevention research and for the use of evidence-based prevention practices and methods at the local, state and federal levels.

The committee meets via monthly Zoom calls, usually on the first Tuesday of the month. The time commitment also includes email communications between the monthly calls to respond to time-sensitive action items (e.g., decisions on statements and sign-on letters), and time for specific projects for which committee members may volunteer.

Diversity Network Committee (DNC)

The Diversity Network Committee (DNC) works to advocate, support, and promote diversity initiatives within SPR specifically for underrepresented racial/ethnic groups as well as to encourage the conduct of prevention research and the design of culturally-relevant interventions that address the various needs of racially and ethnically diverse populations. The DNC develops and oversees the DNC programming and activities at the SPR Annual Meeting, e.g., the annual DNC Reception and one to two invited symposia, special interest group meeting, and coordinates with other committees and task forces.

The committee meets monthly via Zoom, usually the third Friday of the month.

Early Career Preventionists Network (ECPN)

The Early Career Preventionists Network (ECPN) supports the scientific development of the new members of the prevention science community, serves as a preliminary entry point of new members in the SPR, and provides a training ground for leadership in the SPR. The ECPN Steering Committee is a group of early-career individuals and students that monitor the duties of ECPN Steering Committee members and serve as liaisons to SPR’s other committees and task forces. The ECPN Steering Committee develops and oversees the ECPN programming and activities at the SPR Annual Meeting, e.g., ECPN Lunch, two invited symposia/training sessions, the Student Poster Contest, and Coffee Meet and Greet, and along with the Training Committee oversees the SPR Cup. The ECPN Steering Committee selects, with SPR Board approval, the recipients of the John B. Reid Early Career Preventionists Network Award and the Friend of ECPN Award.

The ECPN Steering Committee meets monthly via conference calls, usually the second Monday of the month. ECPN sub-committees(e.g., poster contest, awards, webpage, membership, evaluation, student and programs) meet monthly or on an as-needed basis.

International Committee (IC)

The International Committee works to support and expand SPR’s commitment for international prevention research and to promote global health by facilitating collaboration among international researchers, students, practitioners, and policy makers. Communications and interactions with other international prevention-focused organizations promote sharing of innovations and actions occurring around the globe that are key to health promotion. The IC is actively soliciting early and mid-career people to join the committee. Both U.S. and non-U.S. members are needed. The annual IC International Networking Forum, held at SPR’s annual conference, is its keystone event for sharing information, identifying new directions for international collaborations, and supporting new and established members.

The committee has four working groups to advance the goals of the IC: Strategic, Planning, and Structural Workgroup, Research Collaboration Workgroup, Outreach Workgroup and the Communications Workgroup. Starting in 2021 the International Workgroup on Climate Change was formed. The IC develops and oversees the IC programming and activities at the SPR Annual Meeting, e.g., the International Networking Forum and one to two invited symposia and coordinates with other committees and task forces.

The committee meets monthly via Zoom, usually on the second Wednesday of the month. Members participate in one or more working groups and attend (in person or virtually) the International Networking Forum at least once over a three-year period. The International Workgroup on Climate Change meets monthly via Zoom. Prospective IC members would be asked to submit a brief paragraph regarding one’s interests in the IC.

Membership Committee (Membership)

The Membership Committee develops a plan to retain current members, recruit new members, and promote member benefits. SPR is committed to fostering engagement among individuals from diverse backgrounds. To support this commitment, the Membership Committee actively works to build a community that reflects the full diversity of the populations we serve.

The time commitment for the committee is attending monthly, one-hour Zoom meetings, (schedule developed annually) and email communications between the monthly calls (as needed). There may be specific projects for which committee members may volunteer.

Member Communications Committee (Communications)

The Member Communications Committee works to enhance and modernize its communications with members, prevention researchers, policy makers and the public. The committee develops and implements the communications plan which is designed to deliver members up-to-date news and information in prevention, reach out to Prevention Science Programs, and disseminate member news. The committee evaluates metrics to ensure the best promotion tactics are being engaged and works with all other committees and task forces to fill their dissemination needs.

The committee meets monthly via Zoom, usually the final Monday of the month.

Publications Committee (Publications)

The Publications Committee oversees the operations of the journal Prevention Science and, on occasions when a vacancy occurs in the editorship of the journal, recommends a new editor to the Board of Directors.

The time commitment includes monthly, hourly Zoom meetings (scheduled and developed annually).

Recognition and Honors Committee (Awards and Fellows)

The Recognition and Honors Committee identifies people who are deserving of recognition for their contributions to prevention science. There are two selection committee, the Awards Committee and the Fellows Committee. The Awards Committee recommends to the SPR Board of Directors which individuals or teams shall be recognized for each of the annual SPR Awards. The Fellows Committee recommends to the SPR Board of Directors which SPR members shall be recognized as a SPR Fellow.

Both the Awards and the Fellows selection committees conduct their work via emails and each holds a Zoom meeting(s) scheduled in the first and second quarters of the year. The time commitment includes one to two hourly meetings in the January to March time frame, and email communications between the calls as needed to address action times.

Training Committee (Training)

The Training Committee assesses the training needs of the membership of the Society and develops and implements training opportunities in prevention science for all career levels of scientists and practitioners in response to those needs. The committee develops and oversees the training programming at the SPR Annual Meeting, e.g., pre-conference and post-workshops and along with the ECPN oversees the SPR Cup. The Committee is responsible for the development of the website list of Graduate Programs in Prevention Science. The committee coordinates with the conference, DNC, ECPN, international, membership, and member communications committees to meet the training needs of the Society.

The committee meets monthly via Zoom, (schedule developed annually).

Interested in Volunteering?

Committee service is an excellent way to connect with colleagues, build leadership skills, contribute to prevention science, and become more involved in SPR.