MAASU

The Directors Council is a group of volunteers who are within two years of completing a bachelor’s degree with knowledge of and interest in the APIDA community. Volunteers have experience working with or within a student organization, and oversee projects for MAASU. The three council positions include the Director of Alumni Relations, Director of Finance & Partnerships, and the Director of Programs & Assessment. Council members serve two-year terms. Next election is in 2027.

Directors Council

What Is the Directors Council?

The MAASU Directors Council (DC) is a leadership body composed of graduate students and early-career professionals who bring specialized expertise to support MAASU’s mission, operations, and long-term sustainability. The Directors Council serves as a strategic and operational resource for the Executive Coordinating Council (ECC), Executive Director, Board of Advisors, and MAASU’s major programs, including the Leadership Summit and Spring Conference.

Directors work collaboratively to ensure MAASU’s programs, finances, partnerships, digital systems, assessment practices, and branding efforts are aligned, sustainable, and responsive to APIDA student needs.

The Directors Council may include up to three (3) Directors per role across the following functional areas:

Council Composition

Director(s) of Alumni Relations

Director(s) of Finance and Donor Relations

Director(s) of Programming

Director(s) of Assessment and Evaluation

Director(s) of Community Action and Partnerships

Director(s) of Digital Infrastructure

Director(s) of Branding and Strategic Marketing

Election, Term, and Eligibility

How long will you need to serve?

Directors are elected by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the ECC

Term length: 2 years

Vacancies are filled by the Directors Council for the remainder of the term

Directors must be graduates (minimum 1–3 years post-undergraduate completion)

Director’s Council Impact (Aug 2026 - Dec 2026)

  • The Branding team has been developing MAASU’s refreshed brand identity, including new brand guidelines, accessible color palettes, and unified templates for flyers and PR materials. They are also reviewing logo redesign feedback to ensure better visibility and colorblind accessibility. Updates are being rolled out in waves on the website.

  • The Digital Infrastructure Director is preparing website updates, archiving outdated pages, and compiling a full list of AAPI holidays to feature as a new resource on the MAASU website. These changes will go live once branding updates receive final approval.

  • Our Alumni Relations Directors have consolidated previous alumni databases into one streamlined system. allowing MAASU to begin direct outreach via LinkedIn. They completed a new alumni intake form, drafted LinkedIn banners, and began planning expanded alumni programming for the 2026 Spring Conference, including professional networking events and a traditional snack social. A historical photo collection project is also underway to preserve MAASU’s legacy.

  • The Finance team has begun outreach to national partners such as APIAVote, LEAP, and SASE, while reviewing finance records from previous years to build transparent financial statements and updated annual budgeting tools. They are coordinating with the Executive Director and host schools to align fundraising goals and financial tracking systems.

  • The Partnerships team is refreshing MAASU’s sponsorship package, drafting guidelines for future external partnerships, and building relationships with organizations such as NAAAP and the South Asian political advocacy platform SAATH. They are also exploring campus-level engagement through AARC at Northern Illinois and other Midwest institutions. 

  • The Programming Director has completed archival of previous bid packets and is developing updated bid templates and a “Host School 101” guide to make future conference transitions smoother. This work includes collaborating with Finance to improve sponsorship and budget documentation processes.

  • The Assessment & Evaluation team is cataloging past conference materials, analyzing data for an upcoming research paper, and organizing MAASU’s historical documentation to support long-term institutional memory. They are also identifying conference opportunities where MAASU’s work can be shared nationally.

    • Director of Finance and Donor Relations (1)

    • Director of Programming (2)

    • Director of Community Action and Partnerships (1)

    • Director of Digital Infrastructure (2)

    • Director of Branding and Strategic Marketing (1)

    • Director of Assessment and Evaluation (2) - Looking for applicants with data management and analysis skills for both qualitative/quantitative data and writing experience.

The Director’s Council is a way for alumni to give back to the community and use their skillset to help MAASU advance its mission and goal to serve students. You do not need to be based in the Midwest. Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis.

Get Involved

Commitment is project-based, and a list of open and potential projects can be found here.

For more information, please view our application form.

Thank you for your interest in being a volunteer for the MAASU Directors Council Committee! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact the Directors Council at directorscouncil@maasu.org or ExecDirector@maasu.org.