CESSE

CESSE The professional home for STEM society CEOs, Executive Directors, and Staff CESSE's greatest resource is its members' wisdom and experience.

Engineering and scientific societies play a crucial role in the development of the professions that are key to advancing innovation. The Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE), incorporated in 1977, is a professional society of chief executive officers and mid- to senior-level staff members dedicated to leadership excellence. CESSE offers its members a forum for exchangin

g information about their experiences and a venue for addressing the problems, challenges, and opportunities they face in operating their societies. CESSE members are known - some are even notorious - for their willingness to share their knowledge with colleagues. OUR MISSION
CESSE provides leadership development through networking, education, and the sharing of best practices for the professional leaders of science, technology, engineering, and math societies. OUR VISION
Transforming the future through science, technology, engineering, and math leadership.

Following a powerful closing keynote from Penny Gordon-Larsen, PhD, will bring the conversation full circle with a pan...
06/16/2026

Following a powerful closing keynote from Penny Gordon-Larsen, PhD, will bring the conversation full circle with a panel exploring the indispensable role of STEM associations in today’s research landscape.

These speakers will examine how associations serve as the connective infrastructure across policy, funding, and public trust:
• Penny Gordon-Larsen, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Lee Lilley, North Carolina Secretary of Commerce
• Louis J. Muglia, MD, PhD, Burroughs Wellcome Fund
• Doug Edgeton, MPH, MBA, NC Biotech

Together, they will explore what it takes to sustain scientific progress, strengthen partnerships, and position associations as architects of a more resilient and equitable research ecosystem.

📩 Know a colleague who should be part of this conversation? Tag them in the comments below!

We’re excited to offer association professionals the opportunity to earn credits toward their Certified Association Exec...
06/15/2026

We’re excited to offer association professionals the opportunity to earn credits toward their Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation at the ACCESSE26 Finance & HR Pre-Conference Meeting happening July 13th at the Raleigh Convention Center. This year, attendees can earn up to 4 CAE credits.

If you’re a STEM society professional working toward your CAE this year, this is a great opportunity to make progress while connecting with peers in similar functions.

Learn more at: www.cesse.org/finance-hr-pre-conference-meeting

At CESSE, we celebrate by recognizing the contributions and leadership of the + community across science, technology,...
06/04/2026

At CESSE, we celebrate by recognizing the contributions and leadership of the + community across science, technology, engineering, and math.

As such, we encourage you to explore our LGBTQIA+ Resources, which is a curated collection of tools and guidance designed to help associations foster more inclusive environments. From everyday practices like normalizing pronouns and using gender-neutral language to LGBTQIA+ organizations you can support, these resources offer practical steps to turn intention into action.

Explore More: https://ow.ly/vaXP50Z7J4U

06/03/2026

For STEM societies, being rooted in purpose extends beyond the organization itself. It shapes how your work contributes to broader communities, disciplines, and the future of your field.

That global perspective is central to ACCESSE26.

This year’s program will explore how purpose-driven work can scale through partnerships, knowledge sharing, and strategic decisions that amplify impact beyond your own organization.

As we look ahead to July 13–15 in Raleigh, NC, we invite the CESSE community to share your perspective and learn from one another: what helps turn your STEM society’s purpose into scaled impact?

Learn more about ACCESSE26 and register at: https://ow.ly/WVhE50Z6lP2

“As always, I enjoyed connecting in-person with other CESSE members. I also greatly appreciated the ability to speak 1:1...
06/02/2026

“As always, I enjoyed connecting in-person with other CESSE members. I also greatly appreciated the ability to speak 1:1 with CESSE Partners and learn about services, software, apps and other solutions to common challenges everyone is facing, especially related to use of AI and membership engagement.” — Jennifer Zeitzer, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology - FASEB

At ACCESSE, those one-on-one conversations matter.

Whether you are exchanging ideas with peers or exploring solutions with partners, these interactions offer practical insight into the challenges shaping STEM societies today, from AI to member engagement. If you value meaningful connections paired with actionable takeaways, ACCESSE26 offers the space to do both.

Join us July 13–15, 2026, in Raleigh, NC. Register today at: https://ow.ly/qlmS50Z6lly

Launching a new system is only the beginning. The real challenge and opportunity lies in adoption. Featuring Anne Ornela...
06/01/2026

Launching a new system is only the beginning. The real challenge and opportunity lies in adoption.

Featuring Anne Ornelas (CASSS - Sharing Science Solutions) Erin Trost, and Rebecca Achurch (Achurch Consulting), this session will explore how society professionals can move beyond implementation to build a practical strategy that supports , , and . Attendees will leave with frameworks to help evaluate adoption, strengthen internal knowledge, and get more value from their technology investments over time.

Join us this summer at for relevant and timely insights that can help your STEM society get more value from the tools you already have and plan more confidently for what comes next.

Register now at: https://ow.ly/z2su50Z6l5w

We are excited to announce Penny Gordon‑Larsen, PhD as the closing keynote speaker for this summer!Dr. Gordon‑Larsen s...
05/27/2026

We are excited to announce Penny Gordon‑Larsen, PhD as the closing keynote speaker for this summer!

Dr. Gordon‑Larsen serves as Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor in Nutrition. A nationally recognized research leader, she has led a $1B+ public research enterprise and brings a unique dual perspective from her time as president of The Obesity Society. Her work spans molecular and genetic science through the broader environmental and societal factors shaping health outcomes.

In her closing keynote, “Rooted in Purpose, Built for This Moment: The Indispensable Role of STEM Associations in a Changing Research Landscape,” Dr. Gordon‑Larsen will explore how scientific progress is advanced not only through discovery, but through the organizations that advocate for it, fund it, and connect it to the world. Grounded in today’s realities, from shifting federal funding to workforce challenges and equity gaps, this session will consider how STEM associations can move beyond service delivery and step into a more strategic role as architects of the research ecosystem.

🚨 Early bird savings end today. Save $50 on your registration.
🚨 Today is also the deadline to apply for a Friends of CESSE Fund scholarship to attend ACCESSE26.

Register Now: https://ow.ly/ulaT50Z4urv
Apply to the Friends of CESSE Scholarship: https://ow.ly/I5yg50Z4urw

05/26/2026

There is something energizing about leaving an event with ideas you can actually use.

In 2025, 95% of attendees shared that they left ACCESSE with new ideas they could immediately apply to their work. This impact highlights the value of coming together with peers who are navigating similar challenges and opportunities. Whether you are looking to refine your approach or explore something entirely new, ACCESSE26 offers insights you can bring back and put into action right away.

Join us for the can't-miss event of the summer in Raleigh, July 13–15, at the Raleigh Convention Center. Register by May 27 and save $50. 🔗: https://ow.ly/VX0f50Z4ug4

Let’s take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. ...
05/25/2026

Let’s take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Their courage and dedication ensure the freedoms we cherish today.

At CESSE, we are grateful for their service and commitment. We wish you a peaceful and reflective .

Stepping into a or role can feel like drinking from a firehose, especially in societies where mission, , and stak...
05/15/2026

Stepping into a or role can feel like drinking from a firehose, especially in societies where mission, , and stakeholder expectations move fast. The difference between a strong start and a rocky first year often comes down to whether the first 100 days are intentional.

In the session, “Mission Onboarding: Making Your First 100 Days Effective,” Erika Shugart, PhD, CEO at the American Physiological Society, will share practical, field-tested onboarding guidance drawn from interviews with 25 nonprofit CEOs and widely used best practices (including insights from The First 90 Days). You will walk away with the critical conversations to prioritize, the key documents to request, and the milestones that help new executives learn faster, build trust earlier, and drive impact sooner.

This is a must-attend for STEM society CEOs, whether you are the incoming executive or the team responsible for onboarding and setting your new CEO up for success.

Join us at , July 13–15, 2026, in Raleigh, NC. Register Now🔗 https://ow.ly/37wx50YYqRv

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