Hello! My name is Emily Fekete, and I am excited to get to know the ASA members as the new manager of volunteer engagement and chapter relations. I have been working in associations since 2017; however, my experience with professional and academic societies goes back 10 years before that.
I was introduced to a professional association while I was completing my undergraduate degree in geography and history at the University of New Hampshire. A professor brought me to a meeting of the New England/St. Lawrence Valley regional division of the American Association of Geographers. An internship the following summer in the research department for National Geographic magazine piqued my interest in research more generally and I went for my master’s degree in geography at Kent State University. After graduating from Kent State, I attended the University of Kansas for my PhD in geography. Throughout my graduate studies, I participated in regional divisions of AAG and became involved as a student member of several AAG special interest groups.
In my professional career, I began as a professor of geography at Oklahoma State University and was involved in the AAG through board service for the southwest regional division and communication and cultural geography special interest groups. When an opportunity came up in 2017 to work for AAG, it felt like a natural transition, given the experience I had in the organization. I served as the social media and engagement coordinator at AAG for three years before becoming the organization’s first community manager. My three years in the community manager role solidified my interest in building a long-term career in association management, particularly working with member groups.
Stemming from my background in cultural geography, I believe having community is vital to not only the exchange of ideas and growth of scholarship, but also to who we are as members of society. I participate in several community groups related to association management, such as the Association Women Technology Champions, and was recognized as one of Association Forum’s 2023 class of the 40 Under 40 Program. Outside of work, I am a certified Reiki master and practice regularly with other practitioners.
While we have moved around the US a bit, my partner, our black cat, and I have called Baltimore home since late 2020. We love exploring the city and the wider state of Maryland. We even have our own community-oriented brewery blog called Places for Beer in which we rate different craft breweries on a variety of scales (follow us on Instagram @PlacesforBeer). I enjoy reading and learning, and I also co-host a research-focused podcast called Researching the Obvious with my long-distance best friend. (It is available on all podcast platforms if you ever want to check it out!)
When not at home, I love to travel and discover new places. Some of my favorite destinations include the Sahara Desert in Morocco, northern Iceland, Zion National Park in Utah, and Bolton Valley ski resort in Burlington, Vermont. I grew up downhill ski racing and try to get out to the slopes when I can, though living in Maryland makes that a little tricky!
I am looking forward to joining everyone at the ASA and collaborating with all the members who have built such an enduring institution.
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