Transition Team Update

Volume 53, Issue 3 —— Summer 2026
Brian Quigley

Following our shift into ASIS&T, the PAM Executive Board charged a dedicated Transition Team to figure out the best path forward. Consisting of Kayleigh Bohémier, Nicholas Dehler, Jerrel Horn, Nastasha Johnson, John Kromer, Henrik Spoon, and myself, the team set out to achieve an important goal: honor our legacy, preserve our unique PAM character, and keep vital vendor partnerships thriving, while remaining realistic about volunteer capacity. To ensure every voice was heard, we launched a community survey this spring that drew 74 respondents.

The feedback provided valuable input:

• Standalone SIG: There was strong interest in continuing as a standalone SIG within ASIS&T.
• Expanding Subjects: While physics, astronomy, and mathematics remain our core, over half of respondents also support chemistry and engineering.
• Virtual Programming: Recognizing limited travel budgets, more than half of you favored primarily online programming.

Grounded in these results and the team’s thoughtful discussions, we released our recommendations in late June: PAM’s Future within ASIS&T: Survey Findings and Recommendations. In summary, the team recommends establishing a new ASIS&T Special Interest Group through a merger of PAM and the former SLA Chemistry community, tentatively called the Chemistry, Astronomy, Mathematics, Materials Science, and Physics (CAMMP) SIG. 

By joining forces with the Chemistry community, we will preserve our tight-knit disciplinary identity and strong industry partnerships, while expanding avenues for collaboration, membership growth, and professional development. In recognition of volunteer capacity, we will pair this merger with a streamlined leadership structure.

Next Steps: The Transition Team will now turn its attention to implementation. 

• Ted Baldwin, Denise Callihan, and Judith Currano will be joining the team to provide essential perspectives from the Chemistry community. 
• To take advantage of the temporary, streamlined transition process available to former SLA communities, we will focus first on our official SIG application, which is due by September 2026. Stay tuned for more details!

The collective energy and dedication of this entire group is what makes PAM so special. I am entirely confident that CAMMP will provide a vibrant foundation for our next chapter.