At a recent meeting of NCSE's board of directors, Kenneth R. Miller was elected as president, replacing Francisco J. Ayala, whose term on the board expired. Miller is Professor of Biology and Royce Family Professor for Teaching Excellence at Brown University; his honors include the AAAS's Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology as well as NCSE's Friend of Darwin award. He testified for the plaintiffs in Kitzmiller v. Dover. His books include Finding Darwin's God (1999) and Only a Theory (2008).
"We are grateful to Francisco Ayala for his years of service to NCSE and to the cause of defending the integrity of science education, including his serving in the McLean trial and spearheading the National Academy of Sciences's efforts on behalf of evolution education," commented NCSE's executive director Ann Reid. "Ken Miller will be a splendid successor," she added. "He has been involved with NCSE since even before the organization was officially formed, and we are confident that his contributions will continue to be of immense value."
Also leaving the board was Barbara Forrest, professor of philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University. Forrest was the author, with Paul R. Gross, of Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design (2004). Like Miller, she testified for the plaintiffs in Kitzmiller v. Dover, the 2005 case establishing the unconstitutionality of teaching "intelligent design" creationism in the public schools. Her honors include the American Society for Cell Biology's Public Service award and NCSE's Friend of Darwin award.
Joining the board is Vicki Chandler, the Dean of Natural Sciences at Minerva Schools at KGI. A leading plant geneticist, Chandler is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, serving on its governing council from 2007 to 2010, and of the National Science Board. Also joining the board is Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University. With Erik M. Conway, Oreskes wrote Merchants of Doubt (2010). Her honors include NCSE's Friend of the Planet award.
On NCSE's board of directors the two new members, Vicki Chandler and Naomi Oreskes, join President Kenneth R. Miller of Brown University, Treasurer Lorne Trottier of Matrox, Secretary Robert M. West of Informal Learning Experiences, Michael Haas of Orion Renewable Energy Group, Richard B. Katskee of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Barry Polisky, and Benjamin D. Santer of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.