Society News

ASBMB names Mona V. Miller as next executive officer

Angela Hopp
Jan. 17, 2024

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology today named Mona V. Miller its next chief executive officer, effective April 1.

Miller is an association professional and science and health advocate with two decades of experience in strategic planning, fundraising and public policy. She most recently was CEO of the American Society of Human Genetics for six years and before that held multiple leadership positions at the Society for Neuroscience.

In an email announcement to ASBMB members, Ann Stock, president of the ASBMB and chair of the committee that conducted the search, said, “The search yielded dozens of highly qualified candidates — from industry, academia and associations all over the nation. The decision to appoint Mona was unanimous.”

Mona Miller will lead the ASBMB staff at the society's Rockville, Md., headquarters.

Miller said she was drawn to the ASBMB because “scientifically, biochemistry and molecular biology is at the forefront of knowledge that is transforming health and society.”

She said she looks forward to “focusing on the pivotal role of fundamental science and highlighting its inherent wonder and importance, its irreplaceable role as a foundation for downstream discovery and applications, and its centrality to economic growth and human advancement.”

Stock, a distinguished professor at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers, said the committee sought out someone who would be both a strategic thinker and an inspirational team manager. “As the ASBMB’s new CEO, Mona will work with Council to develop, and then execute, a bold strategic plan that accounts for the changing nature and competitive landscape of scholarly publishing and scientific meetings and the diverse education and career-development needs of the current and next generation of STEM professionals. She will also be responsible for the society’s staff management and business operations,” Stock said.

Stock told staff in an email: “It was important to the search committee to find someone with the emotional intelligence, integrity, enthusiasm and creativity needed to lead people who are eager to achieve great things. We zeroed in on candidates with a track record of developing talent and advocating for lifelong learning.”

Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Tulane University in 1989, a master’s degree in public policy with a concentration in nonprofit management from Harvard Kennedy School in 1998, and an executive education certificate in change management from New York University’s Stern School of Business in 2013.

She started her career in communications, holding roles over six years at the American Women’s Economic Development Corporation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the office of U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. She then entered consulting, working for multiple firms and for herself for five years on health and science policy before joining the Pew Charitable Trusts in 2004.

Miller entered the scientific society sphere in 2007. She did communications and public affairs for SfN and was subsequently promoted to deputy executive director in 2012. She became CEO of ASHG in 2017 and remained there until November 2023.

Joan Conaway is the ASBMB’s president-elect, a member of the search committee and the vice provost and dean of basic research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. She said the committee found Miller to be an innovative and thoughtful leader with the finance chops the society needs.

“Mona has a strong background in organizational leadership and financial management,” said Conaway, the society’s former treasurer. “As CEO of ASHG, she grew revenue by 25% by diversifying and securing new revenue streams. At SfN, she had direct responsibility for SfN’s financial management, including development and approval of its annual budget, reserve and membership revenue. She also led donor relations and oversaw annual meeting and journal finances.”

Miller succeeds Stephen Miller (no relation), who will retire March 31 after serving the society in several roles since 2004 and as its executive director since 2021.  

"We are deeply indebted to Stephen Miller for his dedication to the society and wish him a grand retirement after his final hurrah at our flagship meeting, Discover BMB, in March in San Antonio,” Stock said.

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
Angela Hopp

Angela Hopp is the former executive editor of ASBMB Today and former senior director of marketing and communications for ASBMB.

Related articles

ASBMB names 2025 fellows
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus
2024 ASBMB election results
ASBMB Today Staff
2024 voter guide
ASBMB Today Staff
2023 voter guide
ASBMB Today Staff

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in People

People highlights or most popular articles

Meet Lan Huang
Interview

Meet Lan Huang

May 19, 2025

Molecular & Cellular Proteomics associate editor uses crosslinking mass spec to study protein–protein interactions to find novel therapeutics.

Meet Shannon Reilly
Profile

Meet Shannon Reilly

May 12, 2025

The JLR junior associate editor discusses the role of adipocytes in obesity at Weill Cornell Medical School.

Meet Donita Brady
Interview

Meet Donita Brady

May 8, 2025

Donita Brady is an associate professor of cancer biology and an associate editor of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, who studies metalloallostery in cancer.

Glyco get-together exploring health and disease
Interview

Glyco get-together exploring health and disease

May 7, 2025

Meet the co-chairs of the 2025 ASBMB meeting on O-GlcNAcylation to be held July 10–13, 2025, in Durham, North Carolina. Learn about the latest in the field and meet families affected by diseases associated with this pathway.

ASBMB recognizes 2025 outstanding student chapter
Student Chapters

ASBMB recognizes 2025 outstanding student chapter

May 6, 2025

The Purdue group, led by Orla Hart, developed STEM outreach initiatives for low-income and minority students in Lafayette, Indiana.

ASBMB inducts 2025 honor society members
Student Chapters

ASBMB inducts 2025 honor society members

May 5, 2025

Chi Omega Lambda, which recognizes exceptional juniors and seniors pursuing degrees in the molecular life sciences, has 16 new inductees in 2025.