Barbara Gordon, ASBMB executive director, to retire in 2021

It is with mixed feelings that I am writing to let you know that the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s longtime executive director, Barbara A. Gordon, announced today that she will be retiring in early 2021.

Barbara A. Gordon has been executive director of the ASBMB since 2003.

Barbara has spent just about her entire career at the society, and we couldn’t have asked for a more committed and caring leader. She began working for the Journal of Biological Chemistry in 1972 and went on to manage the society’s meetings and its journals before being appointed executive director in 2003. During her tenure, she oversaw the journals’ transition to online publishing and, most recently, their transition to open access. She also oversaw the formation of new committees and programs, such as the undergraduate degree-accreditation program and certification exam, the IMAGE grant-writing workshop, and the new MOSAIC program for diverse young investigators. Her list of accomplishments is long and impressive.

Barbara has been tremendously supportive and encouraging to all members of our ASBMB community, and we will most certainly miss her. She has freely shared her wisdom, intelligence and humor with all who have had the pleasure of working with her. On behalf of the Council and all who have benefited from working with Barbara, I thank her for her exceptional service to the society and congratulate her on her well-deserved retirement.

The Council will soon begin the search process for a new executive director and will keep you updated on its progress. We will work closely with Barbara, the headquarters staff and the committees to ensure that there is a smooth transition.