Professional associations or societies are some of the oldest institutions adjacent to U.S. universities. The oldest society dates back to 1660 (Jorgensen, 2017). They are inextricably linked to knowledge production and scholars' professionalization process. Some associations or societies are old; some are new. Some are big (in the thousands), while others are small and intimate (a few hundred). The more prominent associations are often the intellectual authority of the academic discipline, while the smaller groups tackle niche topics within a field. In the case of large organizations, the membership might splinter into focus areas or contingency groups. There may also be smaller regional conferences outside the larger yearly conference.

Traditional associations are often responsible for four significant areas of the profession, including membership in the organization itself, providing a moral and intellectual compass for the field, production of a scholarly publication (research journals), and hosting periodic conferences (most large associations host their conference yearly). 

A hallmark of healthy graduate student growth in their journey is engaging in the field’s professional organization. It is meant to be a space for scholars to ponder contemporary issues in the field outside of the classroom and a place to advance one’s network (thought partners, colleagues, lifelong friends). They can be a home away from a home department.

• The new friend you meet at a graduate luncheon might be a future writing collaborator. The faculty member you meet at an evening reception might write your external letter for tenure one day or invite you to serve on a panel at a future event. A peer who laughs at the same joke in a conference session might one day send you a job opening for the perfect practitioner role. Therefore, while the networking you are doing at conferences today may not benefit you today or tomorrow, it could benefit you in the long run. As a result, it is important not to overlook future opportunities with an emerging connection - Nehls 2022, p.140.

This blog post is a quick guide with nine steps to connecting to your professional organization or society. 

1) Do your research
If you don’t know what professional organization your discipline is connected to, simply Google these words: “The American Association of (enter your discipline).”  Launch another search with words encompassing your subfield, specialization, or research interests. This magical conjuring will often lead you to the society or association website. Ask the faculty and senior graduate students in your department about the associations they are a part of. If you feel like committing to the organization is not for you just yet, follow the organization on social media channels.

2) Explore the organization resources on the webpage thoroughly
The association or society website often has countless resources for students to explore. Some items may be open access, while others require membership to the organization to unlock its contents. Some items you may find are job boards, internship boards, summer research opportunities, educational resources for educators, events, scholarships, awards, committees, task forces, student guides to the discipline and profession, member registries, training fellowships, and links to scholarly publications (newsletters, blogs, reports, special editions, policy work, book forums, annual reports, podcasts, journals). Spend time on the website to deep dive into its contents. You will be glad you did.

3) Become a member
Most organizations recognize the importance of student participation and engagement; therefore, they offer student rates. Use the money from the holidays or your birthday to invest in professional memberships. Most academics hold multiple memberships. It is an investment, but these memberships can also become a line item on your CV, and they will give you access to the journals.

4) “Read” the Journal
The journal articles in the association press signal the emergent and pressing research in the field. While the expectation from your faculty may not be that you read the journal from cover to cover, you should browse its contents. The more you “read,” the more familiar you will get with the scholars in the discipline and the structure of scholarly works.

5) Attend the conference
Conference venues vary widely. Most organizations host their conference in cities that will attract the most attendees, i.e., Hawaii in the winter. Ask other students in the department if they are attending the conference and traveling together. Group travel can cut down on costs. Also, make your desire to participate in a conference known to your advisor. There may be departmental monies, association or society monies (travel scholarships), or institutionally sanctioned financial avenues to support these professional opportunities, like the UCR GSA Travel Grant. 

6) Present your research
Presenting at a conference is a big step in a research career. If you are not ready for this step, it’s not a problem. You should be thinking about and experiencing research presentations, ranging from poster presentations to round tables and oral presentations. The first step in moving in this direction is observation. Learn how these presentations are structured and the protocols for getting in. Know when the call for proposals comes out and learn what it takes to submit a successful submission. 

7) Join a committee
The pillars of academic success include teaching, scholarship, and service. Joining a committee within your professional organization often counts as service. Find a committee that speaks to you and your skill set, but check with your advisors, as engagement in service comes after students have passed through critical academic milestones. Also, be protective of your time and energy, as most service positions are unpaid. However, these positions are highly sought after, competitive, and well-regarded. Having a committee position is impressive on a CV. 

8) Review for the journal
As you become a stronger writer, consider reviewing for the journal. Journals are peer-reviewed. There are many eyes on a single publication. It takes a scholarly village to get research to the press. Reach out to the press editor to see what it takes to be a reviewer. While you may not want to start with the highest-ranked journal, you can eventually make your way up. Understanding the inner workings of a journal can expand your skill set and make you a more astute writer. 

9) Apply for scholarship
Applying for scholarships and fellowships is another practice graduate students are expected to undertake. While not often made explicit, this endeavor builds “thick skin” and is a precursor to grant writing. Winning a scholarship or fellowship from your discipline’s association is a big deal. These documents take time and energy to produce. Make your intentions known to your advisor and use campus resources to help you. 

The moral of this story is that success in your professional career is not something you are born with; it’s something you learn. While your home department is crucial to your success in graduate school, it is not the only thing within the universe of your profession. Explore outside your intellectual sandbox and have fun. 

Monique Posadas serves on the Board of Directors (BOD) of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) as the Graduate Student Member-at-Large. She was the program chair during the first three years of her BOD appointment. She has served on multiple committees and is currently on the Sense of Belonging Task Force. In 2024, she was awarded for her outstanding contribution to the association. 

References
Jorgensen, A. (2017). The secret life of a learned society. Landscape Research, 42(sup1), S1–S4. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2017.1400266

Nehls, K. (2022). Participating in professional associations. In A Handbook for Supporting Today's Graduate Students (pp. 137-149). Routledge.