On behalf of the ARCUS Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce that Susan E. Fox became executive director of ARCUS in April 2009. Fox replaces Wendy K. Warnick who stepped down from the position after 17 years of service.

As a seasoned non-profit executive, Fox brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to ARCUS. Her experience includes a combined 15 years of service as executive director of the Society of American Archivists and the American Association of Law Libraries. In these positions, she worked with staff and the community to bring the organizations to a new level of effectiveness and service. Before that, she worked at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in the Science, Technology, and Public Policy program and with the Center for Science and International Affairs.

Fox has a B.S. in Communications from Boston University's College of Communication and an M.S. in Public Affairs from the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

I recently asked Fox what she sees as the future of ARCUS.

"This is very early in my tenure with ARCUS—I'm just starting my fifth week—so I won't have a fleshed out vision until I've had a chance to listen to the ambitions and concerns of the arctic community. Having said that, I think ARCUS is ideally situated to take advantage of this historic moment with world attention focused intently on arctic issues. This spotlight opens up a corresponding world of opportunities. The challenge will be for us to dream big dreams and then to think and act strategically to enact them.

Fortunately, we have a bright, dedicated board partnered with a bright, dedicated staff. ARCUS is extraordinarily blessed in this way. We have a justifiably high reputation in the scientific community and all of us are committed to maintaining and building upon that excellence. Our promise to our members and to the community is to serve you to the very best of our abilities. We are well positioned to take the consortium to the next level. It's going to be an exciting journey; I'm looking forward to our time together."

We are very excited about Fox's appointment and ask that you join us in welcoming her to the arctic science community. Fox can be contacted at fox [at] arcus.org or at 907-474-1600.

—Vera Alexander