Year-End Review from PSA's Executive Director

December 8, 2020 | by Sam Shafer

As 2020 reaches a much-desired end, I look back at this year oddly, with gratitude. True, this year has offered numerous challenges both personally and professionally, but it has also given me (and all of us) strength. The strength to take a crazy year of uncertainties and turn it into a year of opportunities.

In the much the same way, the PSA Board of Directors, volunteers and staff found opportunities and worked hard to create a year of growth and success, out of a year of challenges. Looking back, we accomplished a lot this year. Below are just a few of the highlights.

• Poultry Science^® and The Journal of Applied Poultry Research moved to Elsevier and open access! This move not only increased our circulation and associated revenue security but has also brought our journals increased readership and notoriety around the world.
  
  
• PSA’s first-ever Virtual Annual Meeting was a success! We had 1,139 registrations and over 300 scientific presentations. The PSA staff and Program Committee worked extremely hard to make this first ever virtual meeting a huge success. Thank you to everyone for supporting and attending the meeting!
  
  
• The PSA Board completed a new 3-year strategic plan to begin in 2021! Given the circumstances of this year (and potentially years ahead), the PSA Board has created an ambitious three-year strategic plan to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of the association. More to come in 2021!
  
  
• PSA staff created new content and communications through Interpretive Summaries, Poultry Peeps, Let’s “Squawk" About It, “Explore Your Future Career Tracks In Poultry Science” handout, and the revamped PSA Postings! We have worked hard this year to create meaningful and informative communications with members, nonmembers and stakeholders. I encourage you to check them out on the PSA website! Be sure to stay tuned as even more original content is underway for 2021!
  
  
• PSA held our first successful 5 Drive! Through this campaign, in conjunction with Giving Tuesday, PSA received over $1,000 in donations to the PSA Foundation and over 30 new student members. We are grateful to all our donors and recruiters for their contributions this year!

• PSA Hatchery is expanding their reach! The PSA Hatchery has been working hard, through strategic planning, to find ways to reach student members worldwide. Enhancements to the Hatchery website and a revived presence on LinkedIn are only the beginning!
  
  
• PSA revamped operations by bringing all functions in-house and hiring new staff. From a new website, database, accountants and journal publisher; to our newest staff member Rebecca Ries, PSA has strived to improve operations and our ability to serve members.

Although 2020 was a successful year for PSA, thankfully it is almost over. I am sure that we are all anxious to begin 2021, with the hope that it will be a better year. As far as PSA is concerned, thanks to our Board, volunteers and staff, we will continue to be the premiere resource for the poultry industry…no matter what kind of year it is!

I wish you and yours a very joyous end to 2020!

Jacelyn Hemmelgarn
PSA Executive Director