The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) is pleased to announce that Gloria Muday, PhD, has been elected by the Society’s membership to serve as President-elect. She will officially begin her term in October 2026, when Tessa Burch-Smith, PhD, succeeds Kent Chapman, PhD, as President of ASPB.
As President-Elect, Muday will serve on the ASPB Council and Executive Committee while working closely with Society leadership to advance ASPB’s mission of promoting plant science, supporting researchers across career stages, and advocating for policies that strengthen scientific discovery and education. Following her term as President-elect, she will assume the presidency of the Society.
Muday is the Charles M. Allen Professor of Biology at Wake Forest University, where she also serves as Director of the Interdisciplinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program. An internationally recognized plant biologist, her research has advanced understanding of the hormonal and biochemical pathways that regulate plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. Her laboratory combines biochemical and genetic approaches in Arabidopsis and tomato to investigate auxin and ethylene signaling, gravitropism, and specialized metabolites that help plants withstand environmental challenges.
Throughout her career, Muday has demonstrated a deep commitment to research, education, mentorship, and scientific service. She has mentored more than 100 undergraduate researchers and 25 graduate students, published more than 40 papers in Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell, and previously served on the Plant Physiology Editorial Board. Her leadership extends well beyond the laboratory, having served on the ASPB Executive Committee (now Council), multiple federal grant review panels, and advisory committees supporting research at the National Science Foundation, USDA, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Energy. She is also an ASPB Fellow and Legacy Society member.
“I am excited to work with Gloria Muday to further ASPB’s priorities as she assumes the role of ASPB President-elect. Gloria’s experienced leadership in plant biology research, education and advocacy will serve the ASPB membership well in these challenging and uncertain times,” said Kent Chapman, ASPB President.
Muday has long viewed ASPB as her professional home and has been an active contributor to the Society’s research, education, and advocacy efforts. In her candidate statement, she emphasized the Society’s unique role in supporting plant scientists through its journals, conferences, public affairs activities, educational programs, and global scientific community. She also highlighted the importance of strengthening support for research and education during a period of significant challenges for the scientific enterprise.
“It is my honor to be elected to serve as ASPB president. ASPB plays a critical role in supporting and building a community of researchers and teachers who generate and disseminate new knowledge on plant biology. In these challenging times for research and education, I look forward to working with our community to advocate for the importance of plant biology research, which is essential for a healthy planet, productive agriculture, and novel insights into the mechanisms by which plants grow and develop,” said Muday.
ASPB also extends its sincere appreciation to Aruna Kilaru, PhD, for her willingness to stand for election and for her continued service to the Society and the plant science community.
The Society congratulates Gloria Muday on her election and looks forward to her leadership as ASPB continues to advance plant science through research, education, publishing, advocacy, and community engagement.
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