The Semiotic Society of America (SSA) is the leading semiotics organization in North America and is guided by a board of officers and editors listed below. We are a transdisciplinary professional organization serving a diverse community of scholars with common interests in the study of signs and sign systems. Founded in 1975/1976, the Society has supported innovative scholarship linking analytical and critical approaches to the transmodern world. Sign theories are relevant to the sciences, social sciences, and humanities alike — applying to disciplines as diverse as anthropology, biology, cognitive science, communication, cybernetics, fine arts, law, literary criticism, linguistics, logic, marketing, media studies, mathematics, pedagogy, philosophy, psychology, religion, sociology, and technology.
The SSA is responsible for the publication of The American Journal of Semiotics and hosts an Annual Meeting featuring the latest research in the field of semiotics. Proceedings from the SSA Annual Meeting are published in the SSA Yearbook series. Additionally, the SSA features two awards, the Sebeok Fellow Award for outstanding contributions to the field of semiotics and the Roberta Kevelson Award for best student paper submitted at the SSA Annual Meeting.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
President
Hongbing Yu
Toronto Metropolitan University
Vice-President/President-Elect
Donna West
State University of New York at Cortland
Immediate Past President
Michael Raposa
Lehigh University
Executive Director
Javier Clavere
University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas
Assistant to Executive Director
Hong Wang
Shippensburg University, USA
ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS
Independent Scholar
Charles University, Prague
Svitlana Volkova (2024)
Kyiv National Linguistics University, Ukraine
Hong Wang (2024)
Shippensburg University, USA
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NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Dora Ivonne Alvarez Tamayo, Chair (2025)
UPAEP University
Joseph DeChicchis (2025)
Kwansei Gakuin University
Seema Khanwalkar (2026)
CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India
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2024 PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Donna West (Chair)
SUNY Cortland
Paolo Granata
St Michael’s College, University of Toronto
Michael Raposa
Lehigh University
Farouk Seif
Antioch University Seattle
Hongbing Yu
Toronto Metropolitan University
Prisca Augustyn
Florida Atlantic University
Barbara Young
Purdue University
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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SEMIOTICS
Editor-in-Chief
André De Tienne
IUPUI – Indiana University at Indianapolis
Assistant Editor
Baranna Baker
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SSA YEARBOOK
Editor-in-Chief
André De Tienne
IUPUI
Editor
Farouk Y. Seif
Antioch University Seattle
Assistant Editor
Baranna Baker
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SEBEOK FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE
Vincent Colapietro (2019 to 2024)
2018 Sebeok Fellow
Pennsylvania State University
Nathan Houser (2020 to 2025)
2019 Sebeok Fellow
IUPUI
TBA
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PRESIDENTS OF THE SEMIOTIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Ronald C. Arnett (2022)
Frank Macke (2020 SSA rescheduled for 2021)
Ted J. Baenziger (2016)
Marcel Danesi (2015)
Elliot Gaines (2014)
André De Tienne (2013)
Isaac Catt (2012)
Frank Nuessel (2011)
John Coletta (2010)
Thomas F. Broden (2009)
Robert Hatten (2008)
Nathan Houser (2007)
Joseph Brent (2006)
C. W. Spinks (2005)
C. W. Spinks (2004)
Vincent Colapietro (2003)
Paul Perron (2002)
John Deely (2001)
William Pencak (2000)
Floyd Merrell (1999)
Jean Umiker-Sebeok (1998)
Myrdene Anderson (1997)
Roberta Kevelson (1996)
Eugen Baer (1995)
Richard L. Lanigan (1994)
Michael Shapiro (David Savan*) (1993)
Nancy Armstrong (1992)
Linda Waugh (1991)
Robert Scholes (1990)
Bennetta Jules-Rosette (1989)
Jonathan Culler (1988)
Naomi S. Baron (1987)
Michael Riffaterre (1986)
Donald Preziosi (1985)
Thomas A. Sebeok (1984)
Irmengard Rauch (1983)
Harley C. Shands* (1982)
Richard Bauman (1981)
Allen Walker Read (1980)
Max H. Fisch (1979)
Thomas G. Winner (1978)
Eugen Baer (1977)
Henry Hiż (1976)
* Harley C. Shands passed away while in office; David Savan passed away before taking office.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THE SEMIOTIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Elvira Katić (2012–2014)
Terry J. Prewitt (2007–2012)
John Deely (2002–2007)
[Secretary of SSA Committee of Presidents,
Acting Executive Director, Executive Director]
Linda J. Rogers (1998–2001)
Terry J. Prewitt (1994–1998)
Dean MacCannell (1985–1994)
Margot D. Lenhart (1980–1985)
Thomas A. Sebeok (1977–1979)
