Board Member - VolunteerLei Research Center

About Lei A While Research Center

Lei A While Research Center is being developed as a scholarly infrastructure project: a research, publishing, archival, and public knowledge center dedicated to serious inquiry, responsible publication, open scholarly discourse, and the long‑term development of its full vision. Initial operations are conducted through distance modalities while the physical Center — including the planned Library‑Amphitheater concept and future Graduate Institute — is built over time.

All processes are developed with careful attention to compliance, including ISSN registration, Crossref membership, planned COPE membership, other regulatory frameworks, and the pathway toward accreditation for the Graduate Institute.

Board Members provide strategic governance, independent counsel, and oversight to help establish and steward the Center’s mission, policies, compliance frameworks, and long‑term development during its foundational phase.

• Provide strategic governance and high‑level oversight as the Center develops its scholarly infrastructure, publishing systems, and phased physical vision.
• Advise on and support the establishment of robust compliance structures, including ISSN registrations, Crossref membership, planned COPE membership, regulatory requirements, and preparation for future accreditation processes.
• Contribute to the oversight and continuous refinement of the Center’s publishing model (Open Post‑Publication Review Chain – OPPR‑C) and related editorial standards.
• Engage in long‑term planning for the physical Center vision (Library‑Amphitheater concept and future Graduate Institute) while ensuring current distance operations effectively support serious scholarly work.
• Review materials in advance, attend virtual board meetings (typically quarterly), and offer thoughtful, independent judgment on key decisions.
• Help identify aligned partnerships, networks, and resources that support the Center’s mission of serious inquiry and responsible scholarship.
• Serve as an ambassador for the Center’s values of integrity, transparency, and open scholarly discourse within academic and research communities.
• Uphold ethical and governance responsibilities appropriate to a developing scholarly institution.

Approximately 4–6 hours per month on average. This includes preparation for and participation in quarterly virtual board meetings (usually 60–90 minutes), document review, and occasional ad‑hoc input. The role is designed to be flexible and respectful of volunteers’ primary professional commitments.

Initial one‑year term, renewable by mutual agreement. This allows both the Center and the Board Member to assess fit during the foundational stage.

• Strong alignment with the Center’s mission of supporting serious inquiry, responsible publication, and careful institutional development.
• Experience in academic governance, research administration, scholarly publishing, compliance or regulatory affairs, nonprofit board service, strategic planning, or related fields (highly valued, though not all are required).
• Excellent judgment, integrity, communication, and collaborative skills.
• Comfort working in a remote, early‑stage environment where structures and processes are still being thoughtfully shaped.
• Ability to commit to the time requirements and participate constructively in virtual settings.

• The opportunity to help shape a distinctive model of scholarly infrastructure from the ground up.
• Meaningful engagement with thoughtful research initiatives and publishing innovation.
• Collaboration with the Founder and other aligned individuals committed to values‑driven, careful institutional development.
• Professional development in governance, compliance, and the scholarly ecosystem.
• Public recognition of service in advancing responsible, open scholarship.

This is an unpaid volunteer position. Reasonable pre‑approved out‑of‑pocket expenses directly related to board service may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.