Spring has arrived! Please read our 2016 spring edition of Structural Equation Modeling SIG newsletter! This issue features an interview with Deborah Bandalos, who is our 2016 SEM SIG Service award winner.  Professor Bandalos has been an active member and leader in the SIG for more than two decades. Thank you Professor Bandalos! We will honor her at the annual SIG Business meeting at AERA. Our speaker for the meeting will be Professor Greg Hancock, who will be speaking about the “Seven Dirty Secrets of SEM”. I am certain this will be informative and entertaining. Certainly a talk not to miss! I hope you will join us for the Business meeting and invited address on Sunday, April 10th from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Marriott Marquis, Level 4, Independence Salon G. 

I am also pleased to announce the results of our SEM SIG elections.  Our new Program Chair elect is Dr. Keenan Pituch from The University of Texas at Austin. With our current leadership of Dr. Holmes Finch as Chair and Dr. Debbie Hahs-Vaughn, Secretary, from University of Central Florida for 2016-2017, our SIG is in very capable hands.  I encourage folks to continue to be involved in the SIG. With over 170 members, we have much talent that can help the group be creative and develop as the field of SEM does the same. Please do consider being an active member, consider running for office next year, or simply asking how you can help. The easiest way to begin your involvement is attending the business meeting and reviewing proposals.  Please visit the AERA website and volunteer today. It is so important that we have many strong reviewers to ensure the quality of your program. And a Big Thank You to our session chairs and discussants this year.

I thank those who helped me this year.  A huge thank you to Holmes Finch, who helped with the assembly of the program and running the meeting, and to Debbie Hahs-Vaughn, our SIG secretary, for her duties with the service award. And thanks to Betsy McCoach for her guidance. Finally, I thank my graduate assistant, Latisha Sternod, who assisted with the newsletter and conducted the interview with Dr. Bandalos. It is a privilege to serve my community. I look forward to continuing to be involved and the conversations to come with many of you.                            

                                                                                                                                 Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                  Brian F. French