---
title: "Practical Steps Toward More Diverse Boards"
id: "61546"
type: "post"
slug: "practical-steps-toward-more-diverse-boards"
published_at: "2021-01-25T12:00:49+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:10:10+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2021/01/25/practical-steps-toward-more-diverse-boards/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2021/01/25/practical-steps-toward-more-diverse-boards.md"
excerpt: "As racial justice issues took center stage in 2020, many organizations reaffirmed commitments to board diversity. To make sure future boards are as diverse as the membership, associations can employ several forward-looking strategies."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Executive Leadership"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "Associations Now"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Association CEO / Executive Director"
  - "Executive Team"
  - "VP"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Executive Leadership"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » Practical Steps Toward More Diverse Boards

Part of the Deep Dive[Lead2021](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/lead2021/)
Last year, as social justice issues emerged in the wake of George Floyd’s death, a stronger spotlight was shone on the issue of diversity among association volunteer leaders. And while many organizations committed to diversifying their boards, that change doesn’t happen overnight. Building leadership diversity is a process, and it can start now, with some concrete moves toward that goal, experts say.

“Most boards do not reflect the diversity of their constituencies,” says Cie Armstead, director of diversity and inclusion at the American College of Healthcare Executives. “There is still a lot of work to do.”

The Credit Union National Association [added diversity and inclusion](https://associationsnow.com/2019/02/diversity-inclusion-needs-guide-credit-unions-moving-forward/)
 to its guiding principles in 2019 and has been working to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the credit union sector, including on boards.

“The most effective way to approach board diversity is to acknowledge that it takes time. It is a continuous journey and has to mirror the evolution of our communities,” says Samira Salem, Ph.D., vice president for DEI at CUNA.

[Rasheeda Childress](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/)

Rasheeda Childress is a former senior editor at Associations Now.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/)

Tags: [#Associations Now](https://associationsnow.com/tag/associations-now/)

**Stay Informed**

[Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/)
, *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day.

## More in this Deep Dive

- [Strategic Planning in 2021: The Same, but Different](https://associationsnow.com/2021/01/25/strategic-planning-in-2021-the-same-but-different/)
- [What Should You Keep From Your Pandemic Pivot?](https://associationsnow.com/2021/01/25/what-should-you-keep-from-your-pandemic-pivot/)
- [Reinventing Association Business Models](https://associationsnow.com/2021/01/25/reinventing-association-business-models/)
- [Beyond Data: How to Decide What’s Next](https://associationsnow.com/2021/01/25/beyond-data-how-to-decide-whats-next/)
- [A Reckoning With Ethics and Injustice](https://associationsnow.com/2021/01/25/a-reckoning-with-ethics-and-injustice/)
- [Keep Your Board Focused on Strategy](https://associationsnow.com/2021/01/20/keep-your-board-focused-on-strategy/)

[View the full Deep Dive →](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/lead2021/)

## You Might Like

- [VideoAmerican Geophysical Union: Standing Up for Science: AGU’s Year of Action for Scientists and SocietySeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-geophysical-union-standing-up-for-science-agus-year-of-action-for-scientists-and-society/)
- [VideoInt. Society for the Study of Xenobiotics: ISSX Africa: Transforming Science, Connecting WorldsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/int-society-for-the-study-of-xenobiotics-issx-africa-transforming-science-connecting-worlds/)
- [VideoAssociation for Financial Counseling and Planning EducationSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/association-for-financial-counseling-and-planning-education/)
- [VideoExploring New Frontiers: Leadership, Resilience and the Future of SpaceflightAugust 27, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/27/exploring-new-frontiers-leadership-resilience-and-the-future-of-spaceflight/)

## Comments

**Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/)

[Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2021%2F01%2F25%2Fpractical-steps-toward-more-diverse-boards%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!