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
Donna West
State University of New York at Cortland
Vice-President/President-Elect
Farouk Y. Seif
Antioch University Seattle
Immediate Past President
Hongbing Yu
Toronto Metropolitan University
Executive Director
Joseph DeChicchis
Kwansei Gakuin University
ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS
Independent Scholar
Charles University, Prague
Brian Kemple (2027)
Independent Scholar
Elvira Katić (2027)
Ramapo College, NJ
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NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Dora Ivonne Alvarez Tamayo, Chair (2025)
UPAEP University
Seema Khanwalkar (2026)
CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India
Joseph DeChicchis (2024)
Kwansei Gakuin University
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2025 PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Farouk Y. Seif (Chair)
Antioch University Seattle
Martin Macháček
Charles University, Prague
Ľudmila Lacková Bennett
Palacký University, Czech Republic
Toronto Metropolitan University
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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SEMIOTICS (TJAS)
Editors
Assistant to Editors
Baranna Baker
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SSA YEARBOOK
Editor
Farouk Y. Seif
Antioch University Seattle
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SEBEOK FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE
Marcel Danesi (2024 to 2029)
2024 Sebeok Fellow
Pennsylvania State University
Farouk Y. Seif
Former President 2019
Antioch University Seattle
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PRESIDENTS OF THE SEMIOTIC SOCIETY OF AMERIC
Donna West (2015)
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)
