The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its newly elected 2016-17 Board of Governors on Monday.
Those elected for the first time include: Laura Dern, Actors Branch; Sharen K. Davis, Costume Designers Branch; Steven Spielberg, Directors Branch; Roger Ross Williams, Documentary Branch; Laura Karpman, Music Branch; and Kevin Collier, Sound Branch.
Two of the new governors, Davis and Williams, are African-Americans. Previously, Academy President and Public Relations Branch governor Cheryl Boone Isaacs was the only elected African-American on the board.
“I’m honored and privileged to welcome the Academy’s new Board,” said Boone Isaacs in a statement. “I thank our members for actively participating and taking another step toward inclusion, one that will bring new ideas and perspectives as we continue to expand our global outreach while leading our community forward.”
The Film Editors Branch isn’t yet worked out, as balloting produced a tie between candidates Maryann Brandon and Mark Goldblatt. Voting for a runoff election begins Monday, July 25 and ends Thursday, July 28.
Each of the Academy’s 17 branches is represented by three governors, who serve staggered three-year terms. One seat from each branch is up for election every year, with incumbents eligible to run again unless they’ve served three consecutive terms.
Incumbent governors who were reelected to the board are David Rubin, Casting Directors Branch; John Bailey, Cinematographers Branch; Jan Pascale, Designers Branch; Mark Johnson, Producers Branch; Nancy Utley, Public Relations Branch; Jon Bloom, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch; and Robin Swicord, Writers Branch.
William M. Mechanic of the Executives Branch is returning to the Board following a hiatus — as are Leonard Engelman, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch; and Craig Barron, Visual Effects Branch.
Three governors-at-large were appointed in January by Cheryl Boone Isaacs: Reginald Hudlin, Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Gregory Nava.
Governors who remain on the board and were not up for re-election are Annette Bening and Tom Hanks, Actors Branch; Lora Kennedy and Bernard Telsey, Casting Directors Branch; Caleb Deschanel and Daryn Okada, Cinematographers Branch; Jeffrey Kurland and Deborah Nadoolman Landis, Costume Designers Branch; Jim Bissell and Rick Carter, Designers Branch; Michael Mann and Edward Zwick, Directors Branch; Kate Amend and Rory Kennedy, Documentary Branch; Daniel R. Fellman and Jim Gianopulos, Executives Branch; Carol Littleton and Michael Tronick, Film Editors Branch; Kathryn L. Blondell and Lois Burwell, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch; Charles Bernstein and Michael Giacchino, Music Branch; Albert Berger and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers Branch; Cheryl Boone Isaacs and Marvin Levy, Public Relations Branch; Bill Kroyer and Bob Rogers, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch; Mark Mangini and Scott Millan, Sound Branch; John Knoll and Bill Taylor, Visual Effects Branch; Billy Ray and Phil Robinson, Writers Branch.