Frequently Asked Questions
What types of membership are available?
There are three types of membership – active, associate and lifetime.
Active membership is limited to persons who are currently employed by The Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital or Johns Hopkins University affiliates.
Associate membership is open to any Johns Hopkins University student and invited persons not currently employed by the Johns Hopkins University.
Lifetime membership is a member who has paid the lifetime membership fee or is a past president of the Black Faculty and Staff Association.
Is there a membership fee?
Yes, there is a $10 membership fee. Once paid, you are an active member for one year from your pay date. Dues must be renewed every fiscal year. You have the option of selecting one-time dues payments or setting up an auto-renew.
The fee for a Lifetime Membership is $100.00
The purpose of the dues is to help support and sustain our work, mission, programs, activities, and events. It is required now, more than ever!
Do I have to pay dues?
Yes, your initial joining fee counts as your dues for the first year. Membership renewal dues are paid on or before your anniversary date each year after.
How to pay dues?
Login with your JHED ID and password. Just as you would to any Hopkins system. If you do not have a JHED ID, create an account using this format "firstname.lastname" and create your own password.
Click the BFSA membership tab - Yearly and follow the link.
You will click "Add to cart "to start the payment process. Pay with either PayPal account or credit card. For other options, contact the BFSA membership coordinator. The contact information is listed on the BFSA membership tab.
I created an account then received a message saying "Your account is currently pending approval by the site administrator." What does that mean?
If you use a user name other than your JHED ID and current password you will receive that message. Someone will be in touch to walk you through the process.
Thank you for applying for an account. Your account is currently pending approval by the site administrator.
In the meantime, a welcome message with further instructions has been sent to your e-mail address.
What am I entitled to as a member?
Active (dues paying) members are voting members, are eligible to hold office in the BFSA, serve on committees and receive reduced or free admission to BFSA sponsored events such as the Juneteenth Celebration (brunch, lunch, dinner included), special luncheons, workshops and more! In 2025, the BFSA turns 30, and we will plan for a celebration in the Fall of 2025. Members will receive special benefits
Where are the meetings and how often are they held?
Caucus Meetings are held monthly at the Homewood, East Baltimore and Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) Campuses.
How long do I have to be a member to serve on a committee?
Once your dues are paid, you may contact the chair of the committee or any member of the executive board to express that you are interested in serving and volunteering.
Who is the representative for my area?
Caucus Chairs, elected by caucus members, serve on the Executive Board of the BFSA as the representative of your caucus. The caucus of the three areas are:
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) Caucus
Malaika Wanjihia - APL Caucus Chair
Julian Alford - APL Caucus Representative
Amaya Butler - APL Caucus Representative
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Johns Hopkins East Baltimore Caucus (includes JHMI, SOM, SON, BSPH, CCP, JHPIEGO, JH Bayview)
Vacant - East Baltimore Caucus Chair
Constance Mercer - East Baltimore Caucus Representative
Lorraine Smith - East Baltimore Caucus Representative
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Johns Hopkins Homewood Caucus (includes Eastern campus, Keswick, Mt. Washington including DAR, CTY, SOE, and Peabody Institute & Conservatory
Joseph Starchia - Homewood Caucus Chair
Yvette Bryant - Homewood Caucus Representative
Iris Turay - Homewood Caucus Representative
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Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Caucus (includes the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), the Bloomberg Center at 555 Penn, and the School of Government and Policy
Miller Simmons - Carey Business School Caucus Chair
Kerry G. Johnson - Carey Business School Caucus Representative
Vacant - Carey Business School Caucus Representative
How can I get information on BFSA events and activities?
E-mail messages are sent to people who are subscribed to our listserv and we have an events calendar on our website to help keep you informed
How can I become actively involved and what areas can I become involved in?
You can attend BFSA meetings, contact committee chairs, or provide suggestions of ideas and/or potential activities.