Beginning with this issue, Quality welcomes the launch of the ASQ Fellows Forum—a monthly column written by members of the American Society for Quality’s Fellow community. This space is intended to offer impartial, educational perspectives grounded in the collective experience of ASQ Fellows.

Rather than serving as a retrospective or promotional outlet, the Forum aims to foster thoughtful dialogue around the evolving discipline of quality. Contributors will share observations, tools, and frameworks that may be useful to practitioners, leaders, and learners across the profession.

Why This Column?

ASQ Fellows have long contributed to the advancement of quality through leadership, mentorship, and service. Yet until now, there has been no consistent venue for Fellows to share their insights in a structured, ongoing format. This column seeks to fill that gap—not with definitive answers, but with reflections that may prompt new thinking.

The Fellows Forum is not intended to advocate for specific products, services, or organizations. Instead, it will focus on topics relevant to systemic improvement, professional development, and strategic leadership—areas where Fellows have accumulated deep experience.

Key Topics Shaping the Dialogue

In 2025, the ASQ Fellows Focus Group initiated a series of collaborative Think Tanks, each focused on a theme considered vital to the future of quality and professional associations. These themes will guide many of the columns featured in this series:

• Voice of the Fellow: Elevating the perspectives of Fellows as a source of insight, mentorship, and strategic reflection.
• Innovation: Exploring how quality principles can support creative problem-solving and adaptive thinking across industries.
• Advancement to Fellow: Sharing pathways, criteria, and reflections on the journey to ASQ’s highest member grade.
• Sustainability: Exploring how quality practices can enhance long-term resiliency in the Society.
• Quality in Education: Considering how quality tools and thinking can enhance learning environments and professional development.
• Strategic Leadership: Reflecting on stewardship, fiduciary responsibility, and the role of quality in organizational decision-making.
• Social Responsibility: Exploring the role of quality professionals in promoting ethical practices and enhancing community well-being.

Fellows Think Tanks are exploring these topics, and their work is collaborative and exploratory, aimed at generating insights that may inform future initiatives and spark broader conversations.

As the ASQ Fellows Focus Group adapts to the evolving landscape of quality and professional engagement, it is undertaking necessary changes to better support the Think Tanks. This includes refining its structure and enhancing collaboration among Fellows to ensure that diverse perspectives and expertise are harnessed effectively. By embracing new communication tools and fostering a more inclusive environment, the Focus Group aims to facilitate richer discussions and innovative ideas, ultimately enriching the quality practice. These adjustments will enable the Think Tanks to function more cohesively, ensuring that all voices contribute meaningfully to the discourse around the vital topics shaping the future of quality.

An Invitation to Engage

Quality is a discipline shaped by continuous learning and adaptation. The Fellows Forum is one way to contribute to that process. We hope readers will engage with the ideas presented, offer feedback, and consider how these perspectives might apply in their own contexts.

We also encourage readers to learn more about the ASQ Fellow member grade. This designation recognizes sustained professional achievement and service to the quality community. Fellows are nominated by peers and selected through a rigorous review process. If you know someone whose contributions merit consideration—or if you’re exploring the path yourself—resources are available through ASQ sections and divisions to help guide the process.

The Fellows Forum reflects a shared commitment to advancing the profession. We look forward to the conversations it may inspire.