Steven Spielberg and Laura Dern among those joining motion picture academy’s Board of Governors

Weeks after opening its doors to the largest, most diverse class of new members ever, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the results of its Board of Governors elections Monday, with director Steven Spielberg and actress Laura Dern among those winning seats on the board of the nearly 90-year-old institution.

The election results come in the wake of sweeping changes the academy announced in response to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, changes aimed at diversifying the organization’s overwhelmingly white and male ranks. With 17 seats in contention on the 54-member board, the first open election for the academy’s Board of Governors drew an unusually large number of candidates – a testament, at least in part, to dissatisfaction among some rank-and-file members over the academy’s handling of the diversity issue.

In addition to Spielberg and Dern, who were elected in the directors and actors branches, respectively, the winners include first-time governors Sharen K. Davis (costume designers), Roger Ross Williams (documentary), Laura Karpman (music) and Kevin Collier (sound).

Incumbent governors reelected to the board include David Rubin (casting directors), John Bailey (cinematographers), Jan Pascale (designers), Mark Johnson (producers), Nancy Utley (public relations), Jon Bloom (short films and feature animation) and Robin Swicord (writers).

Returning to the board after a hiatus are governors William M. Mechanic (executives), Leonard Engelmann (makeup artists and hairstylists) and Craig Barron (visual effects).

Balloting in the film editors branch produced a tie between candidates Maryann Brandon and Mark Goldblatt, necessitating a run-off election to be held later this month.

“I’m honored and privileged to welcome the Academy’s new Board,” academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said 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 academy’s board of governors meets several times each year, directing the organization’s “strategic vision,” according to its website. Its responsibilities include approving new members as well as overseeing issues such as the size of the best picture Oscar category and planning for the ambitious academy movie museum.

Twitter: @joshrottenberg