Associate Professor, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia

AGU embraces the global community and welcomes leaders representing various identities, voices and perspectives. List any identities, voices and perspectives you would bring, including but not limited to nationality, regional representations, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and anything else you feel comfortable sharing.

I am a Colombian geologist, turned seismologist/geophysicist. While most of my graduate education and early career experiences where in the US, where I received guidance from many members of the seismology section including former section presidents, my experience includes faculty positions in the US and Latin America. Currently, I am based in South America.

I think this might be an opportunity to include additional perspectives to the Seismology section and AGU, leading to a more inclusive and truly international association. These efforts should allow for strengthening our community, by exploring ways to support and engage our international members.

Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:

I am Editor at Geophysical Research Letters and since January 2026 member of the Publications Committee at AGU. As part of the Seismology section I belong to the Gutenberg Selection committee and have been part of previous committees including the Canvassing and Aki Young Scientist Award. I was Secretary of the Seismology section 2023-2024. Outside AGU I am also part of EarthScope's Engagement Activities Advisory Committee. 

Section presidents and presidents-elect serve as members of the AGU Council and lead their sections. The AGU Council is a diverse forum of perspectives that meets throughout the year to provide input to the AGU Board, staff, and other parts of the organization. Three communities within the Council - committee chairs, section leaders, and students and early career scientists - serve different roles in AGU and bring unique viewpoints to ongoing discussions.

This role aims to catalyze community and build AGU as envisioned by the strategic plan. This leadership position is a dual role: helping to advance AGU’s strategic plan as a member of Council; and leading your section. How would you support the Board, staff and other sections to achieve AGU’s vision, values, mission, and goals? How will you engage with members of your section to execute AGU’s strategic plan?

One key aspect is maintaining and strengthening AGU’s and Seismology’s leadership, reputation, and scientific excellence while promoting collaboration across sections and the international community. As a seismologist, I believe AGU’s meetings and publications remain key to advancing discovery, and I would work to ensure that the central strength, our members, continue to choose AGU as the place for communicating impactful research.

I would also advocate for students, early career researchers, and international members by supporting initiatives that improve inclusion, mentorship, visibility, and professional development.

Finally, I would promote stronger communication between AGU leadership and members so our community remains engaged, informed, and connected around shared scientific and societal challenges. A major priority would be strengthening dialogue around AGU meetings, publications, and opportunities for participation, particularly for students, early career researchers, and international scientists, promoting mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and broader participation within the Seismology section.

I also believe AGU journals and meetings must continue evolving to support emerging scientific challenges and modern scientific communication. My goal would be to help build an inclusive, scientifically ambitious, and globally connected seismology community.