Associate Professor of Geophysics and Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

AGU embraces the global community and welcomes diverse leaders from around the world, 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 any other identity you feel comfortable sharing.

As a first-generation, low-income college student, navigating the career path of an academic cryosphere scientist required support and mentorship from across our community (and others). As a result, I am deeply committed to making sure the kind of opportunities and guidance I benefited from are available to students in our community regardless of their background. I think one of the greatest joys, opportunities, and responsibilities of our community is not only to produce path-breaking science but to vigorously support the next generations of scholars as they pursue careers, goals, and dreams both in academia and beyond.

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

I have been a volunteer leader with Science Olympiad for 20 years (the largest team-based middle and high school science competition) as Chair of the National Earth and Space Sciences Committee and as National Event Supervisor. I serve on the Steering Committee of the Stanford Faculty Senate. I am a member of the Council of the International Glaciological Society, a Scientific Editor for the Journal of Glaciology, and the AGU Cryosphere Section Fellows Selection Committee.

This leadership position is a liaison role; it is one that aims to catalyze community and build AGU as envisioned by the strategic plan. How will you engage with members of your section to advance AGU’s strategic plan? How will you facilitate engagement with other sections and people outside AGU to support our mission?

I think that the Cryosphere Sciences section has tremendous opportunities to build our community within the section, shape and participate in AGU's pursuit of its mission and strategic plan, and engage with the world beyond. My experience with the National Science Olympiad makes me particularly excited to foster deeper engagement with K12 educators. However, I think that one of the most powerful things we can do is work together to support the development and professional flourishing of cryosphere scientists across every stage of their career (K12 students, undergrads, graduate students, postdocs, early-, mid-, and late-career researchers, emeriti, and cryosphere scientists working in the public, private, and personal spheres). Our field is playing a prominent and growing role across the range of AGU focus areas and beyond. Our members are already working across a range of activities in pursuit of AGU’s strategic goals. I deeply believe that the more our section can foster a community where our members, across the full range of career stages, can participate, thrive, and contribute at their full potential, the more richly we’ll contribute to AGU and to the world. Personally, I’d be honored and enthused for the opportunity to help our section operate and evolve in pursuit of that aspiration.

Section affiliations:

Cryosphere Sciences; Earth and Planetary Surface Process; Near Surface Geophysics; Planetary Sciences