Professor, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

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 would bring perspectives shaped by an interdisciplinary career at the intersection of geodesy, hydrology, and climate science, with a focus on water resources and environmental change in the western United States. My work connects Earth observations with societally relevant questions related to drought, groundwater, snowpack, and climate variability. Over many years in academia, research, teaching, and service, I have come to value mentorship, collaboration, and creating opportunities for students and early career scientists from a wide range of backgrounds.

As someone whose path into science was not always straightforward, I appreciate the importance of supportive scientific communities and accessible approaches to education and professional development. I emphasize computationally grounded and approachable methods in Earth science and value collaboration across disciplines, career stages, and institutions. Having lived in Europe for many years, I also bring an international perspective and a deep appreciation for the importance of scientific collaboration across countries and cultures. Finally, I bring a regional perspective rooted in the challenges of water sustainability in arid and snow-dominated environments, where science increasingly intersects with public policy, resource management, and community resilience.

Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:

Associate Chair, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, 2023. NASA: Earth Science Observatory Independent Review Board; Earth Science Senior Review Panel. Earthscope Board of Directors (BOD): 2023-2024. UNAVCO BOD: 2007-2008; 2019-2023. International Association of Geodesy; President Commission 1, Reference Frames, 2011 – 2015. International Earth Rotation and Reference Frame Service: Chair: 2020-2024; Directing Board Member: 2005-2024. European Geophysical Society: Geodesy Section, President: 2004-2007. AGU: Geodesy section Secretary: two terms.

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?

I strongly support AGU’s vision and strategic goals by fostering collaboration, inclusivity, excellence, integrity, outreach and interdisciplinary engagement across international organizations, sections and career stages. Many of the scientific and societal challenges facing the Earth sciences, including science denialism, proliferation of irresponsible and unethical AI (artificial intelligence) use, climate change, water sustainability, natural hazards, and resilience, require integrated perspectives and sustained collaboration across disciplines. As a Council member, I would work constructively with the Board, staff, and other section leaders to strengthen communication, identify shared priorities, and support initiatives that advance both discovery and solution-based science.

Within my section, I would prioritize building an engaged and welcoming community that supports researchers at all career stages, including students and early career scientists. I strongly support AGU’s commitment to an inclusive scientific culture and believe sections play an important role in creating environments where individuals from different backgrounds, institutions, geographic regions, and career paths feel represented and valued. I would work to expand opportunities for mentoring, scientific exchange, and broad participation in section activities.

I also believe AGU can play an important role in strengthening connections between scientific research, education, outreach, and real-world environmental challenges. In alignment with AGU’s strategic plan, I support partnerships and communication efforts that help move Earth and space science from theory to practice, while maintaining AGU’s strong commitment to scientific integrity, collaboration, and service to the global scientific community.