Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 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.

Growing up in Japan and spending half my life in the USA, I value international perspectives. My experience in scientific ocean drilling programs provided opportunities for global collaboration. Understanding diverse cultures is essential for advancing AGU's values as a world-leading organization. 

Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:

Interim President-elect, AGU Mineral and Rock Physics Section (January 2026 - present); Award committee, AGU Mineral and Rock Physics Section (2023-2024); Early Career and Outstanding Student Presentation Awards Committee, AGU Tectonophysics section (2021-2023); Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (May 2024 - present)

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 will participate actively in Council meetings and contribute insights to AGU as the Mineral and Rock Physics section representative.

With section members, I will strengthen communication to publicize and elevate recognition of our awards (student paper, early career, graduate student) and the AGU honors program. I will also coordinate with leaders of relevant sections to advance and foster interdisciplinary science by promoting cross-listed sessions at annual meetings.