Astrophysicist, Smithsonian Institution, Cambridge, MA, 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.

Throughout my career as a researcher and instrumenter, my work has spanned the full breadth of the Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) section. From auroral rocketry and magnetometer development on Rocket Experiment for Neutral Upwelling 2 (RENU2), to magnetospheric research with Magnetosphere Multiscale (MMS) and the Van Allen Probes, and current solar work on the Parker Solar Probe and HelioSwarm, I understand both the hardware that makes discovery possible and the people behind it.

While my demographic background is well-represented in the sciences, my core perspective is that of a dedicated mentor and active ally. I have worked with high schoolers through New Hampshire's Project SMART (Science and Mathematics Achievement through Research Training) and guided undergraduates in the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s National Science Foundation REU program. Both programs target students who lack the research access typically found at large universities. Seeing these students progress from a basic understanding of plasma physics to presenting at the AGU Fall Meeting proves that empowering diverse, new voices is what drives our science forward.

As AGU Secretary, my perspective is grounded in the practical realities of building instruments and building communities. I want to use my role to ensure AGU’s focus on inclusion translates into concrete actions, helping students and scientists from all backgrounds find a lasting home in the Earth and space sciences.

Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:

My volunteer work centers on bringing scientists together and mentoring future colleagues. I have organized and convened AGU Fall Meeting sessions since 2020 and have chaired the Parker Solar Probe Ion Working Group for a similar length of time. I helped organize the online Parker Scholars conference sessions as the community dealt with isolation during COVID. Additionally, I have mentored six undergraduate Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) students, helping all of them present their research at AGU and other scientific conferences.

The section secretary role is determined by individual sections. If needed, the secretary might be asked to serve as an alternate to the president or president-elect at a Council meeting.

As part of the section leadership team, how will you work in partnership with your president, president-elect, other leaders, and staff to communicate with and engage your members to achieve AGU’s vision, values, mission, and goals?

Building spaceflight instruments inherently bridges the gap between foundational discovery and the tools needed to achieve it. While I fully recognize the vital importance of using our measurements for practical applications such as space weather monitoring, I agree with the AGU strategic plan’s assertion that "discovery science will remain central" to our mission. I firmly believe that robust, curiosity-driven science is the necessary engine that makes these future applied solutions possible.

As SPA secretary, I will partner with the president and president-elect to ensure this critical balance is maintained and communicated clearly. If called upon to serve as an alternate at a Council meeting, I will advocate for the full spectrum of our section’s researchers, ensuring that foundational space physics is given the same weight as applied solutions.

To engage our members, I plan to be present and approachable where our community already gathers. Because my research spans both the solar and magnetospheric communities, I can help bridge the silos that often separate our distinct research groups. Drawing on my experience chairing working groups and various conference sessions, I know the value of continuous, transparent conversations. I will leverage my attendance at various scientific meetings to speak directly with researchers and gather their perspectives before major Council decisions. I want every member to feel they have an active line to leadership and a clear understanding of how AGU governance impacts their science.