Associate Professor, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 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.

I would actively promote early career scientists and underrepresented groups and encourage them to get involved with AGU. These scientists are the future of our field and I will urge more of them to become actively involved with AGU early in their careers. For example, we need more participation by these groups on all AGU leadership committees. My goal will be to make the Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology (PP) community a safe and welcoming space for everyone. Finally, I will try to increase donations to the PP group so we will have more scholarships available for underrepresented groups and early career scientists to attend the Fall Meeting.

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

Chair, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology Nanne Weber Early Career Award: 1 January 2019 - 31 December 2020; Member, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology Executive Committee: 1 January 2015 - 31 December 2020; Fall Meeting Program Representative, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology Executive Committee: 1 January 2013 - 31 December 2014; Secretary, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology Executive Committee: 1 January 2013 - 31 December 2014; Member, Fall Meeting Program Committee: 1 January 2012 - 31 December 2014

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 believe that communication is critical for effective leadership. Therefore, I would work to significantly increase communication both within the membership of the Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology section and between other sections. As part of this plan, I will advocate to produce a quarterly newsletter and I will utilize social media to enhance communication within the section. The newsletter will share important developments about what is happening within AGU as a whole and share important developments within our section. Because diversity is very important to me, I will also focus on the promotion of underrepresented groups and young scientists in our field by highlighting their achievements in the newsletter and through social media posts.

I will also work to expand the voices of underrepresented groups and early career scientists across all facets of the PP community. This will include increasing diversity in award nominations via a canvassing committee. I will ensure diverse voices are included on award committees and increase diversity in speaking opportunities at the Fall Meeting for these groups. I will also work to encourage underrepresented groups and early career scientists to chair sessions at the Fall Meeting and I will work closely with the PP early career science group on issues that will directly impact them.

Section affiliations:

Global Environmental Change; Ocean Sciences; Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology