Professor, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

U.S. national delegate to the International Association of Geodesy (2017-2024); member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Solid Earth Geophysics (2015-2020); member of the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Earthscope Science Steering Committee (2015-2019); guest editor for Geosphere themed Issue (2015-2018); chair of the Western North America InSAR (WInSAR) Executive Committee (2013-2014); member of the UNAVCO Board of Directors (2009-2012); member of the NSF-funded Geodynamic Processes at Rifting and Subducting Margins (GeoPRISMS) Steering and Oversight Committee (2010-2013).

Council members play critical roles as communication conduits among AGU members and leaders. How will you engage with members of your section to advance AGU’s new strategic plan? How might you facilitate engagement with other sections and people outside AGU to support our mission?

In terms of communication, the monthly Geodesy section newsletter is necessary but not sufficient. I would like to see the Geodesy section increase participation from underrepresented groups through activities with early-career scientists, larger numbers of award nominations and broader representation within session chairs and invited speakers at meetings. The petition "Call for a Robust Anti-Racism Plan for The Geosciences" on change.org outlines many steps that AGU needs to take, but it is just the beginning of the actions we need to take as a professional organization and as the Geodesy section. I look forward to working with the community within the Geodesy section to "assure that diversity, inclusion, equity, ethics and cultural awareness are embedded and represented in all AGU programs, honors, governance and operations." This requires active work, not just by the president but a Diversity and Inclusion Committee in the Geodesy section. As the director of graduate studies at my university, one step I am taking is to apply to become a partner university in the AGU Bridge Program. The process of applying has already made our department more aware of best practices in recruiting and mentoring diverse students, including using holistic assessment of graduate student applications and no longer requiring the GRE general test.

Section affiliations:

Cryosphere Sciences; Geodesy; Natural Hazards; Planetary Sciences; Seismology; Tectonophysics; Volcanology, Geochemistry and Petrology