Professor, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 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 am a U.S.-based scientist who grew up in the Washington, DC area and have built my career at the intersection of environmental change and public health. Although I come from a privileged background that is historically well-represented in science, my work has consistently centered on collaboration across diverse geographic, cultural, and disciplinary contexts. I have partnered with researchers, public health practitioners, and communities across different regions of the U.S. and multiple countries in Africa and South Asia, working to co-develop tools that are responsive to local needs and priorities.

These experiences have shaped my perspective on the importance of inclusive, equitable science that values local knowledge, builds capacity, and ensures that data and tools are accessible and actionable. As a leader, I am committed to amplifying diverse voices, supporting early career scientists, and fostering a GeoHealth community that is globally engaged, interdisciplinary, and inclusive in both participation and impact.

Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:

I have a strong record of volunteer service to AGU, including co-chair of GeoHealth section committees and member of the AGU Ambassador Award Selection Committee, I also served a five-year term on the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting Program Committee, I have been an associate editor for Ecology/Ecological Monographs and Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. I have participated as a review panel member numerous times for the National Institutes of Health, NASA, and the National Science Foundation.

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?

As GeoHealth section president, my goal would be to help position AGU as a catalyst for interdisciplinary, globally relevant science that not only advances knowledge but also contributes to solutions for pressing environmental and health challenges.

As a member of the AGU Council, I would aim to contribute a collaborative, solutions-oriented perspective grounded in interdisciplinary GeoHealth research, emphasizing the potential for the Geosciences to have real-world impact on health and the environment. I would work closely with the AGU Board, staff, and other section leaders to advance AGU’s strategic priorities by identifying opportunities for cross-section collaboration, particularly at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. I would also advocate for initiatives that strengthen data sharing, foster technical innovation in modeling and data science, and expand global engagement, ensuring that AGU remains a leader in convening diverse scientific communities to address societal challenges.

Within the GeoHealth section, I would focus on building an engaged, inclusive, and action-oriented community. Activities would include strengthening connections among researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers; expanding opportunities for early career scientists through mentoring and leadership development; and creating forums that support collaboration and knowledge exchange. I would also work to elevate the visibility and impact of GeoHealth science by highlighting translational research that informs policy and practice. I would achieve these goals by collaborating with GeoHealth committee co-chairs and members to plan and execute relevant initiatives.