Head, Lidar Sciences Branch, NASA, Hampton, VA, 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 firmly believe in fostering a truly global community that embraces and celebrates the rich tapestry of human identities, voices, and perspectives. As an immigrant from Uganda, East Africa, I bring a unique lens shaped by humble beginnings and a journey across continents. My lived experiences span three distinct regions—Africa, the Middle East, and North America—offering profound insights into diverse socio-economic and cultural landscapes. In 2014, I realized my greatest victory when I scaled Mount Kilimanjaro and summited the peak, realizing a childhood wish as I had grown up admiring the majesty of this mountain. My educational path in the American Midwest, followed by a career in academia and government on the East Coast, further broadened my understanding of varied institutional approaches and societal structures. Fluent in English, Swahili, and a working knowledge of Arabic, I bridge linguistic and cultural divides, facilitating deeper connections and understanding. These multifaceted experiences—rooted in nationality, regional representation, and linguistic diversity—equip me with a comprehensive perspective essential for contributing to a truly inclusive global dialogue at AGU.

Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:

Twice elected Secretary of the AGU Global Environmental Change section (2016-18, 2018-20); served on the AGU Macelwane Medal Committee (2020-2022, two terms); member of the NOAA Science Advisory Board Climate Working Group (2021-2024); Membership Chair of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Section W, Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Sciences (AAAS) (2023-24) and Non Academic Executive Comm Member (2025-); represented the agency and nation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change  COP 22 (Marrakesh, Morocco, 2016).

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?

The viability of any society or section of AGU depends on the effective cultivation of the next generation of leaders. In the case of our section it is our student and early career members. I will use my experience in working with the youth to ensure a vibrant student participation in a setting of their choice even if it is away from Moscone. I will encourage young female scientists to participate at all levels of the section and ensure that accomplished members are recognized by the Union. To increase transparency and encourage feedback from and empower members, I will establish an active web community for all primary members of the section. This will encourage the exchange of ideas throughout the year and not just during the Fall meeting. I will use the President’s position to encourage the section executives to participate in or lead these discussions by answering questions and provoking discussions. This would not supplement periodic newsletters but would increase direct participation in and transparency of the section. One of my main interests is the communication of science, its methods and findings to the general public. I plan to use my position to encourage members to share experiences and strategies that we can use to inform public policy. As the President of the section, I will work with my executive committee to examine causes, and develop remedies of the low levels of minority participation in the Union in general and the section in particular.