Scientist VI, High Altitude Observatory, NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, 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.

As a mid-career scientist, I am aware of many of the challenges facing community members as they establish and sustain their career. This includes finding and transitioning to a more permanent position, finding collaborators and mentors, funding concerns, raising the visibility of one’s research, and work/life balance. I believe that this positions me well to effectively understand and address the concerns of community members across career stages. I will aim to bring my experiences to act as a bridge among community members at different career stages.

Though not a member of a minority group, I have consistently made an effort to support a diverse and equitable scientific community throughout my career. I have served as a research advisor and mentor for multiple graduate students, postdocs, and early career researchers, many of whom are from outside the U.S. and/or minorities. This has led me to appreciate that their concerns are often significantly different than mine, and the importance of listening to fully grasp the different challenges facing members of our community. As Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) Secretary, I would continue in this vein, working to make sure that the identities, voices, and perspectives of all members of our community are heard.

Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:

Co-Chair, Scientific Committee on Solar Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP) Cross-scale Coupling Processes in the Solar–Terrestrial System (COURSE) scientific program (2026 - present). Member, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on Solar and Space Physics, 2023 - present. Member, AGU Space Weather Journal Editor in Chief Selection Committee, 2025. Member, AGU Space Physics and Aeronomy Fellow Selection Committee, 2023-2025. Co-Leader, Pillar II of SCOSTEP Predictability of the Variable Solar-Terrestrial Coupling (PRESTO) Scientific Program, 2019 - 2025. Convenor/Co-Convener for sessions at AGU (2018, 2022, 2024, 2025), Coupling, Energetics and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR; 2017, 2023, 2025), Committee on Space Research (2018, 2022, 2024), Solar-Terrestrial Physics Symposium (STP-15; 2022), SCOSTEP/PRESTO Workshop (2023).

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?

As a member based organization, the membership plays a key role in ensuring that AGU can achieve its vision, values, mission, and goals. It is therefore critical to engage with the SPA community to ensure that their feedback is heard, and that AGU effectively supports the members, who have an important role in the success of AGU. One priority would be to make sure that AGU remains central to the SPA community’s pursuit of scientific inquiry for both fundamental, discovery oriented, science as well as to address societal needs. This especially includes the AGU Fall Meeting, which has long served as the premier gathering place for the community to gather and share the latest scientific progress. The Fall Meeting needs to continually evolve to best serve the membership. I would actively seek feedback from the community on what is and is not working and provide this to SPA and AGU leadership and staff. Effectively supporting the community needs will ensure that AGU remains at the forefront of scientific excellence.

Another priority is to continue engaging students and early career scientists, whose needs often differ from mid- and late career scientists. This is especially critical in the current moment when a scientific career may be appear less attractive. I believe that we need to continue to prioritize engaging with students and early career scientists from diverse backgrounds to ensure that their voices are heard and they are supported. This will ensure the health and vitality of our field in the future.