Professor, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 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.

From 2018-2021, I served as the first Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Equity and Inclusion, in the School of Physical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA. The School of Physical Sciences has 626 graduate students, 166 tenure track faculty, 210 non-senate researchers, post-doc, specialists, and 110 staff members. It includes four departments: Earth System Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy. I was the first Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion. I developed an agenda for the position, a network of collaborators, a structure for the collaborations, and a set of guidelines. In addition, I helped implement these guidelines and develop metrics for reporting on these guidelines and documenting progress. As an illustration of the significance of this work, the position has since been split into two separate Associate Dean positions.

From 2020 to present, I was a member of the Dismantling systemic racism initiative Committee and Facilitator for the group on “Implicit Bias and Anti-Racist protocols, education, and policies” that is tasked with identify protocols/procedures to limit the impact of implicit bias on any of the campus activities and process.

Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:

In 2020-present, I was a Member (2020-2022) and then the Chair of the Electorate Nominating Committee, Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Sciences, for the Annual Election of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Officers. I established guidelines and selected members. In 2018-2021, I was Member and then Chair of AGU’s Whitten Medal Selection Committee. In 2006-2008, I served as Chair of the AGU Geodesy Fall Meeting.

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?

Q1: AGU's mission of advancing Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity aligns strongly with my career in climate, cryosphere, and water-cycle research. As a Council member, I would foster collaboration across sections, encourage interdisciplinary science, and support evidence-based decision making on issues such as climate change, sea-level rise, water resources, and natural hazards. I would work closely with Board members, staff, and section leaders to identify opportunities for collaboration, strengthen scientific impact, and enhance member engagement. I am also committed to AGU's values of excellence, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and respect, and would support initiatives that broaden participation and ensure all members can contribute to and benefit from AGU.

Q2: Executing AGU's strategic plan requires an engaged and inclusive membership. I would actively listen to members through meetings, town halls, and direct interactions at AGU events, ensuring that scientists at all career stages have a voice in shaping section priorities. I would promote opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, mentoring, professional development, and leadership, with particular attention to early career scientists and underrepresented groups. I would also support scientific programming that highlights emerging research areas and demonstrates the societal relevance of our science. By fostering open communication, inclusivity, and community engagement, I would help ensure that the section contributes effectively to AGU's strategic goals while serving the evolving needs of its members.