George R. Roberts Professor of Integrated Sciences: Environmental Science, Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, 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.

I am a white woman and a mother, and I am a Canadian immigrant now living in the U.S. Through this, and my experiences as a professor at a small institution where I engage deeply with students whose identities differ from mine, I recognize the biases that can privilege or harm people depending on their own identities. As such, I have made it a critical priority in my career to promote inclusiveness in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to increase diversity and equity. I have done this through initiatives to increase access to scientific opportunities by removing financial barriers, creating structured, transparent processes to support those new to STEM and academia, and providing robust and effective mentorship. This work is ongoing, and I am committed to making AGU a welcoming and supportive community.

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

Director, Roberts Environmental Center: lead an undergraduate research institution on research and sustainability initiatives; Editor, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems: oversee peer review and promote high-quality research with an AGU journal; Secretary, AGU Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology section: planned the Fall Meeting programming, worked with section leadership; Co-leader, Envirolab Asia: externally funded program providing field and research experience to diverse student body; Mentor, Scripps College Academy: nationally recognized program that prepares high-achieving and need-based high school women in the Los Angeles area for university

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?

AGU’s strategic plan addresses scientific and societal challenges. Because of our research foci, the Global Environmental Change (GEC) section is uniquely positioned to play a key role in implementing AGU’s plan to accelerate discovery and solution-based science for the benefit of humanity and the environment. As President-elect of GEC, I propose two priorities.

First – I would continue to build the global GEC community and engage our members with AGU’s strategic plan through the communication of resources and opportunities via the newsletter, AGU Fall Meeting events, AGU digital discussion platform, webinars from our Early Career Awardees, and member spotlights. I would work with our council to curate additional strategies to build our community, such as office hours for the section leadership with our members. I would collaborate with our student and early career representatives to make the GEC section a vibrant and welcoming community for all scientists, for example, by creating programming during the AGU Fall Meeting aimed at students and early career scientists.

Second – I would engage the GEC section with the broader AGU community. Having moved into the GEC section (as I realized my research aligns increasingly with the GEC section charge), I know that there is minimal communication among the sections, even as we all work toward common goals of excellence and inclusiveness. I would be an effective conduit of information between AGU leaders and our section and a collaborator with other sections. I would do this openly and transparently, welcoming input from all GEC scientists.

Section affiliations:

Global Environmental Change; Ocean Sciences; Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology