Assistant Professor, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 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 an Asian woman, I hope to address the challenge that lies in changing perceptions around DEI efforts, ensuring they are not seen as zero-sum games but as enriching the whole community of geoscientists. I would like to use my service in the AGU Council to highlight that achieving a truly inclusive culture extends beyond supporting those historically marginalized; it also involves bridging gaps with those who feel alienated by the changing landscape. I see an opportunity to further this mission by facilitating dialogues that not only address grievances but also highlight the universal benefits of a diverse scientific community. I believe that by showcasing success stories that inclusive practices have led to breakthroughs and innovation, we can underscore the value of diversity.

I also aim to address the needs of international students and scholars pursuing their degrees and career goals at U.S. institutions. These individuals face unique challenges, such as cultural and language barriers that hinder their ability to work to their full potential as researchers, as well as the vulnerability and heightened pressure associated with probationary visa status. These challenges are often less visible to many of us. By joining the AGU Council, I hope to help AGU continue its role as a champion of international collaboration and a strong support system for international students and scholars in the geosciences.

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the AGU Science and Society Section, representing our section on the AGU Annual Meeting Program Committee. Since 2023, my goal has been to ensure that AGU's flagship meeting is a valuable experience for all members. In 2024, I volunteered as an AGU Local Science Partner, communicating with state and federal lawmakers to advocate for geoscience research and education. These efforts are continued work from my volunteer as an AGU Voices for Science fellow of 2023. From 2022 to 2023, I participated in AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange, collaborating with the rural community of Adel, Georgia, to establish a long-term air quality monitoring program. This initiative aimed to support legal action against environmental injustices related to the flawed decision-making in the construction of the world's largest wood pellet plant in their neighborhood. Beyond my work with AGU, I served as the student/early career representative for the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society Metro Los Angeles Chapter from 2018 to 2021.

The student and early career voices on the Council are critical to the future of Earth and space sciences. Describe a time when you used your voice to inspire others to advance a cause, mission, or goal.

In 2015, I initiated a training session at the University of California, Los Angeles’s Annual Teaching Assistant (TA) Conference specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by international graduate student TAs. Recognizing we lacked sufficient support to excel as TAs, I identified key issues such as understanding students' needs in American classrooms, teaching effectively with English as a second language, and managing student skepticism about international TAs' backgrounds and communication skills.

My proposal effectively highlighted these gaps, which the conference organizers were eager to address but not sure how. I used five real-world examples from international TAs to pinpoint the need for targeted training. These stories resonated well with the conference organizers and eventually won their support. I also suggested the conference organizers check the proportion of international TAs out of the total TA population, especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) departments to highlight the broad needs across departments. Furthermore, I strategically presented my proposal at a time when the organizers were actively seeking ways to enhance the conference program and support the growing number of international TAs serving a diverse student population. The positive feedback from this new session led to its continued inclusion in the program and its integration into broader discussions on inclusive classroom environments in subsequent years.

This experience not only demonstrated my ability to identify and address specific needs but also showcased my skill in collaborating with stakeholders to drive meaningful change. It reflects my alignment with AGU’s strategic goals and my commitment to advancing these objectives through innovative and evolving approaches.

Section affiliations:

Global Environmental Change; Informatics; Natural Hazards; Science and Society