Work towards Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility

Throughout my career I have been consistently devoted to increasing DEIBA.   At my departmental level I wrote our successful application for our membership in the APS Bridge Program.  I also have served on the department's DEIBA committee.  More importantly I was the head Graduate Student Advisor and Director of Graduate Studies for a total of 11 years.  In my time in this position I fostered an inclusive environment for all graduate students through policy changes to improve transparency and clarity, proactive mentoring, a holistic consideration of student needs, and working to provide assistance to students in need.  This was especially critical during COVID years as students faced a host of unprecedented challenges in an arena of areas and this especially impacted students from historically marginalized groups.

At the University level I worked as a member of various committees to highlight DEIBA needs to advocate for more funding for students from historically marginalized groups.

At the national level I was a member of the American Astronomical Society's (AAS) Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (CSWA) from 2017-2024.  As part of this committee I helped to write the Strategic Plan for the 2020's and was in charge of implementing the Strategic Plan through its various projects.  I also was a leading co-author on a series of papers that provided recommendations to the AAS on how to improve the status of women in our professional society.

Most recently I was elected to the AAS as a member at large of the Board of Trustees.  In this role I will work to improve the DEIBA of the whole discipline and to improve mentoring programs.