Board Elections 

Renetta Garrison Tull, Ph.D., is the Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Excellence at the University of California Davis, and she is a past convenor for the University of California’s system-wide (10 campus) Council of Vice Chancellors for Equity and Inclusion. Tull’s undergraduate and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering and speech science are from Howard University and Northwestern University, respectively. She has had past faculty roles at UW-Madison, the University of Maryland College Park, and UMBC. At UC Davis, she is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering, and a faculty affiliate in the Interdepartmental Program on Human Rights Studies. As Vice Chancellor, her divisional portfolio includes the Davis-based Office of Campus Community Relations, and the Office for Advancing Mentoring and the Professoriate. The Sacramento headquarters houses the Office for Health Equity by Design for Inclusive Excellence (HEDI), serving the medical school, nursing school, and medical center. Inclusive Excellence also covers medical clinics around California, and UC Davis’ locations in the Bay Area and other parts of the state. Her portfolio also includes the Avanza initiative; the Police Accountability Board; the Center for Reducing Health Disparities; the Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspectives on Science; the Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspectives on Social Sciences, Arts, and the Humanities; and the Truth, Community Healing, and Transformation Center. She credits the success of Inclusive Excellence to talented teams and a supportive university environment. She is proud to be the Executive Sponsor for the UC Davis Principles of Community university-wide campus climate campaign, which highlights the key phrase, We affirm the dignity inherent in all of us.

Before joining UC Davis in California, Tull was in Maryland at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and served as Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Development (GSD), Associate Vice Provost for GSD and Postdoctoral Affairs, and Associate Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives. She later had a detail with the University System of Maryland (USM, 12 institutions), serving as the Director for USM Pipeline Professional Development Programs, and she had Co-PI and PI roles on National Science Foundation (NSF) grants within the LSAMP, Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, and ADVANCE programs. At Davis, she is PI for the NSF-funded PROMISE Engineering Institute (PEI - UC Davis and UMBC). PEI has developed an intergenerational mentoring engineering leadership network which has engaged engineering graduate students and senior leaders from UC Davis, UMBC, UC Irvine, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford, University of Maryland College Park, Virginia State University, Rice University, George Mason University, and North Carolina A&T.

An international speaker on global inclusion in STEM, Dr. Tull, a member of Tau Beta Pi, has shared Humanitarian Engineering principles and work connected to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations Headquarters, and on every continent (except Antarctica). Through the Latin and Caribbean Consortium for Engineering Institutions (LACCEI), she has given bilingual talks across Latin America on topics related to engineering for all.

Tull was a finalist for the Global Engineering Deans Council/Airbus Diversity Award (announced in Italy and acknowledged in Dubai). In addition, she has received the ABET Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity, the Student Platform for Engineering Education Development Global Mentoring Award, and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Head Association’s (ECEDHA) Diversity Award. She is a mentor for SACNAS and a campus liaison for the HispanicServing Research Universities (HSRU). She was a PI for Puerto Rico’s ADVANCE Hispanic Women in STEM, she is the past President for LACCEI, and the current Vice President of Transformative Initiatives for the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies (IFEES). Tull is currently leading the “Alianza” project for LACCEI in partnership with the Organization of American States; she sits on the Board of Directors of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), one of the world's largest Earth and space science organizations; and recently, she has been invited to serve on engineering expert teams in Chile and China.

Tull was a co-author for UNESCO Engineering Report II, and she participated in the UN Women CSW66 side event on “Role of Women in STEM in Addressing Climate Change” where she joined global leaders on the importance of women in engineering for climate action, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development. She is an author of a chapter of Rising to the Top, an IFEES book on global women in engineering, and was a co-author for the National Academies’ “Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic STEMM,” and “The Science of Effective Mentoring in STEMM. She is also co-author for the Matilda y las Mujeres en Ingeniería series, and her book chapter with a collaborative team of authors from several continents, Models for International Collaborations to Nurture Students into Global Engineers, in “Academic Leadership in Engineering Education: Learnings and Case Studies from Educational Leaders Around the Globe,” was launched in Australia. Tull enjoys her work as a global education policy strategist and champion for equity. She often travels with her husband of more than 30 years, Dr. Damon Tull, with whom she collaborates on work such as “The Success Equation,” and “Dark Matters: Metaphorical Black Holes…”, which creatively couples math, physics, and social science. 

My work has always focused on facilitating inclusion and excellence in STEM. After graduating from Howard University, and Northwestern University, I started a vocal pathology and accessible technology lab as a new professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After leaving Wisconsin, and working to with start-ups and councils to expand entrepreneurship opportunities for students, I shifted to academic administration and found that I could use my personalized approach to professional development programs to advance future STEM leaders. As my career progressed, I contributed to more national policies, and influenced structures that contribute to the success of students and professionals, in ways that provided economic advancements for families and communities as well as advancements in science. I want to join the SACNAS board to link with others as I offer my network, creative solution-finding, collaboration, strategic planning, and forecasting, to leverage the collective to meet the SACNAS mission.

On a more personal note, I am keeping a promise to the mother of one of my mentees who grew up in Puerto Rico. When Jessica Soto Perez, a chemical engineering graduate student, was killed by her husband on UMBC's campus, I vowed to do something to honor her memory. I created the "Jessica Effect" that built family and community involvement into subsequent programs, and I want to continue to channel Jessica’s loss, the loss of other students, and the loss of our children who could have been scientists, into positive energy to build successful pathways for our SACNISTAs.

I've mentored SACNISTAs for years! I'm a lifetime member of NSBE, and I've been a speaker for SHPE, AISES, MAES, and ABRCMS, providing STEM professional development to future leaders. As a lead for grants that broaden STEM participation (e.g., LSAMP, AGEP, ADVANCE: 2003-2019), I noted that my mentees in Maryland had very few Latino/a/x and Native mentors. I’d heard about SACNAS Math Institutes and began attending SACNAS around 2009. As I made new friends and found mentors for my students, I became a judge for SACNAS poster sessions, recruited students for LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate fellowships, and gave talks through GEM, the National Academies, and the Sloan Foundation. In 2019, as Vice Chancellor at UC Davis, I began funding delegations to attend SACNAS. In addition, I funded the screening of Physicist Dr Manuel Calderon de la Barca Sanchez’ film “Secrets of the Universe” at SACNAS Hawai’i, and I've mentored SACNAS advisors. I was given words of wisdom from Dr. Marigold Linton and Dr. Richard Tapia to continue my work, and I was mentored to be a VP by Dr. Lydia Villa-Komaroff. I am thrilled to serve our communities' future scientists, and develop intergenerational mentoring structures that facilitate their success.

My leadership blends vulnerable and crisis styles, filtered through an equity lens. I ask: Who is being served, who is missing from the table, and whether a given solution is truly working for everyone. Equity has not resonated with all citizens. To dispel misunderstandings, I've held numerous meetings, explaining the legality of our work, adherence to Civil Rights law and the Constitution. Throughout these changes, I developed a sustainable path for impact: the Inclusive Excellence Framework: Engage, Equip, Empower, and Elevate.

I believe in moving practice to policy, and adhering to bylaws to avoid informalities that can lead to a lack of transparency. When my colleagues and I don't agree, we work to find consensus. My vulnerable leadership style reduces hierarchies by offering voice and agency across ranks, utilizing appreciative inquiry, and collective impact. My crisis leadership style requires visibility, stress-testing solutions from multiple angles, and keeping contingency plans at-the-ready. I employ John Maxwell's 360-Degree Leader principles, i.e., developing people, modeling behavior, transferring my vision, and rewarding results. I connect this to Yosso's Community Cultural Wealth model and McMillan/Chavis Psychological Sense of Community, so that my Inclusive Excellence framework can connect to my Community Equation to serve the big "C."

My grant-funding record spans roughly two decades, primarily through NSF, exceeding $20 million. My key award was as Co-PI, NSF PROMISE: Maryland's Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) $1.5MM (2008 - 2010), which I led as Founding Director across a 12-institution University System of Maryland alliance from 2003-2019. I was also Co-PI on three LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate, $987K each, PI on an ADVANCE award run jointly with Universidad Metropolitana in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Co-PI on other grants for workforce development and students with disabilities. I've also been either a lead or partner on grants with the U.S. Department of Education, Council of Graduate Schools, NIH, Montgomery County, Maryland Technology Growth Fund and the Maryland Department of Business; Economic Development.

In California, I am the "UC" partner PI on 3 regional grants ($54M total), and I have direct fundraising responsibility for my division's budget and philanthropic support. My division runs donor and crowdfunding campaigns for units and groups, and I use my social media presence to promote giving, sponsorships, and donor engagement. I have developed fee-based external consultations and workshops, and educational products for retail. I believe that these streams can be further developed for SACNAS.

My board training reminds me that I have the “duty of care” and that a board member has fiduciary responsibility. As a volunteer board member, it is important to always act in the best interest of SACNAS, and recognize that the board position is not to be used in any way that would compromise the organization or its members. The position is not for individual gain. Ethics are key and respect for other board members is imperative. Within the campus-wide UC Davis Principles of Community, which is part of my portfolio, there is a line that says, “We affirm the dignity inherent in all of us.” Such dignity is not just for the members, but it must be exhibited within the board’s membership as well.

Active participation, resource development, and fundraising are expected. Confidentiality, collective leadership, and support for decisions must be honored. A board member should steward the strategic plan, and have agility to adapt to the dynamics of change. When I’ve written about board work, I’ve described navigating turbulence, confronting declining public trust in science, committing to data and transparency, respecting governance, and collaborating. A board member considers the position to be one of honor and service.

I have been on the board of the Latin and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Education Institutions (LACCEI) - 2024-2026. As President, I worked with fellow board members, the executive director and staff to provide engineering leadership, accreditation training, professional development, and high authorities' collaborations in Mexico, Cartagena, and Chile. Our organization is in good standing, having revenue through memberships/services/hybrids. I became founding director of Alianza, the alliances initiative in partnership with the Organization of American States. Organizations participating in initial alliance roundtables and features include HACU, NAMEPA, AMIE, and ECEDHA, with new participation from universities in Texas and Florida. Further, I suggested diversifying operation locations to manage political risk, resulting in LACCEI's operation in Europe.

Board of Directors – American Geophysical Union (2023-2026). I’m part of the board that hired the current permanent executive director. I have been part of the future-casting and strategic planning. Some of that work is captured in my article for AGU’s “From the Prow."

I’m a Vice Chancellor and member of the Chancellor’s cabinet. I have brought forward advances in campus culture, $58M to the region, employee satisfaction, reduced regional employment, and increased student belonging.

National recognition of my work is due to being a lead, advisor, or speaker for hundreds of programs from Alaska to Puerto Rico. The PROMISE program that I developed with colleagues in Maryland has had segments replicated and adapted at other universities. The PROMISE Engineering Institute is bi-coastal, and the intergenerational mentoring frameworks for legacy-building are being discussed for adaptation in the US and in South America. My work with the Latin and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions and the World Engineering Education Forum has provided opportunities to fund and mentor students and faculty from US-based MSIs by taking them to countries around the world in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. In past and present roles, I’ve worked with several companies through university corporate boards, the National GEM Consortium, and other boards where there is engagement with corporate sponsors. Work on innovation and entrepreneurship councils and science-based non-profits has been in California, DC/MD/VA, Illinois, North Carolina, NY, and Puerto Rico. I have contributed to reports for the National Academies and written sections in those national reports about SACNAS. Relationships that I've built across all sectors can be leveraged to engage participation and advocacy for SACNAS.

Dr. Aaron A. Velasco is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Resource Sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where he teaches, conducts research, and mentors students. He also serves as State Seismologist for the Railroad Commission of Texas, advising on issues related to earthquakes, energy production, and public policy while working with the TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program. Dr. Velasco earned a B.S. in Applied Geophysics from UCLA and a Ph.D. in Seismology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before joining UTEP in 2002, he worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Science Applications International Corporation, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, contributing to research in earthquake science and nuclear treaty verification. At UTEP, he has served in several leadership roles, including Department Chair, Associate Dean for Research, Director of Interdisciplinary Initiatives, and Chair of the Graduate Council. Nationally, he has served with the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Seismological Society of America, and SACNAS. Throughout his career, Dr. Velasco has focused on advancing earthquake science while creating opportunities for students and early-career scientists. He has led or co-led more than $35 million in externally funded projects, authored over 120 scientific publications, and remains committed to research, mentorship, and public service.

Given the current challenges facing the federal science enterprise, I have reflected on my career and the values that have guided me throughout it. That reflection has strengthened my desire to give back to the community that helped shape me. Since attending my first SACNAS conference in 1989, SACNAS has been more than a professional organization—it has been a place of belonging, encouragement, and lifelong friendships. At a time when I often questioned whether I fit in the scientific community, SACNAS reminded me that I did. Those experiences inspired my commitment to mentoring others and creating opportunities for future generations. Having had the privilege of serving as SACNAS President (2007–2008) and on the Board of Directors (2002–2010), I would welcome the opportunity to serve again as the organization navigates new challenges and opportunities. I bring institutional knowledge, leadership experience, and a strong commitment to thoughtful governance through my service on the SACNAS Board and Committees, my current role as State Seismologist of Texas, and my experience managing complex research and organizational budgets. If elected, I will lead with integrity, humility, and collaboration, always keeping SACNAS's mission at the center of my decisions. I hope to help ensure that future generations find the same sense of community, opportunity, and purpose that SACNAS has given me.

My commitment to the SACNAS mission began when I attended my first SACNAS conference in 1989. I found a community that welcomed me, encouraged me, and helped me see a place for myself in STEM. That experience shaped my career and inspired me to give back through service and mentorship. Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving SACNAS as President (2007–2008), President-Elect (2006), Board Member (2002–2010), Chair of the Geosciences Committee (2002–2010), and Chair of the Student Presentations Committee (2002–2005). I currently serve on the Committee of Senior Advisors after previously serving on the Finance, Strategic Planning, and Nominations Committees. Since 2004, I have served as Faculty Advisor to the UTEP SACNAS Chapter, mentoring students as they pursue careers in STEM. Beyond SACNAS, I have worked to broaden participation through leadership roles with the Seismological Society of America, the National Academy of Sciences, UTEP, a local science center, and NSF-funded projects that emphasize community partnerships and inclusive excellence. Throughout these experiences, what has mattered most to me has been helping students, early-career scientists, and mid-career professionals find opportunities, build confidence, and thrive.

Over the years, I have learned that effective leadership begins with listening. I work to create an environment where people feel respected, heard, and encouraged to contribute. Sometimes that means stepping back so others can lead with their expertise. Other times, it means helping a group find a shared direction through thoughtful discussion and respectful dialogue. When difficult issues arise, I believe it is important to ensure every voice has the opportunity to be heard. Chairing the Seismological Society of America's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Task Force (2020–2021) reinforced this approach. Bringing together people with different perspectives to develop a roadmap for a more inclusive future in earthquake science required patience, careful listening, and a willingness to build consensus around common goals. My years of service with SACNAS, including as President, deepened my belief that leadership is about serving a mission larger than oneself. That lesson continues to guide my work with faculty, students, and community partners. I believe organizations are strongest when people feel valued, trust one another, and work together toward a shared purpose.

My understanding of financial stewardship has grown through years of managing complex budgets, leading large research projects, and securing resources that support students, research, and organizational missions. As Department Chair at UTEP, I oversaw multi-million-dollar budgets, and as Principal Investigator, I have managed a research portfolio exceeding $30 million. My seven years on the SACNAS Finance Committee reinforced the importance of thoughtful, long-term planning to sustain a mission-driven nonprofit. Throughout my career, I have built partnerships that create opportunities for students and early-career scientists. I have been fortunate to secure major NIH and NSF grants, as well as private support, including a partnership with Shell to strengthen student pathways. These experiences have taught me that successful fundraising begins with shared purpose and trusted relationships. As federal support becomes more uncertain, I believe SACNAS has opportunities to strengthen its financial future by expanding industry partnerships, engaging alumni and lifetime members, growing career services, and cultivating philanthropy. I would welcome the opportunity to work with fellow Board members and staff to explore these possibilities. I believe careful stewardship and collaborative leadership are essential to ensuring SACNAS remains strong and continues to serve future generations.

A nonprofit board’s most important responsibility is to be a thoughtful steward of the organization’s resources, ensuring that decisions reflect its mission, honor the trust of members and donors, and protect its ability to serve future generations. My experiences serving on the boards of SACNAS, the Seismological Society of America, and Insights Science Center have taught me that effective governance begins with listening, asking thoughtful questions, and working collaboratively. It requires balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability while ensuring that financial decisions, growth, and strategic priorities remain grounded in the mission. I also believe board members have a responsibility to model the values they hope to see throughout the organization. For me, that means leading with integrity, respect, and humility, while recognizing that the best decisions come from diverse perspectives and shared commitment. SACNAS has had a profound impact on my life and career. Serving on its Board would be an opportunity to give back to a community that provided me with encouragement, belonging, and opportunity, while helping ensure future generations experience the same support and sense of purpose.

My governance experience spans national scientific societies, higher education, state government, and community nonprofit organizations, providing me with opportunities to contribute to strategic leadership, fiscal stewardship, and organizational growth. As State Seismologist of Texas, I advise policymakers and regulatory agencies on issues related to induced seismicity and energy production, helping translate scientific evidence into informed public policy. Within SACNAS, I have served as President, President-Elect, Board Member, and committee member, including the Finance, Strategic Planning, Nominations, and Committee of Senior Advisors. These experiences gave me a deep appreciation for the importance of thoughtful governance, long-term sustainability, and advancing opportunities for our members. My broader governance experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Seismological Society of America, chairing the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Geological Sciences through the National Academy of Sciences, leading the Board of Insights–El Paso Science Center, and serving in multiple leadership roles at the University of Texas at El Paso, including Department Chair and Graduate Council Chair. Across these roles, I have worked collaboratively to strengthen organizations through sound financial oversight, strategic planning, and a sustained commitment to inclusive excellence.

Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to build relationships across scientific organizations, government, industry, and higher education. I have learned that the strongest partnerships are built on trust, shared purpose, and a genuine commitment to creating opportunities for others. As the funding landscape evolves, I believe SACNAS has an opportunity to broaden its partnerships with industry, foundations, nonprofit organizations, alumni, and individual donors who share our commitment to developing the next generation of STEM leaders. My experience as State Seismologist of Texas has taught me how to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including government, academia, and the energy industry, to find common ground and advance shared goals. At UTEP, I also saw the value of sustained partnerships through a 20-year collaboration with Shell Oil Company that helped expand opportunities for students. Experiences like these have reinforced my belief that lasting progress comes from relationships that are built over time and centered on mutual benefit. If given the opportunity to serve, I hope to help strengthen the partnerships that can sustain SACNAS's mission and ensure it continues to provide mentorship and opportunities for all its members.

Dr. Jen Aleman is the Senior Associate Director of Institutional Research Funding in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at the University of Pennsylvania, where she manages the competitive review and award processes for internal funding opportunities and limited submission programs. She joins Penn after five years as Science Grant Writer and NIH Bridges to Baccalaureate Program Coordinator at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), where she supported faculty research funding, student fellowship applications, and built pathways for underrepresented students into STEM graduate programs. She holds a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Penn's Perelman School of Medicine.

Dr. Aleman's involvement with SACNAS spans over a decade, beginning during her doctoral training. From 2021 to 2026, she served as Staff Advisor to TCNJ's SACNAS chapter and has been a member of the SACNAS Conference Program Working Group since 2024. In March 2026, she led her chapter in organizing the SACNAS Mid-Atlantic Community Gathering, a free, academic/industry-sponsored event drawing over 200 students and faculty from 12 SACNAS chapters and 31 institutions. She is a frequent presenter and mentor at SACNAS National Conferences, and a 2023 alumna of the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute.

A 2026 NORDP Rising Star Award recipient, Dr. Aleman previously served as TCNJ's Campus Representative for the Goldwater Scholarship. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to ensuring scientists from historically underrepresented communities have access to the mentorship, funding, and community that make STEM careers achievable — a mission she carries forward in every role she holds.

My commitment to SACNAS is personal. As a doctoral student in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, the SACNAS community gave me support that shaped a positive graduate experience and helped me complete my PhD. I know firsthand what SACNAS can provide students at every stage: community, mentorship, and belonging that make the difference in whether someone stays in STEM. That experience is why I have stayed deeply engaged: as a chapter faculty advisor since 2021, through national conference presentations and mentoring, and by leading the SACNAS Mid-Atlantic Community Gathering, which brought together 200+ participants representing 12 SACNAS chapters, 31 academic institutions, and 16 companies and organizations. Board service is the natural next step in that trajectory, and a way to pay forward what SACNAS gave me.

I bring practical skills the board can use immediately: experience raising and managing six-figure grant budgets and five-figure event funding, building industry partnerships that deliver real value to sponsors, and convening diverse teams under real constraints. As SACNAS enters a new strategic planning process, my professional experience speaks directly to three priorities I understand to be central to that work: diversifying funding beyond federal sources, strengthening community college-to-bachelor's pathways through my Bridges program work, and building the regional infrastructure that helped 12 chapters connect through the Mid-Atlantic Gathering.

My values are simple: every student deserves access to the STEM opportunities that changed my own trajectory. I want to help SACNAS open those doors at scale, through this pivotal strategic period.

From December 2021 to September 2026, I served as Staff Advisor to The College of New Jersey's SACNAS chapter, and in March 2026 led my chapter in hosting the SACNAS Mid-Atlantic Community Gathering, a free event drawing 200+ attendees from 12 regional chapters spanning MA to MD.

From 2024–2026, I coordinated TCNJ's NIH Bridges to Baccalaureate Program, an NIH-funded pathway supporting community college students transferring into a four-year institution to gain biomedical research training and attain their Bachelor's degrees — work directly aligned with SACNAS's mission of building an inclusive scientific workforce. I mentored Bridges scholars on professional development and science communication skills, and managed the full $1.65M program budget across student stipends and subawards.

I was selected for the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute at HHMI Headquarters (June 2023) and served on the SACNAS Conference Program Working Group (2024–2026), presented at SACNAS National Office webinars on chapter-building and community gatherings (2023, 2026), and attended National Conference in 2019, 2022–2025 (2026 upcoming), presenting talks and panels each year while serving as a mentor judge and 1-on-1 mentoring session mentor. This sustained, multi-year investment reflects my commitment to SACNAS's mission, carried forward into my new role at Penn.

As lead organizer of the SACNAS Mid-Atlantic Community Gathering at TCNJ, I coordinated faculty advisors, students, and administrators across six partner institutions, all bringing genuine but competing priorities to a free, budget-capped event.

Two moments tested my leadership. First, vague programming requests for grant-focused sessions risked low turnout despite high-profile speakers, including a grants office director and a former provost now serving as an NSF rotator. I reframed the session to focus on grants supporting SACNAS-demographic students, targeting faculty and administrators rather than students directly — turnout was modest but engagement was strong and well-received.

Second, when registration closed early due to budget-driven headcount limits, some partner advisors were disappointed. I acknowledged their frustration directly, then invited them to submit names later for name tags as space allowed, and involved them further by inviting their student recommendations for a panel.

I learned that leading a large, multi-institutional event means you cannot satisfy every voice, especially when senior stakeholders speak with authority but lack full organizational context. My role is to listen genuinely, involve people where possible, and still own the vision for what the event should be and how it embodies the SACNAS mission.

I raised approximately $24K for the SACNAS Mid-Atlantic Community Gathering, exceeding costs and keeping registration free for over 200 attendees, including $5,500 in industry commitments from Kenvue and the Johnson & Johnson SACNAS chapter, alongside contributions from partner chapters, academic institutions and local ACS chapters.
I managed the full $1.65M budget for TCNJ's NIH Bridges to Baccalaureate program, including a key decision-making role: regularly presenting program PIs with the program's financial picture — spending trends, remaining capacity, subaward obligations — to facilitate their decisions about program priorities and resource allocation.

As a science grant writer, and now stepping into a research development leadership role at Penn's Office of the Vice Provost for Research, my fundraising experience is deliberately diversified beyond federal sources, spanning foundation grants and industry partnerships alongside NIH and NSF funding. Over the past five years, I've helped faculty submit approximately 45 proposals requesting $10.6M, securing roughly $4.3M across federal and foundation sponsors.

Given the current uncertainty around federal funding, I believe SACNAS should scale industry partnerships, since companies want measurable ROI and diverse STEM talent delivers that. My recommendation: equip chapters with a replicable toolkit for building industry relationships and hosting community gatherings.

I believe a core responsibility of a board member is fiduciary stewardship in service of mission: ensuring the organization's resources, decisions, and strategic direction remain accountable to the community it exists to serve. 
For a mission-driven organization like SACNAS, every governance decision — budget priorities, partnership approvals, program investments — should be tested against one guiding question: how does this advance SACNAS's mission of expanding access and support for scientists from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing STEM careers? I bring direct experience making decisions this way: both my Goldwater and NIH Bridges Program work operate within strategic goals, policies, and processes that guide collective decision-making, ensuring choices serve the mission consistently rather than individual preference.

Equally important is the responsibility to be an active connector and ambassador, not a passive voice in quarterly meetings. Board members bring networks, credibility, and access the organization cannot generate on its own. I see this as bringing field intelligence back to the board: what chapters need, what industry partners want, and what funders prioritize, all while carrying SACNAS's mission outward to open new doors. 

Board service means holding accountability and vision simultaneously: safeguarding what exists while building what comes next, always in service of mission.

My governance experience is primarily committee-level rather than board-level, built through structured, criteria-driven group decision-making.

As TCNJ's Campus Representative for the Goldwater Scholarship, I convened and led a faculty search committee that selected our institution's nominees through a defined decision-making structure: applications were evaluated against fixed national eligibility criteria, committee members deliberated and reached consensus, and I was accountable for ensuring our process remained consistent, defensible, and aligned with both institutional values and Goldwater's mission. I communicated outcomes to finalists and guided them in strengthening materials before national submission.

This same model — applying shared criteria and reaching group decisions in service of a mission — shapes how I approach community-building work. As a member of the SACNAS Conference Program Working Group, I contribute to evaluating programming proposals against shared standards before recommendations move forward. In organizing the SACNAS Mid-Atlantic Community Gathering, I built consensus among partner institutions and sponsors with differing priorities to deliver a shared regional event.

While I have not yet held board or bylaws-level roles, I understand governance as accountable, mission-driven group decision-making, and I am seeking SACNAS board service to grow this capacity while contributing a decade of programmatic and community-building experience.

I have built a national network spanning research development, federal funding, and industry, with direct relevance to SACNAS's regional and national goals.

Through NORDP (National Organization of Research Development Professionals), I engage at the national level, mentoring early-career STEM graduates toward research development as a viable career path and maintaining an active network of best-practice resources across the field. In 2026, I served on an NSF Directorate for STEM Education review panel, building a working relationship with a program officer there.

Regionally, I have cultivated partnerships with SACNAS chapter officers and faculty advisors at UPenn, Rutgers, NYU, CUNY Queensborough, Caldwell University, and University of Maryland — relationships built through planning the Mid-Atlantic Community Gathering, where these chapters contributed guidance and support to keep the event accessible to students.

I also spearheaded new industry partnerships with Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson, connecting students directly with STEM professionals and creating an industry-advising presence at the Community Gathering that students otherwise wouldn't access.

These relationships demonstrate my ability to convene diverse stakeholders around shared investment in student success, a skill directly transferable to expanding SACNAS's national partnerships and revenue-generating relationships as a board member.

José L. Martinez, PhD, MPA, is a Strategy and Plans Analyst at Optum, where he works with executive leadership to develop enterprise strategies that improve healthcare delivery and organizational performance. His career spans biomedical research, public policy, national security, and healthcare strategy, with a focus on translating complex scientific and technical issues into practical solutions that improve decision-making and create meaningful impact.

Prior to joining Optum, José served as an Associate Physical Scientist at RAND, leading and contributing to research on health, emerging technologies, and national security. He also served as an Arctic Policy Advisor with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in the Department of Defense, where he supported strategic planning and policy development on Arctic security. José earned his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology and his Master of Public Affairs from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

A SACNAS member since 2010, José has remained actively engaged with the organization as a chapter board member, conference recruiter, mentor, judge, and longtime participant in the National Diversity in STEM Conference. He is passionate about creating pathways that help students and early-career scientists thrive, particularly at the intersection of science, policy, and leadership.

José believes that diverse perspectives strengthen science and decision-making and is committed to building inclusive communities where future generations of STEM leaders have the opportunity to succeed and make lasting contributions to society.

I am seeking the opportunity to serve on the Board because I believe I can help SACNAS continue to grow while remaining true to the mission that inspired me years ago. I bring experience in strategic planning, governance, partnership development, and translating complex ideas into practical decisions.

SACNAS has been part of my journey for more than 15 years. I joined as an undergraduate looking for a community where I could see scientists who looked like me, understood my experiences, and believed I belonged in STEM. That sense of community helped shape my confidence and influenced the path my career has taken.

Since then, I've had the privilege of building a career that spans biomedical research, public policy, national security, healthcare strategy, and higher education. Along the way, I've remained connected to SACNAS as a chapter board member, conference attendee, recruiter, mentor, and judge because I believe investing in the next generation is one of the most meaningful ways to give back.

More importantly, I bring a deep appreciation for what this organization has meant to me. My values, including service, integrity, curiosity, and creating opportunities for others, are the same values that have guided my career. Serving on the Board would be both a privilege and an opportunity to help ensure that future generations find the same sense of belonging and possibility that I found through SACNAS.

SACNAS mission has shaped my professional and personal commitment to the STEM community. I have been a SACNAS member close to 16 years since first joining 2010 at UCSC and have served as Board Member for the SACNAS Chapter at the University of Michigan, where I helped foster community, mentorship, and professional development for students pursuing STEM careers.

During this span I have attended seven conferences, serving as a graduate school recruiter at three, a recruiter for RAND Corporation at one, and as a volunteer judge and mentor at two. These experiences allowed me to support students at multiple stages of their educational and professional journeys—from introducing them to graduate education and career opportunities to providing mentorship and constructive feedback.

I remain committed to SACNAS' mission outside of conferences, by advancing opportunities for scientists from historically underrepresented backgrounds. As a Learning Skills Advisor at the UCSC, I taught and mentored students through a nationally recognized STEM support program. At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, I mentored undergraduate and graduate researchers and served on the Cellular and Molecular Biology Admissions Committee. More recently, I have shared science policy career pathways through invited talks with Científico Latino and the UCSC STEM Diversity Program.

One of the most formative leadership experiences in my career was serving as an Arctic Policy Advisor with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. In this role, I worked with military leaders, civilian policymakers, scientists, and interagency and international partners to develop strategic recommendations on Arctic security. Team members brought diverse professional backgrounds, organizational priorities, and perspectives on complex geopolitical issues, requiring thoughtful collaboration to identify areas of agreement while respecting differing viewpoints.

My role was often to translate complex scientific, operational, and policy information into a shared understanding that enabled informed decision-making. Rather than advocating for a single perspective, I focused on listening first, asking questions, and ensuring every stakeholder understood how their expertise contributed to the broader mission. This approach helped build trust, improve collaboration, and produce stronger strategic outcomes.

This experience reinforced my belief that effective leadership is rooted in humility, curiosity, and inclusion. The best ideas emerge when people with different experiences feel heard and valued. Today, I strive to create environments where diverse perspectives are welcomed, evidence guides decisions, and collaboration produces outcomes that no individual or discipline could achieve alone.

While my career has not centered on fundraising, I have extensive experience in financial stewardship, proposal development, and building partnerships that support organizational missions. At RAND Corporation, I served as Principal Investigator on a $135,000 federally funded research project and contributed to the development of competitive proposals, including a $275,000 NIH R21 application and a $110,000 WITH Foundation proposal. These experiences strengthened my understanding of identifying funding opportunities, developing compelling value propositions, and aligning projects with sponsor priorities.

Earlier in my career, I organized a community conference focused on higher-education access while serving at Santa Cruz Community Health Centers, coordinating stakeholders and resources to maximize community engagement. Today, at Optum, I contribute to enterprise strategy by evaluating investments, organizational priorities, and long-term planning.

If elected to the SACNAS Board, I would explore expanding corporate partnerships with biotechnology, healthcare, technology, and consulting organizations; strengthening alumni giving through recurring donor programs; increasing foundation support for mentoring and professional development initiatives; and developing mission-aligned sponsorship opportunities for conferences and leadership programs. I believe sustainable fundraising begins with strong relationships, a compelling mission, and demonstrating measurable impact for both donors and the communities we serve.

To me, a board member's core responsibility is to serve as a steward of an organization's mission. For SACNAS, this means ensuring that the organization remains financially sustainable, strategically focused, and responsive to the evolving needs of its members while preserving the values that have made it such an important community for generations of scientists.

I've been fortunate to work in research, government, healthcare, and higher education, and one lesson has stayed with me throughout my career: organizations are at their best when decisions are guided by purpose rather than personalities. A good board member doesn't have all the answers. They ask thoughtful questions, listen to different perspectives, and make decisions that may not always be the easiest, but are in the best interest of the organization and the people it serves.

SACNAS played an important role in my own journey as a scientist, and I see board service as an opportunity to give back to a community that helped shape who I am. If elected, my goal would be to help safeguard the organization's future while creating opportunities for the next generation of STEM leaders to thrive.

My governance experience spans non-profit, academic, and student organizations, providing me with experience in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and organizational decision-making. I served on the Board of Directors for Santa Cruz Community Health Centers, where I contributed to organizational strategy, and helped advance the organization's mission of providing equitable, accessible healthcare to underserved communities. From 2017–2018, I served as a Board Member for the SACNAS Chapter at the UMich, collaborating with fellow officers to guide chapter priorities, strengthen member engagement, and organize professional development and community-building activities that supported students pursuing STEM careers. At UW I served on the Admissions Committee for the CMB Program. In this role, I evaluated graduate applications, participated in admissions discussions, and helped identify candidates who would contribute to both scientific excellence and an inclusive academic community.

Professionally, I have contributed to governance through committee and strategic leadership roles. In my current role as a Strategy and Plans Analyst at Optum, I support executive leadership by developing strategic planning materials, governance briefings, and decision-support products that inform enterprise priorities and organizational decision-making. These experiences have strengthened my ability to think strategically, build consensus, and contribute effectively to organizational governance.

Throughout my career, I have built collaborative relationships across academia, government, healthcare, non-profits, and industry. At RAND, I partnered with federal agencies including the Department of Defense, FEMA, and the National Institutes of Health on interdisciplinary research and strategic initiatives addressing national security, public health, and emerging technologies. During my assignment as an Arctic Policy Advisor with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, I collaborated with military commands, federal agencies, and international partners to support strategic planning and policy development.

In my current role at Optum, I work across clinical, operational, and executive leadership to advance enterprise-wide strategic initiatives and strengthen cross-functional collaboration. Throughout my career, I have also maintained active engagement with professional societies and non-profit organizations, including SACNAS, Científico Latino, the National Science Policy Network, and AAAS, expanding my network across science, policy, and healthcare.

These experiences have given me the ability to build partnerships across sectors and identify opportunities that benefit diverse communities. As a SACNAS Board member, I would leverage these relationships to expand mentorship, strengthen strategic partnerships, increase career pathways for members, and connect students and early-career scientists with opportunities across academia, government, non-profit organizations, and industry.

Leah Nez is a PhD student in Bioethics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, where she is interested in the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomic newborn screening in Indigenous communities. Her interdisciplinary background in biology and philosophy informs her approach to research ethics and how these scientific developments impact Indigenous peoples. She loves bringing people together to talk about ethics in science and believes some of the best conversations happen when people from different backgrounds share their perspectives.

Leah has been involved with SACNAS since attending her first National Diversity in STEM Conference as a high school student. Over the years, SACNAS has been a place where she found mentors and lifelong friends who continue to shape her journey. She currently serves as President of the Case Western Reserve University Graduate and Postdoctoral SACNAS Chapter and as a member of the SACNAS Chapters Subcommittee. Somehow, she always ends up adopting fellow conference attendees into a group—and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Outside of research, Leah loves reading gothic horror and spending time birding. If you're a fellow birder, let's sneak away and do a little birding during the next SACNAS conference!

Yá’át’ééh! Shí éí Leah Nez yinishyé. Áshįįhí nishłį́, Tábąąhá báshíshchíín. Bit’ahnii dashicheii, dóó Táchii’nii dashinálí. Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgaii déé’ naashá. Cleveland di shighan.

Being Diné is foundational to who I am and how I move through the world. Teachings from my culture and upbringing continue to influence my understanding of responsibility to the community and our relationships with one another. They guide me as I lead, learn and serve others in the community. This has heavily influenced my thinking that our knowledge is something to be carried forward and shared in a way that benefits our future generations. It can be seen through my training in bioethics, where I found a path to bring together my interests in science, ethics, and my culture. I am moving towards a future where I hope to do community-engaged research that works on questions around the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomics research with Indigenous communities.

As I have watched SACNAS grow to open more social sciences and Indigenous knowledge, that has been our journey together. I found this community as a high school student and believed I belonged in science, and here I am finding opportunities to give back to that very community that invested so much in me. By serving on the Board of Directors, it feels like a natural continuation of this journey by bringing my experiences to the future generations of SACNISTAs to find the same sense of community and encouragement that helped me find my path.

I was fortunate to have been introduced to SACNAS as a young high school student presenting my summer research at a national conference. It opened my eyes to a community of scientists and mentors who have since supported me in my career. In recent years, I have transitioned from a student participant to someone who has the opportunity to give back and continue the support I have received for future STEM students.

Although my career has shifted into bioethics, I still have remained dedicated to inclusion and equity in STEM. I presented my research at the 2023 SACNAS NDiSTEM conference and returned again as a panelist in 2025 to discuss a graduate-student lead project to help showcase underrepresented Indigenous scholars, but also a resource for students to find mentors. This past January, I was asked to serve on the SACNAS Chapter Subcommittee and have been working with my local SACNAS mentors to establish a graduate student chapter at our university. I see SANCAS as a community that has invested in its scholars and that is a way for me to give back by helping future students experience that same sense of belonging and open opportunities that first inspired me.

Because I am a non-traditional student, my leadership skills developed early in my life through retail and medical settings. When I was working as a Blood Drive Manager at the American Red Cross in Salt Lake City. Every blood drive would bring everyone together from different backgrounds and with different motivations for being there. Our Donor Recruitment Department (DRD) would coordinate with community organizations to host and recruit donors. It was my responsibility to ensure the blood drive itself ran smoothly which meant balancing the efforts of the DRD, working with community representatives, caring for my staff, and bringing a positive experience to the donors. These different perspectives were important for a shared mission where patients have access to blood in hospitals. This taught me that listening and understanding are what matter to people around you. Some of the strongest teams I have been a part of have (and should) include people with very different experiences and worldviews, but we all care about accomplishing the same goal. This is my leadership philosophy, where I see it as not necessarily having everyone agree, but ensuring that everyone is heard, understood, and how that helps us move forward toward a shared vision.

My fundraising experience is very limited, and I have not yet had the responsibility for raising funds. This is an area I am interested in developing as I grow in my career. Although I do not have a specific fundraising idea to propose, I recognize that stable funding is important and necessary to support the SACNAS mission. I am open to learning these skills.

A nonprofit board’s most important responsibility is to be a thoughtful steward of the organization’s resources, ensuring that decisions reflect its mission, honor the trust of members and donors, and protect its ability to serve future generations. My experiences serving on the boards of SACNAS, the Seismological Society of America, and Insights Science Center have taught me that effective governance begins with listening, asking thoughtful questions, and working collaboratively. It requires balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability while ensuring that financial decisions, growth, and strategic priorities remain grounded in the mission. I also believe board members have a responsibility to model the values they hope to see throughout the organization. For me, that means leading with integrity, respect, and humility, while recognizing that the best decisions come from diverse perspectives and shared commitment. SACNAS has had a profound impact on my life and career. Serving on its Board would be an opportunity to give back to a community that provided me with encouragement, belonging, and opportunity, while helping ensure future generations experience the same support and sense of purpose.

My first exposure to governance was at the NIH as an intern in the Tribal Health Research Office from May 2021 to June 2022. I had the opportunity to see the oversight of biomedical research by shadowing Institutional Review Board meetings. It helped me think about the considerations for approving research studies, not only from the researcher or institutional perspective, but also reorienting me to consider the participants. At MSU Denver, I served on the Free Expression Task Force from October 2021 to February 2022. A group of students, faculty, and staff drafted a Statement on Free Expression and Inquiry, which was later approved by the Board of Trustees and adopted by the university. Later, I joined the Navajo Nation Genetics Policy Development Working Group in June 2022 as a trainee and have recently become a Community Representative. This group is working together to build a genetics policy for the Navajo Nation. Although these experiences took place in various settings, they have taught me that governance is a team effort and requires us to listen openly to different perspectives, build trust amongst the group and those we represent, and that will ultimately reflect in the communities we serve.

Upon reflection of the many organizations that have mentored me, I must consider how I support students to bring equity into STEM. The NIH internships were instrumental in teaching me collaboration in building policies. This was my first shift into Bioethics and ELSI work that allowed me to connect with the Justice Dialogues through Columbia University as well as the Summer internship for INdigenous peoples in Genomics (SING), where I was recently elected to be an instructor for this year’s workshop. All these experiences introduced me to people that share the SACNAS vision to support diversity in STEM.

Having worked across these organizations and now moving into leadership roles has allowed me to think about how their missions naturally overlap with each other. Through my work with the Atlas for Inspiring Indigenous Scholars, I have begun conversations about a potential collaboration with SACNAS because we have alignment in our commitment to supporting Indigenous scholars. While these discussions are still developing, they show that my networking has brought together opportunities where organizations can work together to support Indigenous students and early-career scholars. I bring an understanding to SACNAS from relationships that span across the interdisciplinary fields that would help support the SACNAS mission.

Regionally, I served on the DOW Pittsburg Community Advisory Panel (2017–2021), where I worked with company leadership and East Contra Costa County community members to build mutual understanding and support shared goals. This experience gave me insight into how industry and community-based organizations can work together to advance STEM education and workforce development. These strategic partnerships helped me understand how to align the goals of educational and corporate partners in ways that could benefit the SACNAS mission of diversifying STEM.

Together, these experiences have strengthened my ability to build sustainable partnerships and create programming that fosters student success, leadership, and community engagement, directly supporting the SACNAS vision for a more inclusive STEM community.

Tiaamè is a PhD candidate in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, studying combined sewer overflow driven nutrient pollution in the Gowanus Canal Superfund site. In summer 2025 Tiaamè designed and led the first water blitz campaign completed by the NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies, training and coordinating twenty-three community volunteers across three sites. That work earned first place for Best Oral Presentation at the 2026 NOAA Educational Partnership Program Forum, their second consecutive win. Tiaamè came to science through fashion, starting with a fifth grade school project using design to tell stories about the environmental problems they and their friends faced in New York City. They carried that into high school, researched microfiber pollution in the Hudson River for their master's degree, and now study water quality in the Gowanus Canal, the Superfund site beside the high flood risk neighborhood where they grew up. A SACNAS member since 2018, Tiaamè won first place in undergraduate poster presentations that year and returned as a featured speaker at the 2024 National Diversity in STEM Conference, where their talk Voyage to Justice with SACNAS I described using fashion to stay connected to their community. They mentor undergraduates through the CUNY Black Male Initiative, organize with Red Hook Farms, and monitored harmful algal blooms for the NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network. Tiaamè works toward open waterfront and paid environmental jobs for neighborhoods that have had neither.

Throughout my governance experience, I was not only motivated to run programs effectively, but to support the expansion of the organization’s overall vision and impact. I joined the RETI Center in Brooklyn in 2023 as a volunteer with the NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network, monitoring harmful algal blooms weekly on the Gowanus Canal. Volunteers came and went, so I redesigned that program into a structured educational course to enhance volunteer adherence. The course went on to train Summer Youth Employment Program students and AmeriCorps fellows. What we learned from the monitoring mattered as much as the data itself—collecting the data benefited residents to get onto a waterfront that had long been closed to them. I brought that understanding to the Executive Director while she shaped the center's ten-year vision, and what we built on the Gowanus Canal directly inspired and strengthened the funding story behind the mobile water testing station now in development on Governors Island.

I currently serve on the research committee of the CUNY Black Male Initiative, where I align our conference agenda with NOAA's Blue Economy Strategic Plan. I was also President of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars chapter at City Tech from 2018 to 2019.

My relationship with SACNAS began in 2018, when I felt encouraged to submit an abstract to the PIPES program on the Big Island. I won 1st place in the Undergraduate Poster Presentations, and met NOAA recruiters there, which ultimately led to the fellowships that funded my graduate education. SACNAS did not only recognize my work, it redirected my career. In November 2024, I returned to NDiSTEM as a Featured Speaker for Voyage to Justice with SACNAS, advancing to the role of program contributor rather than a presenter.</p><p>Since then, I have worked to give other students what SACNAS has given me. As an Academic Mentor with the Black Male Initiative at City Tech since 2022, I connect undergraduates to NOAA funded training programs, and in 2025 BMI awarded my work in this role with its Award for Outstanding Dedication and Excellence. As a Provost Enhancement Fellow with the CUNY Pipeline Program since 2022, I mentor students preparing for doctoral study. At Red Hook Farms, where I have volunteered since 2021, I coach youth farmers learning to read weather information independently. At the RETI Center from 2023 to 2024, I built the training that taught community members water quality science.

My leadership style centers on character development, because while technical skills are taught quickly, self-advocacy takes time. When I mentor undergraduates through the Black Male Initiative at City Tech, I listen and observe first, and I ask whether a mentee wants feedback before offering it. That habit keeps the exchange cooperative and lets them name their own strengths and the places they want to grow, rather than hearing me name them. I learn as much from them as they from me, because watching how each person solves a problem teaches me to lead the next one better.

That attitude carried into summer 2025, when I coordinated the first ever water blitz CESSRST II, with twenty-three volunteers of different institutions and worldviews collecting water quality data on a Superfund canal. Because I had learned to read what each volunteer needed, I could help them work in the way that suited them, guided by one shared agreement—that asking for help early moves everyone faster than working alone. Even through constant challenges—a heat wave, an attempted equipment theft, and a fire evacuation—our agreement held, and 82% of volunteers afterward reported high confidence in group field research.

In spring 2025, extreme heat was draining volunteer retention at Red Hook Farms and morale among the Black Male Initiative peers who farmed with me. When I asked my peers to volunteer for a fundraiser, the answer was no, so I reframed the ask. Instead of requesting their time, I asked what they would be willing to do to help feed 100 families—and that reframe brought in my first sponsors from BMI. One sponsor underwrote locally sourced oysters and a jazz band in exchange for an art piece I designed, a local restaurant donated caviar, and Red Hook Farms gave every attendee freshly grown produce. The event, which I called Brooklyn's Best Quest, raised $1,179.51 for food security, job opportunities, and educational programming at the farm entirely from non-federal community sources. At Red Hook Farms, I have also managed mixed funding event budgets, coordinating four sponsors across donated and paid contributions for a fifty-person event.

My fundraising experience is small in scale, but it taught me something that scales beyond it that people give when the ask is concrete, reciprocal, and community-oriented. I would bring that lens to SACNAS, along with a willingness to learn from board members.

A board's core responsibility is to build and keep a relationship with the people it serves. Because the board’s decisions are often made at a distance from members, the board is responsible for making sure the members know they are listening. That listening earns trust, and trust ensures that an organization acts on its members' behalf. A board member keeps channels open through surveys, forums, chapter visits, and answering those who reach out, so community needs reach the table

I learned the weight of that trust at Red Hook Farms. When I became a NOAA NESDIS intern, my association with federal science got me ostracized from my own community given that they carried the trauma of helicopter research. The data I offered was sound, but the trust was not there. So, I kept showing up as a volunteer, and when staff needed data for planting decisions, I translated data into an adaptive plant hardiness zone map showing what we could grow and when. Trust returned and led to a formal NESDIS and Red Hook Farms partnership.

That is why I treat trust as infrastructure, and I would measure every board decision by whether it strengthens or spends the membership's trust.

Throughout my governance experience, I was not only motivated to run programs effectively, but to support the expansion of the organization’s overall vision and impact. I joined the RETI Center in Brooklyn in 2023 as a volunteer with the NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network, monitoring harmful algal blooms weekly on the Gowanus Canal. Volunteers came and went, so I redesigned that program into a structured educational course to enhance volunteer adherence. The course went on to train Summer Youth Employment Program students and AmeriCorps fellows. What we learned from the monitoring mattered as much as the data itself—collecting the data benefited residents to get onto a waterfront that had long been closed to them. I brought that understanding to the Executive Director while she shaped the center's ten-year vision, and what we built on the Gowanus Canal directly inspired and strengthened the funding story behind the mobile water testing station now in development on Governors Island.

I currently serve on the research committee of the CUNY Black Male Initiative, where I align our conference agenda with NOAA's Blue Economy Strategic Plan. I was also President of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars chapter at City Tech from 2018 to 2019.

My national engagement began close to home. As President of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars at City Tech (2018–2019), I connected members with tutoring and events, and I learned how to recognize, articulate, and advocate for what people needed from our programming. This skill helped me build partnerships, including a collaboration between the Rozalia Project and NOAA CESSRST on Hudson River microfibers.

My CESSRST fellowship inspired me to connect federal science with local decisions. As a NESDIS Fellow (2021), I interviewed New York City farm coordinators about NOAA's forecasting tools. Through my volunteer work at Red Hook Farms, their challenges became personal. In 2022, I joined NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information to better understand plant hardiness zones and translate that science for local farming needs. These experiences highlighted a deeper issue, like how knowing what to plant is not enough without reliable water access. This realization led me to intern at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection in 2025 to learn how the city manages drought.

I would bring this approach to SACNAS, using data to anticipate member needs and communicating clearly with those already engaged.