Professional Title/Position

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Active Galactic Nuclei and Supermassive Black Holes
• Radio Galaxies
• Astronomy Education and Outreach
• Family Science Learning
• Science Exploration Technology

Professional Experience and Positions

• Astronomy Education Board (2004-2006)
• Ad Hoc Committee on Future Communications in Astronomy (2006-2008)
• co-Editor: Spark the AAS Education Newsletter

Candidate Statement

I have been an active member of the American Astronomical Society community since beginning graduate school, and remain a regular attendee at all Society meetings. I feel close connections to both the scientific and educational communities within the Society, and if elected to this position, would look forward to the opportunity to strengthen those ties. Through my many interactions with the AAS, both in serving on committees, and through organizing regular events at conferences, I have a good grasp on ‘how things work’—valuable knowledge in helping to identify individuals who can be the best to continue to move our society forward. I am committed to doing my part to continue to drive the Society in the direction of becoming a true community of colleagues; and would be dedicated to nominating great representatives of you, the astronomical community, to positions within our Society.

Professional Title/Position

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• astronomy education research
• astronomy education and outreach
• faculty professional development
• star clusters
• modeling stellar evolution
• archaeoastronomy
• history of astronomy

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Astronomy Education Board (2012-present)
• Career Panelist: Career Paths (2012)
• Columnist, Spark: The AAS Education Newsletter (2009-present)
• Workshop Presenter: CAE Teaching Excellence Workshops (2008-present)
• IYA 2009 Working Group for Research Experiences for Students, Teachers, and Citizen Scientists (2008-2009)
• Chambliss Award Judge (2008)
• Society Member (1995-present)

Professional Experience and Positions

• Board of Directors, North County Higher Education Alliance (San Diego County: 2011-present)
• Coordinator, Professional Development Programs (MiraCosta College: 2011-present)
• Coordinator, State of California Flexible Calendar Program (MiraCosta College: 2011-present)
• Coordinator, SoCal Regional Teaching Exchange (Center for Astronomy Education [CAE]: 2010-present)
• Fellow, Collaboration of Astronomy Teaching Scholars (CAE/CATS: 2008-present)
• Member, California Science Teachers’ Association (2008-10)
• Member, Council on Undergraduate Research (2007-08)
• Member, AAAS (2005-10)
• Program Director for Astronomy, MiraCosta College (2004-present)
• Member, AAPT (2001-present)
• Member, ASP (1995-present)

Candidate Statement

It would be an honor to serve on the Nominating Committee and work together to secure dedicated candidates for our Society's leadership positions. I welcome the charge of seeking additional dynamic and innovative individuals, especially those with the time, energy, and willingness to enthusiastically advocate for and protect the positions and ideals we hold dear.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Young stars
• infrared astronomy
• instrumentation

Professional Experience and Positions

• Member of IAU-OAD Taskforce "Astronomy for Universities and Research (Office of Astronomy for Development (2012-present)
• Chair of Review Committee of "La Silla Operations 2010+" (2010)
• External reviewer various Conicyt Funds (2010-present)
• Member of several Time Allocation Committees, both USA (2005-2006) and Chilean (2009 and 2011)

Candidate Statement

The American astronomical community has become more and more diverse, not only as astronomers working at a wide variety of institutes, but also through current and future international partnerships. We are entering an era where much of the research we do involves large collaborations and multi-national facilities. Thus, in order to maintain a vibrant astronomical community, we need leaders who understand where our field is headed and can plan for the future.

The task of nominating committee is to ensure that a diverse set of candidates are eligible as officers, capable of representing the interests of the astronomical community in the scientific, educational and political arena. Identifying these candidates for the various offices is an important job that needs to be done thoroughly and with care.

Through my position at CTIO/NOAO and my European background, I have a broad network within the astronomical community, both in and outside the USA, e.g. in Chile and in Europe. I also bring a familiarity with the range of science done by our community. I will make full use of this network to identify and put forward the best candidates to represent the AAS, its activities and its community.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Galaxy Structure and Evolution
• Star formation in Dwarf Galaxies
• Astronomy Pedagogy

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Session Chair, AAS Special Session 219: CSWA: Increasing Diversity in your Department (January 2012)
• Presentation on the accumulation of disadvantage, AAS Special Session 202: CSWA: Addressing Unconscious Bias (May 2010)
• Chair, Scientific Organizing Committee, Lowell Workshop on Star Formation in Dwarf Galaxies (June 2012)
• Member, NSF-AST Review Panel - Extragalactic Structure (2011)
• Member, NRAO Science Review Panel (2013-2014)

Professional Experience and Positions

• Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (2007-2013)
• Editor, AASWomen Newsletter (2007-2013)

Candidate Statement

The AAS is our profession's national policy and public awareness advocate, provides scientific leadership, and supports the careers of its members. It is the job of the nominating committee to come up with a deep pool of viable candidates for AAS leadership positions. My experience with the AAS Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy has provided me with the knowledge and tools to search out and recruit people with a broad range of talent and experience. The AAS must continue representing all professionals working in astronomy, and that increasingly includes people in non-academic careers, as well as people from historically underrepresented groups. It is not sufficient to look in the 'usual places' for candidates; one must look in many different environments to ensure finding the best, most appropriate people to guide the field. Talent is everywhere, and it is the Nominating Committee’s job to find it.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• using 21-cm Hydrogen Cosmology to detect the first stars/galaxies at z>10
• design of space and ground-based low radio frequency instruments for Hydrogen Cosmology experiments
• x-ray and radio observations
• numerical cosmological simulations of galaxy clusters

Services, Roles, and Activities

• NASA Advisory Council (2008-2011); Chair of NASA Advisory Council Science Committee (2009-2010)
• Chair of CCAT Telescope Corporation Board of Directors (2011-present)
• Director of NASA Lunar Science Institute’s Lunar University Network for Astrophysics Research (2009-present); Member of Executive Council for NASA Lunar Science Institute (2009-present)
• Member of Public Policy Subcommittee, Astro2010 Decadal Survey (2009)
• Member of NSF Subcommittee on Recompetition of Major Research Facilities (2012)
• Member of Executive Council, Astrophysics Research Consortium (ARC) (1989-1996)
• Nominating Committee, Astrophysics Division of the American Physical Society (1999-2002)
• Electorate Nominating Committee, Section on General Interest in Science & Engineering, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2006-2008)
• Member of Board of Directors, National Center for Women and Information Technology (2004-2009)
• Vice President for Academic Affairs & Research, University of Colorado (2001-2005)

Professional Experience and Positions

• Committee on Astronomy & Public Policy (CAPP) (2000-present)
• CAPP Chair (2006-2009, 2011-present)
• Committee for Selection of AAS Public Policy Director (2012)
• Employment Committee (1998-2003)

Candidate Statement

It has been my privilege to serve as Chair of the Committee on Astronomy & Public Policy (CAPP) over much of the past decade. During these turbulent and highly challenging times, our CAPP Committee has been proactive in rallying support for JWST, for NASA’s planetary sciences, and for the grants program at the NSF. An important part of our work on CAPP is communication with AAS members via special sessions on science policy at our national meetings. Working closely with AAS presidents and vice-presidents, we have brought federal policymakers from the Executive Branch’s Office of Science & Technology Policy, from Congress, and from federal agencies to our meetings. An important responsibility for the AAS vice-president is planning the content and inviting speakers for our meetings, a role with which I have much experience via CAPP. Beyond federal funding issues, I will work to develop diverse programs of speakers from emerging new research areas, programs and panels that present industry and nonacademic career opportunities which utilize astronomers’ interdisciplinary breadth, and programs that feature research performed by young astronomers. I will commit to broaden our meeting programs with more international astronomers and more discussions of innovations in education.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• clusters of galaxies
• extragalactic radio sources
• scientific data management and software
• scholarly publication

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Chair, Publications Board (1996-1999)
• E-Publications Tiger Team (2000-2006)
• Chair, Search Committee, The Astrophysical Journal Editor-in-Chief (1998)
• Chair, Working Group on Astronomical Software (1987-present)
• Publications Strategy Meeting (April 2013)

Professional Experience and Positions

• President, IAU Commission 5, Documentation and Astronomical Data (2012-2015)
• Co-Chair, IAU Working Group on Libraries (2009-present)
• Chair, IAU Working Group on Virtual Observatories, Data Centers, and Networks (2006-present)
• IAU Working Group on FITS (1985-present)
• Co-Chair of Science Organizing Committee, IAU Symp. 285, New Horizons in Time Domain Astronomy (Oxford, UK, September 2011)
• NAIC (Arecibo Observatory) Visiting Committee (2003-2005; chair in 2005)
• NRAO Visiting Committee (1995-1999)
• Co-Chair, National Academy of Science, Decadal Review Study Group on Computation and Data Handling (2009)
• Chair, Program Organizing Committee, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems (ADASS) Conferences (1991-1996)
• Chair, Physics Advisory Committee, Lawrence University (2007-2013)
• Editorial Board, Astronomy and Computing (2012-present)
• Editor, Experimental Astronomy (1990-2004)
• Advisory Board, Astronomy Source Code Library (2011-present)

Candidate Statement

Having chaired numerous working groups, panels, and program organizing committees, I have extensive experience in meeting organization, selecting and recruiting speakers, identifying key topics, and constructing an overall program that takes into account a proper diversity of subject matter and speaker demographics. AAS meetings are primarily for discussion of new research results, and are broad in scope so that attendees can learn about advances in areas other than their specialty. I would like to see the scope broadened further, into areas about how research is enabled through information technology, software, archives, and instrumentation. While there are conferences dedicated to such topics (for example, ADASS and SPIE) we have only modest cross-talk. Sharing more information about research methods in the prestigious environment of an AAS meeting could have far-reaching benefits for the efficiency and transparency of astronomical research. As a Council member I would also encourage the Society to enrich the content of its journals through access to the digital data underlying images and spectra, the incorporation of other dynamic content such as reader-controllable 3-d figures, and links to the software used in the data processing, analysis, and modeling.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• stellar spectroscopy and photometry
• variable stars
• hot supergiant stars
• time-series analysis

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (1978-1979)
• Shapley Lecturer (1979-1984)
• Nominating Committee (1981-1984, Chairman 1982-1983)
• Physics News Committee (1978-1981)
• Representative to Section Committee, AAAS Section on Astronomy (D) (1983-1986)
• Annie J. Cannon Award Advisory Committee (2002-2005)
• Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (2010-2016: Web manager, STATUS Associate Editor)
• Ad-Hoc Committee for 40+E (2013-present)
• Council (2008-2011: Budget Committee 2009-2011, Audit Committee: 2009-present, Chair 2010-present)

Professional Experience and Positions

• AAAS Section D Steering Committee (2008-2012)
• Astronomical Society of the Pacific: Board of Directors (1985-1991: Executive Committee 1987-1991, Awards Committee 1987-1991: Chairman 1988-1991)
• member or chair of various NASA and NSF review panels and user groups

Candidate Statement

It will again be a pleasure and a privilege to serve the AAS. I have enjoyed my service on the Budget and Audit Committees. If elected, I will conduct my financial duties with precision, openness, and dedication to the mission of the AAS.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• solar and heliospheric activity
• space weather impacts
• cool-star magnetic activity

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Member (1984-present)

Professional Experience and Positions

• Chair COSPAR RoadMap panel on space weather (2013-2014)
• President (2012-2014) of and Vice-President (2009-2012) of IAU Commission 10: Solar Physics
• Member NSF AST Portfolio Review Committee (2012)
• Member NASA’s Heliophysics Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council (2010-2013)
• Member of the National Research Council’s Space Studies Board (2002-2005)
• Member NASA Solar-Heliospheric Mission Working Group (2006-2009)
• Member of the NASA LWS Targeted Research and Technology Steering Group (2009, 2010, 2012)
• Lead on Heliophysics Summer School (2007-2010, 2013-2016)
• Member of the Editorial Board of Solar Physics (1994-present; chair 2009-2010)
• Founding member of the Editorial Board of Living Reviews in Solar Physics (2002-present)

Candidate Statement

Astrophysicists reveal the wonders of the universe, test the extremes of our understanding of physics, and quantify the impacts of the local cosmos on society’s expanding technological foundation. The AAS fulfils many important functions in support of all that, among them enabling communication between the many branches within astrophysics, providing outreach to the public and supporting education of new generations of students, and focusing and strengthening the community’s voice to articulate the needs for a diverse research portfolio using state-of-the-art facilities.

My professional activities, starting in stellar astrophysics with a current focus on the Sun as its nearest subject, brings me in touch with the night and day sides of astrophysics, rests on experiments on the ground, in space, and in the computer, and requires national and international networking. These experiences, and my involvement in committees for NASA, NSF, IAU, and COSPAR, have given me a deep appreciation of the value of astrophysics for society and of the challenges of formulating that well in times of strong fiscal constraints. As a member of the AAS council, it would be my privilege to bring my expertise to support the vibrant AAS community in articulating the excitement and relevance of its activities.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Extrasolar planets
• Stellar debris disks
• Relativistic jets in AGN
• Space-based astronomy instrumentation

Services, Roles, and Activities

• AAS Division on Dynamical Astronomy (Committee 2000–2002, 2006-2007, Chair 2006–2007)
• Brouwer Award Selection Committee (Chair 2010)
• AAS Member (since 1980); DDA and DPS member

Professional Experience and Positions

• Exoplanet Exploration Program, Deputy Program Scientist (2005-2013)
• Deputy Director, JPL Center for Exoplanet Science (2005-2011)
• Deputy Project Scientist, Space Interferometry Mission (2000-2010)
• NASA Keck Time Allocation Committee (2013)
• NASA proposal review panels (1994, 1998-1999, 2011-2013)
• NSF Management Review Committee of Arecibo Observatory (2007)
• National Science Foundation proposal reviewer (2000–2005)
• Arecibo Users Committee (2000–2003, Chair 2003)
• NRAO Users Committee (1992–1995, Chair 1995)
• SETI Scientist, Caltech (1991-1993)
• Proposal Referee, US VLBI Network (1990-1992)
• Manager, VLBI Correlator, Caltech (1985-1996)
• Full member of the RAS (since 1980), IAU (1985), URSI (1985)
• Research Fellow in Radio Astronomy, Caltech (1980-1984)

Candidate Statement

The AAS is vital for US astronomy. It’s a privilege, and an obligation, to share the natural excitement and the relevance of our field with a wider audience — and it’s necessary for the long-term health of our community. My goal as Councilor will be to insure that the Society continues to be a resource to the professional astronomy community, through its meetings and publication support, and to engage the general public, amateur astronomers and teachers.

Our community faces some tough issues, such as the low selection rates of proposals to NSF and NASA, and the prospects for academic employment of astronomers just starting their professional careers. The AAS should continue work toward solutions with government agencies and the various national committees that set policy and priorities for our field.

My scientific and professional experience is broad, having worked in academia and a government laboratory. I've written many observing and research proposals so I understand the pressures that proposers face. As a reviewer I’ve faced the challenge of allocating scarce resources fairly and effectively. As an organizer of many workshops and conferences, I appreciate the very diverse interests of AAS members. As Councilor, I will listen to the membership's views and concerns and I will represent your interests.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Astronomy Education Research
• Science Misconception Research
• Active learning Strategies
• STEM Diversity

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Member (1993-present)
• AAS Education Prize (2011)
• AAS Education Board (2002-2005)
• Local Organizing Committee for Washington DC meetings (1998, 2002, 2006)
• Organized AAS Special Session: The Astronomy Diagnostic Test: Development, Results, and Applications (2002)

Professional Experience and Positions

• Co-developer of Astronomy Diagnostic Test (ADT), supervised ADT National Project (1999-2003)
• Undergraduate Advisor for UMD Department of Astronomy (1990-present)
• Developer and main presenter of 2-day Teaching Assistants Workshop (UMD, Department of Astronomy, 1994-present)
• Author "Cooperative Learning Activities for Introductory Astronomy" (1997)

Candidate Statement

During my 38 year career, I have taught astronomy in middle school, at a private college, as an adjunct professor teaching evening classes for working adults, as an adjunct part-time university instructor, and as a full time university instructor. I have had the pleasure of introducing astronomy to approximately 7500 undergraduates. I am particularly interested in improving student conceptual understanding of astronomy with the goal of allowing people to share in our discoveries. Astronomy education research has played an important role in my career. I have trained, supervised, and supported graduate students during their teaching assistantships for 28 years. I am sympathetic to the problems that graduate students encounter, and I have actively worked as an advocate for them. In my own career, I have dealt with the two-body problem and having an astronomer spouse employed in a government agency for 30 years, I am familiar with the challenges and opportunities that a non-academic career path poses. I will draw on my experiences to guide my input as a member of the Council. My location in Maryland will allow me to help to our Public Policy Committee inform our congressional representatives of the importance of astronomy.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Absolute Spectrophotometric Calibration
• Extragalactic Observational Astrophysics
• Education

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Demographics Committee (2012-present)
• Nominating Committee (2009-2012)
• Longitudinal Survey in Astronomy (2006-present)
• AAS Director of Education (2002-2008)

Professional Experience and Positions

• Co-Chair US International Year of Astronomy 2009 (2007-2010)
• IAU IYA Executive Working Group (2007-2010)
• AAPT Committee on Undergraduate Education (2006-2009)
• DOE/NASA Joint Dark Energy Mission Science Definition Team (2004-2006)
• NASA/DOE JDEM Science Coordinating Group (2008-2010)
• 2010 Decadal Survey Position Papers: Author of In Support of Astronomy Education Research; Organizer and Co-Author of Photometric Calibrations for 21st Century Science, Co-author of: a) Type Ia supernova science 2010-2020, b) Workforce Development in Astronomy, c) Small Research Telescope Challenge
• AAS Special Session Organizer: Demographic Studies and the AAS (2014), The Role of Calibration in Modern Optical and Infrared Astronomy (2013), IYA2009 and Beyond: Global Overview and Cornerstone Projects (2010), Hubble's Diverse Universe (2010), International Year of Astronomy 2009 Overview (2009, co-organizer) Cool Astronomy (2002 - 2006)
• Review Panels (since 2000): NSF for AST Career, Instrumentation, Science and NSF EHR Education; NASA for SMD Education, Instrumentation; DOE for Science
• Societies: IAU member (2002-present); AAPT (2002-2010); ASP

Candidate Statement

Our Society¹s mission is to support and disseminate scientific understanding of the Universe through publications and meetings, by training and mentoring the next generation of astronomers, by assisting members to develop their skills and talents in education and outreach, and to work with other organizations to promote the advancement of science. The Council is the governing body of the Society and manages, directs and controls the Society¹s affairs and property, determines the Society¹s policies and actively carries out the Society¹s plans. Our challenge is making sure the daily activities of the Council match and support all of our Society¹s goals, even when we find ourselves in the current era of declining budgets for science, so that the AAS fulfills its mission.

If elected councilor, I will work towards ensuring that the Society continues to be an open, vibrant and inclusive community of scholars, educators, instrumentalists and policy makers by promoting who we are and what we do. To this effort I bring passion for doing good, dedication to education and diversity, accompanied with the appropriate experience, which includes extensive history working with the AAS Council and Executive Office through my former tenure as the AAS Director of Education, as well as service on various committees. The universe is ours to discover!

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Galaxy structure and dynamics
• Supermassive black holes
• Intermediate mass black holes,
• Stellar dynamics
• Computational astrophysics of all sorts
• Gravitational wave astronomy

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Division of Dynamical Astronomy (DDA) Committee (elected 2009-2011)
• AAS Van Biesbroeck Prize nomination committee (appointed 2011)
• DDA nominating committee (appointed 2011-2013)
• DDA nominating committee chair (2012)

Professional Experience and Positions

• Fisk-to-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program Steering Committee (2007-present)
• Co-chair for the Committee for Minority Representation in SDSS (2012-present)
• APS Division of Computational Physics Nomination Committee (2012)
• Aspen Center for Physics Meeting Organizer (2010)
• SDSS-III workshop local co-organizer (2011)
• Single and Double Massive Black Holes in Galaxies Workshop co-organizer (2011)
• XSEDE Regional workshop organizer (2012)
• NASA, NSF, Einstein Fellowship, DOE INCITE proposal reviewer - several panels over six years

Candidate Statement

I am so honored to be nominated to serve on the AAS Council. The AAS supports nearly every aspect of our careers and advocates for us all. The AAS meetings are where we are inspired by the newest discoveries and where we network with one another; the papers we publish are run by the Society; and the best clearinghouse for astronomy jobs is the AAS Job Register. I could go on, but I only have 200 words!

If elected Councilor, I first hope to be a conduit to bring your suggestions and concerns to the Council. My personal goal is to promote efforts for a diverse and inclusive membership for all astronomers, regardless of background or career path. To build a talented, diverse workforce, we need support on many levels, from intense one-on-one mentoring, to career development workshops, to practical policies like postdoctoral family leave and childcare support at meetings. My work in the Fisk-to-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program has allowed me to experience the real-world challenges and successful practices for broadening participation STEM, and I hope to bring this experience to the AAS. Thank you for your consideration.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• galaxy evolution
• star formation and chemical enrichment of nearby galaxies
• neutral gas dynamics
• multi-wavelength astronomy

Professional Experience and Positions

• Committee on Radio Frequencies (2010- present)
• NAIC Arecibo User's and Scientific Advisory Committee (2006-2009)
• EVLA Advisory Committee (2007-2009); NRAO User's Committee (2002-2006, Chair 2005)

Candidate Statement

I am honored to run for Council. I believe that the AAS plays an important role in the astronomical community by providing the means to communicate science, policy, and professional opportunities to astronomers at all stages of their careers. For me, the most visible aspects of the AAS are the semi-annual meetings where many of us give our first professional presentations and return now to learn of current developments and to connect with colleagues. As a Council member, I will work to improve the role of AAS in developing our professional networks and in expanding career development activities, at AAS meetings and elsewhere, with a particular emphasis on opportunities for junior and other early career members. Throughout my career, I have had a strong commitment to professional development and to building strong networks to support astronomers through career transitions. I believe that the AAS can play a critical role in helping its members expand our professional opportunities and be successful in all aspects of our careers.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• Observational Cosmology
• Quasar Absorption Line Systems
• Active Galaxies
• Instrumentation for Surveys

Services, Roles, and Activities

• AAS Committee on Light Pollution, Radio Interference, and Space Debris (2006)

Professional Experience and Positions

• GLAST/Fermi Users' Group (2007-Present)
• NOAO Ground-based O/IR System Roadmap Committee (2010-Present, Co-chair 2010-2012)
• SIRTF/SPITZER Users' Committee (1998-2004)
• WIRE Science Recovery Advisory Panel (1999)
• Gemini Science Committee (1996-2000)
• US Gemini Science Committee (1995-2000)
• International Dark Sky Association (IDA), Member Board of Directors (2008-2011), Vice President (2008-2010), President (2011)
• Thirty Meter Telescope Science Advisory Committee (2003-2005)
• Member Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Corporation Board of Directors (2012-Present)
• Member Giant Magellan Telescope Board of Directors (2012-Present)
• Member Large Binocular Telescope Board of Directors (2012-Present)
• Member Magellan Observatory Council (2012-Present)
• Member WIYN Board of Directors (2005-2010)

Candidate Statement

I am flattered to have been nominated to serve as a councilor of the American Astronomical Society. It would be a pleasure to work with the members, staff, and leaders of the AAS to sustain and strengthen our professional society in its mission to enhance and share humanity’s scientific understanding of the Universe. Throughout my career I have had a strong desire to not only pursue astrophysical research, but to enable others to do the same. This led me to join the scientific staff of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in 1995 and to later take on the challenges of being Director of Kitt Peak National Observatory. I have always accepted the opportunity to serve on advisory panels, user committees, and observatory boards in order to help develop and improve the facilities we all depend upon to carry out our research. I will bring a similar commitment to working to support the needs of our large, strong, and diverse community through the activities of the AAS if elected to serve you as a councilor of the AAS.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• The life history of the Sun as told by the stars
• Ages of stars
• Evolutionary properties of solar-type stars
• Habitable Zones around solar-type stars
• Applying stellar ages to Galactic studies

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Chretien Award Committee (2012-2013)
• Rodger Doxsey Prize Judge (2011-2012)
• Chambliss Award Judge (2008)

Professional Experience and Positions

• Elected member, IAU Division G (Stars) Steering Committee (2013-present)
• Vice president, IAU Commission 29 (Stellar Spectroscopy) (2012-present)
• Organizing Committee member, IAU Commission 29 (2009-present)
• SOC Chair and organizer, IAU Symposium 258, “The Ages of Stars,” Baltimore (2008)
• SOC Chair, Special Session 13,”High-precision astrophysics from high-precision photometry,” IAU General Assembly, Beijing (2012)
• Young astronomer mentor, IAU General Assembles (2009, 2012)
• Originator and organizer, STScI Summer Student Program (1993-2008), (>200 students from >30 countries, 50/50 men/women)

Candidate Statement

Astronomy is international and I want to help make it more so because that strengthens our science and gives us the opportunity to engage with colleagues everywhere. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) exists to help make those engagements happen, and it has been a pleasure to lead and participate in many of those productive activities.

Just as important, astronomers increasingly cross borders as they seek opportunities, and it is vital for the IAU to support that and to involve more of the youngest astronomers in what they do. I have helped to make that happen by running an international summer student program for 16 years that brought in 200+ undergraduates from 30+ countries; many of the men and women have continued to graduate school and professional positions both here and abroad.

The most significant recent initiative of the IAU is its Office for Astronomy Development (OAD), established to use astronomy as a tool to further formal and informal education and awareness of science around the world. The US has an important role to play in that enterprise, one I wish to see go further.

Professional Title/Position

Degrees and Education

Affiliations

Research Areas, Topics, and Interests

• the late stages of evolution of stars like the Sun
• mass loss mechanisms
• variable stars

Services, Roles, and Activities

• Vice President (2008-2012)
• Council (1993-1996)
• Various committees

Professional Experience and Positions

• AAAS - Electorate Nominating Committee and Section Committee, Section D
• 2000 Chair, Section D (Astronomy); and organizer for a number of AAAS symposia
• AURA - Board member (1990-2003); Chair, Observatories Council (1994-1997)
• AAVSO - Council (1980-1984) and (1993-1997); VP (1997-1999); President (1999-2001), ex-P (2001-2003)
• 2000 - Founding President, Trustee, and later Secretary, Creative Artists’ Studios of Ames

Candidate Statement

Over the past several decades I have served on a number of US-based national and international committees, boards and councils. It would be interesting and perhaps useful to bring that experience to the USNC-IAU.