Board Elections 

Patricia Silveyra, MSc, PhD, ATSF is a tenured Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington. She also holds adjunct appointments in the Indiana University School of Medicine and is a member of the Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research focuses on sex differences in lung disease, and the effects environmental exposures in men and women, and has been funded by NIH and several national foundations. 

Originally from Argentina, Dr. Silveyra is a first-generation college graduate and immigrant who has dedicated her career to advancing inclusion in STEM. She has mentored over 100 students and trainees, many of whom identify as women, first-generation, or members of historically excluded groups. A SACNAS member since 2014, she has attended every National Diversity in STEM Conference since then, supporting her students as presenters and serving as a mentor judge. She is a graduate of the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute (2016), the SACNAS-HHMI Advanced Leadership Institute (2017), and previously served on the SACNAS Board of Directors (2018–2020), including serving as Treasurer. She also founded the SACNAS Professional Chapter at Indiana University Bloomington in 2023. 

Dr. Silveyra is an elected Fellow of the American Thoracic Society and a recipient of multiple national awards for her research, mentorship, and leadership. She is passionate about creating inclusive environments that foster the success of underrepresented scientists and is committed to continuing her service to the SACNAS community. 

I am seeking the opportunity to serve on the SACNAS Board of Directors to continue advancing the organization’s mission of building a more inclusive, equitable, and empowered scientific community. SACNAS has been instrumental in my growth as a scientist, leader, and mentor, and I am committed to giving back through continued service and advocacy. My values are deeply aligned with SACNAS’s focus on supporting the whole individual, celebrating culture, and expanding access to opportunities in STEM. I bring over a decade of experience in academic leadership, mentorship, and organizational governance. I previously served on the SACNAS Board from 2018 to 2020, including a two-year term as Treasurer, and was a member of the Student Presentation Committee. I have extensive experience mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds, many of whom have presented at SACNAS, and I currently lead efforts to expand diversity and community engagement as Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Indiana University. I have also secured federal and foundation funding, managed departmental budgets, and built partnerships with national organizations and regional stakeholders. My leadership style is collaborative, strategic, and grounded in empathy. I am excited to continue supporting SACNAS through board service, helping to expand its reach, strengthen partnerships, and empower the next generation of diverse STEM leaders.

I have been deeply committed to the SACNAS mission throughout my career. Since 2014, I have attended every SACNAS NDiSTEM Conference and consistently brought and mentored students who presented their research. In 2016, I was selected for the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute, followed by the Advanced Leadership Institute in 2017. From 2018 to 2020, I served on the SACNAS Board of Directors, including as Treasurer, where I helped guide organizational growth and financial sustainability. I have also served on the SACNAS Student Presentation Committee, and regularly volunteer as a mentor judge, providing feedback to student presenters and supporting their academic development.

In 2020, I was honored with the SACNAS Outstanding Research and Professional Mentor Award, which recognized my longstanding commitment to mentoring and advocacy for underrepresented students in STEM. To continue expanding this support locally, I founded the SACNAS Professional Chapter at Indiana University Bloomington, which brings together postdocs, faculty and staff to foster community and advance inclusive excellence in science. Together, these experiences represent more than a decade of sustained involvement with SACNAS and reflect my deep dedication to its mission of empowering scientists through mentorship, leadership, and active engagement in programs that foster inclusion and belonging in STEM.

One meaningful example of leading a diverse team comes from my role as Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington. Our department includes faculty, staff, and trainees from a wide range of disciplines, countries, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and career stages. Early in my tenure, we faced the challenge of redefining our departmental vision and priorities following a period of leadership transition. I facilitated a series of inclusive planning sessions, ensuring that every member—regardless of title or background—had a voice in shaping our goals. This process revealed differing worldviews and academic priorities, from faculty focused on community-based research in rural Indiana to those conducting international toxicology studies. By fostering open dialogue, establishing shared values, and emphasizing mutual respect, we developed a unified strategic plan that reflected our collective strengths and aspirations. One key lesson I learned was the importance of active listening and humility—recognizing that effective leadership involves creating space for others to lead, especially when navigating cultural or disciplinary differences. This experience continues to shape my collaborative leadership style, which prioritizes empathy, equity, and consensus-building, and has proven invaluable in mentoring, research collaboration, and organizational governance.

Throughout my career, I have developed strong financial acumen through a combination of administrative leadership roles and experience managing multi-source funding portfolios. As Treasurer on the SACNAS Board of Directors from 2018 to 2020, I participated in organizational budget planning, financial oversight, and fundraising strategy discussions aimed at sustaining and expanding SACNAS programming. In my current role as Department Chair at Indiana University, I manage departmental budgets, oversee faculty startup packages, and participate in school-wide financial planning, ensuring responsible allocation of resources to support research, teaching, and community engagement. My fundraising experience includes securing support from both federal and non-federal sources. I have obtained funding from multiple national foundations and federal agencies to support research, training, and outreach efforts. I have also worked with local partners and philanthropic donors to fund student fellowships and educational programs. In addition, I have helped organize donor engagement events and community research symposia that connect stakeholders across academia, industry, and public health sectors to promote collaboration and raise financial support. As SACNAS President, I will continue to support ongoing fundraising efforts and work to expand partnerships with STEM-focused companies, foundations, and professional networks to help sustain and grow the organization’s impact.

I believe a core responsibility of a board member is to uphold the mission and long-term sustainability of the organization through strategic guidance, fiduciary oversight, and active engagement. Board members must ensure that decisions align with the organization’s values and goals, while also anticipating future challenges and opportunities. This requires not only sound judgment and ethical leadership, but also a commitment to collaboration and accountability. As stewards of the organization, we must advocate for its mission, support fundraising efforts, and serve as ambassadors to broader communities and stakeholders. Ultimately, our responsibility is to help build a strong foundation that enables the organization to thrive and serve its members with integrity and impact.

I have held multiple governance roles in academic institutions and national scientific organizations, contributing to leadership, strategic planning, and inclusive excellence. From 2018 to 2020, I served on the Board of Directors of SACNAS, including a two-year term as Treasurer, where I was involved in financial oversight, long-term planning, and organizational development. I also served on the SACNAS Student Presentation Committee and regularly volunteer as a mentor judge. At the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, I was Interim Director for Diversity and Inclusion in Education from 2015 to 2016, where I led efforts to support underrepresented faculty and students and contributed to institutional governance around diversity initiatives. From 2018 to 2020, I served as Director of the Biobehavioral Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, managing governance related to research operations and strategic growth. Currently, I serve as Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, following a year as Interim Chair. In this role, I lead faculty governance, oversee departmental budgeting and hiring, and guide strategic visioning. These experiences reflect my long-standing commitment to institutional leadership and advancing equity in science and education.

Throughout my career, I have worked closely with a range of regional and national organizations, professional societies, agencies, and foundations, building partnerships that align with SACNAS’s mission and could further strengthen its impact. I have held leadership roles with SACNAS, the American Physiological Society (APS), the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine as a member of the "New Voices" program. Through these roles, I have developed strategic collaborations focused on advancing diversity in STEM, mentoring underrepresented scientists, and promoting inclusive research practices. I have collaborated with NIH-funded initiatives such as PRIDE and NMRI, served as a reviewer and panelist for NIH and NSF, and worked with foundations and academic partners to expand access and opportunity. As Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Indiana University, I have also cultivated regional partnerships with public health agencies and academic institutions to expand opportunities for students and trainees from diverse backgrounds. These relationships have allowed me to connect SACNAS trainees with career development programs, travel and training support, and scientific networks. I believe my experience building cross-sector collaborations can help SACNAS enhance its strategic partnerships and amplify its national reach.

Dr. Joseph Bull is the Dean of the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University, an enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, and the first and only Native American dean of engineering in the country. Before joining Portland State, he was the John and Elsie Martinez Biomedical Engineering Chair and Associate Dean for Research, Faculty Affairs and Graduate Studies in the School of Science and Engineering at Tulane University, and the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Associate Chair at the University of Michigan. Dean Bull’s research program is focused on ultrasound and biofluid mechanics, and his research group is nationally and internationally recognized for groundbreaking work in gas embolotherapy and acoustic droplet vaporization. Dr. Bull is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and a Sequoyah Fellow of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. He has a substantial history of working to improve equity and diversity. His work in this area was recognized by the Raymond J. and Monica E. Schultz Outreach and Diversity Award from the University of Michigan. In 2024, he received the Executive Excellence Award from the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.

I am a citizen of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, a first gen college graduate, and Dean of the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University. I am the first and only Native American to be dean of an engineering college in the country. The federal landscape is rapidly changing, and I believe this is a critical time for SACNAS leadership. Articulating the value of SACNAS and the work that it does, as well as moving to a broader funding model that more effectively leverages philanthropic support are two goals I would have as a board member. I am committed to the mission of SACNAS, serving the SACNAS community, and developing a shared vision.

I am a lifetime member of SACNAS. A few examples of my work with SACNAS include currently serving on the Native American/ Indigenous Affairs Committee, serving on the 2023 SACNAS NDiSTEM Conference Cultural Advisory Workgroup, serving as mentor for “Networking with Grad Admissions Experts & Building Your Grad Applications Portfolio” Workshop at the 2012 SACNAS Conference, and helping to start student SACNAS chapters at Portland State and Tulane. In 2024, I was honored with the SACNAS Distinguished Scientist Award. I have extensive leadership experience and have considerable expertise as a faculty member, holding named or endowed professorships at the University of Michigan, Tulane University, and Portland State University.

I would be honored to serve and I humbly believe I can make a difference. Thank you for your consideration. Wanìshi.

As a Native American and first generation college graduate, I have experienced the transformative impact of higher education and am committed to the mission of SACNAS. My work as the first Indigenous Dean of a school of engineering in advancing Indigenous STEAM at Portland State aligns with the goals of SACNAS. An example of articulating my vision can be seen in my recent Wings Conference talk 

I am a lifetime member of SACNAS and a Sequoyah Fellow of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). I currently serve on SACNAS’ Native American / Indigenous Affairs Committee and served on the 2023 National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference Cultural Advisory Workgroup. I was honored with the SACNAS Distinguished Scientist Award in 2024 for my research in biomedical engineering.

I serve on the AISES Academic Advisory Council, served on the 2025 AISES North Regional Conference Organizing Committee, and served as a mentor in the AISES Lighting the Pathway program. In 2024, I was honored with the AISES Executive Excellence Award. Through all my work, I am committed to advancing Chicanos / Hispanics, Native Americans, and all students in STEAM.

Much of my leadership interest has developed from a desire to help others succeed. Each of us has a valuable set of experiences and skills, and it is important for a leader to recognize and embrace the contributions of the folks in the organization. As a leader, I empower colleagues to achieve excellence through vision, transparency, and empathy.

My leadership style is informed by my Native culture. My Tribe, the Delaware Tribe of Indians, was known as the Grandfather Tribe and respected by other Tribes because we were effective in settling disputes and solving problems. While we were known as fierce and tenacious warriors when we needed to fight, we preferred to lead by bringing others along rather than a top down approach. Relationships and community are important in our culture, and an authentic and trustworthy leadership style is essential to that. Throughout my career, I’ve approached challenges head-on in a transparent and constructive manner. For example, I’ve led social justice efforts at multiple institutions, and have addressed budget challenges and pursued strategic opportunities in collaborative and effective ways. My path in higher education has provided me with a unique perspective and has shaped my leadership style.

No organization has the resources to do everything and it is essential to align budget with priorities. At Portland State, university budget deficits have led to hiring pauses, hiring freezes, budget reserve freezes, and other measures that I have successfully navigated through creative revenue generation, college self-investment, philanthropy, and new revenue generation, in order to focus on the Maseeh College priorities and to achieve our goals, particularly those related to student success, diversity, and Indigenous STEAM.

In my time at PSU, the Maseeh College became for the first time the college or school in the strongest fiscal position within the university, through responsible fiscal management, strategic planning, and effective generation of new revenue. We have also identified strategic and data-informed collaborations that “lift all boats” and generate new enrollment and revenue across the university, while serving our academic mission. An example is a new degree program in Applied Linguistics and Computer Science, which has an Indigenous and at risk language preservation component.

I have received over $32M in grants as PI or co-PI, including PI on multiple NIH and NSF grants, and am active in foundation and individual philanthropy (multi-million per year in fundraising for Maseeh College).

I believe board members should provide their expertise as national leaders and provide leadership to SACNAS in developing long and short term goals and actionable strategic plans. Each board member has a fiduciary responsibility to the organization and the SACNAS membership. I believe that developing a shared vision that resonates with constituents is essential to moving SACNAS forward.

I work with the Dean’s Executive Council, composed mostly of industry CEOs and VPs, and with the PSU Board of Trustees in my role as Dean, have worked closely with boards in my prior roles, and have served on a number of boards. My previous experiences include Oregon MESA Advisory Board, Underscore Native News, Board of Directors, editorial boards, Future Ready Oregon Technology Industry Consortium, Louisiana Optical Network Infrastructure Management Council, and the Academic Leadership Team.

I have extensive experience in organizational governance and leadership, including working with boards and developing and implementing strategic plans.

As Dean at Portland State University, my priorities have included Indigenous STEAM and systemic change in STEAM, and higher education to center Indigenous Ways of Knowing to make the discipline better for everyone along with making it more inclusive. I’ve collaboratively led the Maseeh College through positive change, developing new student success infrastructure within the college, implementing Native American initiatives, and attracting funding to support our activities, including a prestigious Sloan Center for Systemic Change grant to advance a mission of equitable and diverse STEM PhD programs. I’ve served on the Oregon MESA Advisory Board, the Underscore Native News Board of Directors, and the Center for Tribal Nations Design Team Selection Committee.

Before joining PSU, I was the John and Elsie Martinez Biomedical Engineering Chair, Associate Dean for Research, Faculty Affairs and Graduate Studies in the School of Science and Engineering, Interim Department Chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and professor at Tulane University. Prior to that, I was the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Associate Chair at the University of Michigan.

I’m active in fundraising, government relations, industrial relations, and the university leadership community.  I have a national and international presence in engineering, including the American Society for Engineering Education Council of Deans, am a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and am a Sequoyah Fellow of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society.

A few examples of national coverage are listed below.  American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Prism magazine, Winter 2024, p. 13, Heritage Month Interview, View Here.

AISES Executive Excellence Award Press Release and Video, October 2024, https://aises.org/professional-of-the-year-awards/   And AISES Winds of Change magazine, Executive Excellence, pp. 66-67, Fall 2024, View Here.

Underscore Native News, “Portland State to Become Destination School for Indigenous Doctorate Students”, February 2024, also featured on ICTnews.org, Apple News, PBS, etc. View Here. 

Dr. Steve Greenbaum is CUNY Distinguished Professor of Physics at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center, and a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He served (2008-14) as Executive Officer of the Ph.D. Program in Physics at the CUNY Graduate Center, and numerous times (total of nine years) as Physics Department chair at Hunter. Dr. Greenbaum earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Brown University.  He was an NRC Postdoctoral Fellow in the Semiconductor Branch of the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., a Fulbright Scholar at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and a NASA/NRC Senior Research Fellow at the Jet Propulsion Lab, where he was a member of the team that designed the lithium ion batteries for the successful 2003-04 Mars Rover missions. He has held Visiting Professor positions at many universities and was selected as one of eleven Jefferson Science Fellows at the U.S. State Department in 2014-15. Dr. Greenbaum's main research interest is magnetic resonance studies of materials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. He has co-authored over 330 peer-reviewed publications, and directly supervised 30 Ph.D. students, 24 postdocs, plus numerous undergraduate researchers. His mentoring has received national recognition through the White House OSTP (PAESMEM Award, 2002), and he received the 2016 SACNAS Distinguished Scientist Award. He is currently the PI and Director of the NASA-Hunter College Center for Advanced Energy Storage for Space, a 5-year Cooperative Agreement between Hunter College, NASA, and the Jet Propulsion Lab

I believe the strongest sense of personal satisfaction and fulfillment comes from having made a difference in the lives and professional trajectories of others. Very early in my career (mid 1980s) I participated in a nascent NIH program for minority students called MBRS. After a few short years of participation, I realized what a difference it made in the lives of students who might never have pursued a life of science. Fast forward to the present day, I am privileged to have had a well-supported research career in science. Although I certainly enjoy the professional recognition (grants, publications, invited talks, etc.), I can honestly say that science has been merely my vehicle to improve the career prospects of my young proteges.

As a SACNAS Board member, I believe my most valuable contribution would be to play to my strength in forming and maintaining relationships with the various USG funding agencies, namely DoD and DoE, as well as NSF and NASA. I’ve always felt validated by my grant program managers for the work I’ve done with under-represented students as an integral part of my basic science grants, rather than a distraction. There are enormous challenges associated with the current Administration’s anti-DEI posture. We thus need to ensure the vitality of SACNAS and like-minded organizations now more than ever. I firmly believe that there is still a core of federal officials at the various funding agencies who are open to providing STEM opportunities for all students.

I've attended 8 SACNAS national meetings in the last decade or so, with 2-3 of my research students each time. Recently, I organized and ran one of 14 regional American Physical Society Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics (January 2024), with my co-chair, Prof. Sophia Suarez (Brooklyn College), who is also my former PhD student. https://sites.google.com/view/cuny-cuwip2024. I was one of ten recipients of the 2002 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (sponsored by NSF and White House OSTP). I was also honored by SACNAS as their Distinguished Scientist Awardee in 2016. More recently, I nominated my colleague, Prof. Maria Tamargo of City College of New York, for the SACNAS Distinguished Scientist Award, which she received in 2021, and was proud to learn that one of my former Ph.D. students, Dr. Eugene Mananga, received the 2024 SACNAS Distinguished Mentor Award. This year, I am serving as a member of the SACNAS Awards Committee.

Despite the overly simplistic view that an assembly of physics professors is a monolithic group, one of my challenges was to achieve consensus on a variety of curricular matters when I was Executive Officer of the CUNY Graduate Center PhD program in Physics. Balancing "old school" ideas with those of our more progressive younger faculty took a lot of effort, but the outcome was often personally rewarding to me. A much more recent example was my service on a Hunter College presidential committee on Campus Civility in the wake of the October 7 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel's military response in Gaza. Our committee was tasked with interviewing various student and faculty constituencies in order to come up with a series of recommendations on how to deal with campus disruptions. It was important for me to hear and respect opposing views and I believe I grew from that experience.

The vast majority of my fundraising experience is and has been in support of my research, having obtained about $15M in single-investigator grants (in a 40-year span). Very recently, leading a team of four other faculty colleagues, I have been awarded a 5-year $5M grant from NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP). In non-research endeavors, I was successful in raising funds from the U.S. Air Force, the Simons Foundation, and the Sloan Foundation to support our recent Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics. One of my biggest and most pleasant surprises during my 2014-15 Jefferson Science Fellowship, was that my DoD and DoE grant program managers were rather pleased to see me serving the U.S. Government that year, rather than expressing disappointment at my taking time away from my lab. From my long experience with Federal funding program managers, the vast majority of them are completely on board with SACNAS goals, even during these very trying times, and I therefore believe I can be an effective advocate for raising Federal monies.

(i) First and foremost, to ensure the continuity of the most impactful of SACNAS's programs, including the ability to run annual national meetings, provide student travel awards, and support local chapters. (ii) To engage in strategic planning for the health of the Society and its core missions that is responsive to challenges arising from changing political landscapes, especially occurring since the 2024 Presidential election. (iii) To strongly advocate for and publicize SACNAS's mission and goals at the national and local levels. (iii) As mentioned, I believe my own contributions would be principally in fund raising from Federal and private sources, especially during the current anti-DEI climate promulgated by the Whitehouse. (iv) Finally, to raise the participation level of professionals and students in the physical sciences. This was mentioned as one of SACNAS's goals in the recent informational video for potential Board candidates, and this is obviously very much in my wheelhouse.

I was Hunter College Physics Department Chair, a total of 9 years (not all at once): making teaching assignments, supervising faculty searches and hiring, preparing junior faculty for promotion and tenure. Served on numerous Science Division and University-wide committees.

Executive Officer, Ph.D. Program in Physics, CUNY Graduate Center, 2008-2014. Oversight of entire program, with a steady-state population of over 100 Ph.D. students and over 60 participating faculty from the CUNY campuses (there were no Graduate Central line faculty at the time of my service - our PhD program is consortial, with faculty whose primary appointments are on the campuses).

I had the opportunity to "use a different side of my brain" during the 2014-15 academic year when I was a Jefferson Science Fellow at the U.S. State Department. Having the credibility of an accomplished researcher allowed me access to several platforms from which to advocate for science for the greater good. Two examples from that year are particularly notable. (i) I convened a meeting between the National Society of Black Engineers and a group of U.S. foreign service officials to discuss and implement strategies to encourage local entrepreneurship efforts in renewable energy and clean water technology in several African nations. (ii) As a (temporary) State Department official, I visited the Ministry of Energy in Israel to encourage outreach efforts to engage Israeli Arabs in educational and professional activities in renewable energy.

More recently, I worked with the American Physical Society (APS) to host one of 14 regional Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Our meeting was held at the CUNY Graduate Center in January, 2024. There were 100 young women (physics majors) in attendance. Several of our panelists and workshop leaders were former students of mine.

Stephen Jett is a Program Manager with the Imaging program at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). There he works on the Frontiers of Imaging program, grants that support imaging technology development. Prior to CZI he was a facility manager at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Sandia National Laboratories, and a research professor and facility director at the University of New Mexico. He also served as an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the National Cancer Institute where he worked on broadening access to imaging data. Steve has a multifaceted background, working at the intersection of molecular biology, biophysical sciences, bioinformatics and policy. This interdisciplinary background gives him the privilege to work with diverse groups of scientists and engineers. Steve believes that increasing public awareness of science is a crucial role of STEM professionals, especially to increase participation in STEM amongst underserved populations. He participates in several engagement programs, and served as an advisor to the NSF and IMLS-supported Portal to the Public program. He was also one of the founding members of Washington, DC SACNAS professional chapter. Steve earned his PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, and was a Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in molecular biophysics at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry.

Serving on the SACNAS Board would be an opportunity to continue serving the STEM by providing a multidisciplinary respective. My career journey exposed me to a number of different organizations, each with a unique approach to management, execution, and engagement. A trait shared between my previous roles is that service is a core value of each of the positions, a connection I didn't make until recently. My experiences in science engagement extend this value to my extracurricular activities. The honor of serving as a SACNAS Board member is a natural extension of that service. My current position also brings a different perspective to the board, as a representative of a nongovernmental organization. Serving on the Board also provides the opportunity to share nontraditional path with members of the Society, showing that one's career path need not be linear. My background as an interdisciplinary scientist, one with facilities management and science policy experience, prepared me to be comfortable conversing with a diverse membership. An effective Board member is one who combines their experiences with input from community members to act in the best interest of the Society, not the individual. The skills gathered through my career, project management, facilities management and directorship, basic and applied science research, grants management, science policy, experience in academia, federal government and laboratories and philanthropies, give me a unique perspective that can contribute to helping SACNAS achieve its vision to strengthen and diversify the STEM ecosystem. Thank you for the opportunity.

I have been a Life Member of SACNAS for the past 15 years. This commitment originated many years ago, when NDiSTEM was the first meeting at which I gave a formal presentation. The acceptance and the inquisitiveness of the meeting participants showed me that I had found my scientific family. Those community qualities continued several years later when I participated in the LPSLI. I've tried to repay the wealth I've received from my fellow SACNistas by serving on several committees, the Presentations Committee, the Government and Industry Relations Subcommittee and the Leadership Initiatives Subcommittee. Outside of SACNAS I served on the Biophysical Society's Committee for Inclusion and Diversity for six years (2018-2024), and was a Founding Member of the Microscopy Society of America's DEI Committee. While a AAAS Science and Policy Fellow I served as a Co-Director of the DEI Affinity group in 2018 and 2019.

I recently was brought into a team working on a project to standardize data across disciplines. This team consists of members from several parts of the organization, from lab researchers to data scientists. While I have experience in the area, I was not familiar to the project prior to joining the team.

In any political landscape, a diverse portfolio of support is crucial to ensure that any fluctuations in political sway, and the corresponding fluctuations in financial support or contributions, are offset by other sources. In the past a large part of SACNAS's budget was provided by grants from the NIH and NSF. This type of support is dependent on the political climate, and as such ebbs and flows, if not outright dries up.

Active listening. Each of us has one lived experience, providing a unique outlook on life. Others, both with similar and disparate backgrounds from our own, have their own experiences and contributions to make. Since any organizational Board cannot be comprised of the entirety of its members, those who serve in a Board member capacity must be willing to engage members of their organization, to have conversations about the wishes and needs of those members, and to take those thoughts into consideration when acting on behalf of the organization. For maximum effectiveness, this needs to be a dynamic process, because we live in a dynamic world. Engagement, rather than outreach, ensures that not only that Society members are kept informed of the functioning and direction of the Society, but more importantly those actions are reflective of the needs and ideas of the Society's members. Open, two way communication is a crucial responsibility for those who serve in governing roles.

President, New Mexico Academy of Science, 2017-2018, lead Board of Directors meetings, developed programming opportunities, engaged external organizations for collaborative efforts

Member, Presentations Subcommittee, SACNAS, evaluation of student abstracts, guidance on programming

Member, External Relations Subcommittee, SACNAS, input on programming

Member, Leadership Initiatives Subcommittee, SACNAS.

Chair, Membership Committee, Microscopy Society of America

Member, DEI Committee, Microscopy Society of America

Member, Committee for Inclusion and Diversity, Biophysical Society Co-Director, AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship DEI Affinity Group.

Microscopy Society of America, Membership Committee, Chair, 2022-present, work with staff and other committee members to determine areas for engagement and membership growth. Microscopy Society of America, DEI Committee, member, 2022 - present, suggest and facilitate planning of activities to highlight the work of scientists from underserved groups in the field of microscopy. AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships Alumni Task Force, member, 2020 - 2021, policy development for increased alumni engagement and networking. New Mexico Academy of Science, President, 2018, determine strategy focus for the year for the Academy, engage local organizations for networking on public engagement with science opportunities. Portal to the Public "Expanding the Framework" Advisory Committee, member, 2015 - 2018, provide direction and ideas for implementation of the Portal to the Public in additional fields (history, art). AAAS Trellis Advisory Committee, member, 2015 - 2018, provide input and guidance on the AAAS's online platform, Trellis. National Cancer Institute; Imaging Informatics Executive Committee, co-chair, 2018 - 2019, align with colleagues from different NCI branches and other NIH Institutes to provide learning opportunities related to AI and informatics in medical imaging.

Kermin J. Martínez-Hernández is an Associate Professor in the Chemistry Department at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York. He has been an active Principal Facilitator for NRMN and CIMER since 2010 across the U.S., including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. He has over 10 years of experience facilitating: Entering Mentoring, Facilitator Training for Entering Mentoring, and Culturally Aware Mentoring. He is 1 of 26 CIMER Principal Facilitators and 1 of 9 Culturally Aware Mentoring Principal Facilitators nationwide. He has led trainings at national scientific conferences, including the American Society for Microbiology, the Society for Neuroscience, SACNAS, and several universities. He teaches general chemistry classes and organizes teacher workshops about differentiated instruction and problem-based learning. His chemical education research focuses on assessing the implementation of problem-based learning at the middle, high school, and college levels. He is currently the Principal Investigator of the Robert Noyce INSPIRE Scholarship Grant – Inspire and Prepare Noyce Scholars to Teach in Rural Environments (NSF Award #1852690). He has also developed other workshops and panel sessions for SACNAS related to mentoring such as “Expand Your Network: How to Identify Advisors, Mentors, Sponsors for a Successful Career” and “Stories from the Other Side of the Blurry Tunnel, It Gets Better After All!” where he provides advice and mentoring to undergraduate/graduate students. He holds degrees from Purdue University (Ph.D.), University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez (M.S.), and the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez (B.S.).

I am very thrilled for the opportunity to serve on the SACNAS Board of Directors because SACNAS has been a fundamental in my professional career development since 2006. I served on the board as a graduate student, and I participated in the strategic planning, and I learned about decision making, planning, and how to reach a consensus to achieve common goals. I still used those skills when I served in different service and professional committees at my institution and other professional societies nationwide. Now, as a tenured faculty, I can contribute new ideas to the board since I have served in other organizations' board of directors, including non-profits with different missions than SACNAS. I bring 10 years of experience working for the SACNAS chapter committee, doing programming and making decisions for this committee during my tenure as Chair. Recently, I have been co-chairing with Dr. Ingrid Montes the Program Committee for the SACNAS Conference Working Group by selecting keynote speakers, deciding on professional development sessions, leading the group's goals, assisting in reports to the board, and making sure that committee members feel heard. Finally, I am a SACNAS ambassador, and I will bring my passion and service to all levels. I truly believe in SACNAS' mission, and I would love the opportunity to be part of its leadership team.

• SACNAS Life Member 2006-present • SACNAS National Conference - 2006-present - Attending every year, presenting professional development sessions (more than 20), serving as a judge, participating in conversations with scientists, and previously presenting student chapter of the year awards at the conference stage. (I only missed the two online ones during COVID-19). • SACNAS Conference Program Committee Co-Chair, 2024-present • SACNAS Keynote Speaker Review Committee Co-Chair, 2024-present • SACNAS Puerto Rico Sponsorship Task Force Member, 2022 • SACNAS Puerto Rico Cultural Advisory Group Member, 2022 • SACNAS, Chapter Committee Member, Chair, 2016-2019 • LP SACNAS Leadership Institute Alumni - 2011 - I participated in the leadership institute. • SACNAS Chapter Committee, Member - 2007-2016 - I was an active member of the chapter committee, where I evaluated chapter reports, followed up with chapters, assisted with organizing events at their institutions, provided support, and advocated for them while serving on the board of directors from 2007-2009. • SACNAS National Board Member (Graduate Student Representative), January 2007-December 2009 • SACNAS Program, Membership, Student Presentation Committees - 2007-2010 • 1st SACNAS Midwest Regional Meeting - 2009 - I was the lead organizer of this regional meeting at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

For the last 6 years, I have been the Principal Investigator for the NSF Robert Noyce Grant leading a team of 3 Co-PIs and 20 Noyce Scholars. In this role, I have had the opportunity to work directly with NSF Program Officers, University leaders, and others in positions of power to make hard decisions during COVID-19 pandemic and the current federal environment.

Lessons learned that have developed my current leadership:

how to effectively recruit people,

create a learning community to assure the success of others,

be an active mentor to Co-PI's and scholars,

equip scholars with skills needed through professional development,

frequently meet with Co-PI’s to follow up on action items, delegate to make sure grant goals are met,

develop a doable yearly action plan and follow through by aligning expectations for the leadership team and the Scholars, maintain effective communication by actively listening to the NSF Program Officer, University administrators/staff, external evaluators, and everyone involved,

celebrate Scholars' and PI/CO-PI's accomplishments (i.e., academic, athletic, personal), and grant milestones

constantly reflect on challenges, grant goals, and ways to improve

stay focused and be resilient and patient - trust your intuition on how to manage the grant and support the Scholars effectively.

In 2020, I was able to get two grants for the non-profit organization Puerto Rico Rise Up (PRRU) as a Grant Writer. The 1st grant of $17,500, entitled "COVID-19 Community Recovery Grant from our Campbell Soup Foundation, allowed me to distribute food boxes to different communities in need in Puerto Rico during the pandemic. The 2nd grant of $2,500 entitled "TJ Max funding for Alimentos para Mi Gente" also allowed us to continue distributing food to people in need around the island of Puerto Rico.

Other funding opportunities that I have contributed to PRRU are by using social media like Facebook and other online donation campaigns GoFundMe (formerly Classy).

I believe the main core responsibility of a board member is to be an ambassador of the society, not only to be a leader and provide their expertise, but also to represent and be an advocate of the SACNAS’s mission and vision every day. In addition, being able to get out of your comfort zone and make hard decisions that are aligned with the society's mission and its strategic planning.

• American Chemical Society, Rochester Local Section, Vice-Chair - 2025-present, assist the section Chair in the ACS chapter programming and activities. Represent the chair if he is unable to attend certain events.

• The Center for the Youth (CFY), Board Member, Program Committee Chair - 2024-present, lead meetings about the CFY Program Committee, take minutes, develop an annual work plan, select new members to the committee, and submit a report to the board.

• The Center for the Youth, Board Member,  Program Committee Member, 2020-present, participate in assessing the program committee goals.

• SACNAS National Board Member (Graduate Student Representative), January 2007-December 2009, participated in different committees and advocated for graduate students at SACNAS. I was part of the SACNAS strategic planning during my term.

• I am a Committee Member for the American Chemical Society (ACS) Exams Institute, and I have connections with ACS board members, including former ACS President, Dr. Peter K. Dorhout. Therefore, I can potentially facilitate conversations for possible partnerships between ACS and SACNAS.

• I am the Vice Chair of the ACS Rochester local section, and I have connections to leaders from the ACS at the NY Upstate region.

• I am a Principal Facilitator for the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), and I lead research mentoring and culturally aware trainings nationwide. I interact directly with the CIMER Directors, Dr. Chris Pfund and Dr. Melissa McDaniels. I can facilitate any conversations that SACNAS might need regarding mentoring training.

Dr. Vanessa Rosa, Founder and CEO of Science with Impact (formerly Cuvette Collective), collaborates with research centers to turn scientific achievements into societal benefits. As Director of Broader Impacts at NSF’s MONET at Duke University, she integrates outreach efforts into impactful, data-supported stories. As the granddaughter of Cuban freedom fighters with Taíno and Spanish heritage, and a queer, autistic, firstgeneration American woman pursuing college, she draws inspiration from her identities to support educational liberation and STEM involvement. She values diverse perspectives, especially those that are conflicting. Dr. Rosa's journey shows resilience and innovation. After journals rejected her critical review on equity in chemistry education for challenging their comfort, she founded The Journal of Science with Impact. Through its focus areas—industrial innovation, science communication, professional growth, and STEM inclusion—she has achieved results. Her outreach has engaged over 9,400 participants at museums, schools, and community centers in 18 months. She founded Cuvette Empowered, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing awards to under-resourced research scientists, helping democratize access to research communication. Dr. Rosa, host of "Science with Impact" podcast and YouTube channel, links complex science to the public by showcasing unique STEM perspectives. Her evidence-based approach makes science communication exploratory, guided by her mantra that “every mission needs a metric (and a story).” Dr. Rosa's leadership philosophy emphasizes authentic vulnerability as strength, collaborative innovation, and systemic change through entrepreneurship—qualities that uniquely position her to advance STEM’s broader impacts via strategic partnerships, revenue diversification, and measurable impact frameworks.

I want to serve on the SACNAS Board of Directors because my growth through attending NDiSTEM motivates me to help others experience similar cultural validation. The Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute transformed my leadership path, evolving me from an academic contributor to a mission-driven entrepreneur promoting systemic change in STEM equity.

As a highly cited chemistry education researcher, queer autistic Latina, and CEO of Science with Impact, I have a unique blend of academic excellence and entrepreneurial impact. My work addresses the barriers faced by underrepresented groups in STEM, and I have a proven track record of translating research into tangible societal outcomes, with organizations generating over $370,000 in revenue. Currently, I serve as the Director of Broader Impacts for an NSF center, where I foster strategic partnerships and conduct impact assessments.

My multimedia passion is evident in our podcast, "Science with Impact," which promotes science communication and its broader impacts. My experience managing teams at 13 universities, combined with evidence-based decision-making and a commitment to inclusive excellence, positions me to make effective contributions.</p><p>My values align with SACNAS’s mission—my research and nonprofit work support under-resourced researchers and participation expansion. Having directly benefited from SACNAS programs, I am committed to making these transformative opportunities accessible to diverse scientists.

I sincerely thank SACNAS for its role in my development and its dedication to expanding access for future STEM leaders.

My commitment to SACNAS encompasses both personal growth and professional endeavors. Participating in the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute was pivotal, as alumni feedback sparked my growth in leadership and expanded STEM participation.

I'm currently organizing the "From Metrics to Meaning: Quantifying Broader Impacts for Inclusive STEM Excellence" symposium for NDiSTEM 2025, which will bring together diverse voices to share practical strategies for measuring impact. This demonstrates my strong commitment to evidence-based approaches to inclusivity.

Through Science with Impact (formerly Cuvette Collective), I have dedicated my career to translating scientific achievements into tangible societal benefits. As Director of Broader Impacts at Duke's NSF Center for Molecularly Optimized Networks (MONET), I have supported over 27 graduate students from 13 universities in their professional development, with a particular focus on increasing participation.

My research in chemistry education focuses explicitly on equity, with publications showing how assessment design influences who succeeds in STEM. I founded Cuvette Empowered, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers grants to under-resourced researchers, directly supporting underrepresented scientists in communicating the broader impacts of their work.

My commitment goes beyond individual programs to promote systemic change, challenging harmful societal norms and establishing accessible pathways for a diverse range of scientists to succeed.

Leading MONET's broader impacts and supervising over 27 graduate students from diverse backgrounds (across 13 universities) taught me to navigate different institutional cultures, disciplinary views, and worldviews. This required developing culturally responsive leadership styles that respect varied experiences while pursuing common goals.

One transformative experience occurred when academic journals rejected our critical review on equity in chemistry education because it made the reviewers "uncomfortable." Rather than abandoning the work, I created a journal. This taught me that effective leadership sometimes means building new pathways when existing systems resist change.

During my divorce in 2022, facing sudden job insecurity, I shared my situation publicly on social media. This honesty unexpectedly opened doors—colleagues introduced me to MONET, turning the crisis into an opportunity. This reinforced the notion that vulnerability can be a strength in leadership.

My approach emphasizes bidirectional learning, recognizing that mentorship and collaboration flow in all directions. Working with diverse teams has taught me to include all voices while maintaining a focus on goals. I've learned to balance individual needs with the collective mission, ensuring everyone feels valued while working toward shared objectives. This collaborative, equity-centered leadership style aligns with SACNAS's commitment to inclusive excellence in STEM.

I've demonstrated strong financial stewardship by managing multiple revenue streams and funding mechanisms. As Director, I oversee the broader impacts budget for MONET's $20 million NSF award, ensuring federal compliance while maximizing societal impact.

Under my leadership, Science with Impact has generated over $370,000 in funding since September 2022, sourced from diverse sources, including consulting contracts, grants, and strategic partnerships. I transitioned from traditional academic roles to entrepreneurial leadership, building sustainable business models aligned with my mission.

Through Cuvette Empowered, I established a grant-making infrastructure with clear selection criteria and evaluation frameworks to support under-resourced researchers. This includes donor stewardship, impact assessment, and transparent financial reporting to maintain 501(c)(3) status.

My fundraising approach blends traditional methods with innovative partnerships to maximize impact. I have secured funding via NSF collaborations, corporate consulting, and individual donors. My knowledge of federal funding and private sector partnerships positions me to diversify SACNAS's revenue streams.

A core responsibility of board members is strategic stewardship—ensuring organizational decisions advance mission impact while maintaining fiscal responsibility and community trust. This means balancing visionary thinking with practical implementation, always asking: "How does this decision serve our members and our mission?"

Board service requires  collaborative governance bringing diverse perspectives to complex decisions while maintaining unified direction. My experience managing multi-institutional teams taught me that effective boards leverage individual expertise while building collective wisdom. This includes respectful dissent, thoughtful deliberation, and commitment to decisions.

Fiduciary responsibility extends beyond financial oversight to include reputational stewardship and ethical leadership. Board members must understand their legal obligations while championing the organization's values. My experience with 501(c)(3) governance and federal funding compliance provides relevant expertise.

Most importantly, board members serve as mission ambassadors, translating organizational vision into broader community engagement. This means being knowledgeable spokespersons, active networkers, and authentic representatives of SACNAS values.

My leadership philosophy emphasizes accountability with empathy—holding high standards while supporting individual and organizational growth. Effective board service requires striking a balance between strategic oversight and operational support, ensuring leadership is guided without micromanagement.

This approach aligns with SACNAS's commitment to collaborative leadership and inclusive excellence in advancing STEM diversity.

As the CEO and Founder of Science with Impact, established in January 2022, I built and led a multi-entity organization, including a consulting cooperative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and a media platform. Under my leadership, we generated $370,266.29 in revenue as of July 1, 2025, while maintaining our mission-driven focus.

Since September 2022, I have served as the Director of Broader Impacts at Duke University's $20 million NSF Center for Chemical Innovation. I oversee strategic initiatives related to broader impacts across 13 universities. This involves managing stakeholder relationships, supervising budgets, and collaborating with principal investigators from Duke, Columbia, MIT, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, and other institutions.

As founder and governing director of Cuvette Empowered (EIN 93-2036205), I established governance structures for grant-making, ensuring transparent processes to support under-resourced researchers. This includes developing selection criteria, evaluation frameworks, and impact measurement protocols.

My governance philosophy emphasizes collaborative leadership and evidence-based decisions. Managing teams across institutions has helped me value diverse perspectives while staying aligned with the mission. I have managed federal funding, ensuring NSF compliance and impact, demonstrating my ability to lead complex organizations, fulfill fiduciary duties, and build sustainable, equitable structures in STEM, which aligns with my service on the SACNAS board.

My national engagement encompasses federal agencies, professional societies, and industry partnerships.

As Director of Broader Impacts for MONET, I oversee a $20 million Chemical Innovation Center with the NSF. At the American Chemical Society, I translate research into applications, present at conferences, and have been a keynote speaker for Women in Chemistry Enterprise. Through Science with Impact, I established strategic partnerships with research institutions and industry, fostering sustainable collaborations that promote diversity in STEM fields. Our efforts engaged 9,403 participants in museums, schools, and community centers, demonstrating scalable public engagement strategies that led to collaborations with nonprofits, industry R&D, and graduate programs to enhance curricula and assess STEM equity.

My research collaborations span the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Oregon, the University of Iowa, and other institutions. I've authored highly cited publications (with over 289 citations to date) that influence national conversations about equity in chemistry education.

These relationships position me to open doors for SACNAS in academic, government, and industry sectors. My experience in federal funding management, professional society leadership, and multi-institutional collaboration provides valuable expertise for advancing SACNAS's strategic priorities of growth, impact, and influence.

Dr. Nicole Trager holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Immunology. She is an experienced scientific researcher, published in Multiple Sclerosis Research. A proud firstgeneration college graduate and doctorate, Nicole brings both personal experience and professional expertise to equity-focused STEM education. She currently serves as Dean of Math and Sciences at Los Medanos College, where she leads campuswide efforts to create equitable systems and remove barriers to student success. Previously, she served for a decade as Director of the MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) Program, supporting hundreds of academically and educationally disadvantaged community college STEM students in successfully transferring to four-year universities. Nicole has collectively mentored and advised hundreds of students on research, applications, career pathways, and personal development. Nationally, she participated in the SACNAS Community College Task Force and helped launch Community College Day at the SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference. She also serves as Director of Operations for the California Community College MESA Directors' Board, where she successfully advocated for an increase in state funding. Nicole’s lifelong advocacy spans campus, state, and national levels. She brings a deep understanding of the community college experience, a strong commitment to inclusive excellence, and a strategic mindset focused on growth. Her values of community, belonging, and transformation are deeply aligned with the SACNAS mission, and she is eager to contribute to its future as a Board member.

Serving on the SACNAS Board of Directors would be a meaningful way for me to give back to a community that reflects my values and journey. As a first-generation college student and woman in science, I know how powerful it is to find a space where your full identity is valued. I didn’t discover SACNAS until graduate school, but once I did, I found a community that felt like home.

Throughout my career, I have led advocacy efforts at the college, state, and national levels, shaping institutional policies for equity, writing legislation to increase STEM funding, and serving on national task forces focused on broadening participation. As Dean of Mathematics and Sciences and former MESA Director at a community college, I bring a critical lens to this work, one that centers the experiences of students at open-access institutions who are often overlooked in national STEM conversations.

My skills in grant management, leadership, and equity-centered program design align closely with SACNAS’ mission. I have a lifelong commitment to social justice and approach this work with a growth mindset, always seeking new ways to remove barriers and expand opportunities in STEM.

I would be honored to contribute my leadership, deep community college experience, and passion for serving historically excluded students to help SACNAS grow its reach and deepen its impact across all higher education sectors.

My commitment to the SACNAS mission began in graduate school in 2012, when I first became a member after attending a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) as an undergraduate with little exposure to inclusive STEM communities. As a graduate student recruiter, I connected with students from historically excluded backgrounds, helping them find belonging in STEM, much like SACNAS helped me. After graduate school, in my first professional role (2014-2015), I took my first group of community college students to the SACNAS Conference and helped form our institution’s first SACNAS community and community college chapter.

In 2016, I became part of the Leadership Institute for STEM Professionals (LPSI), where I deepened my leadership and service to the SACNAS mission. Since then, I have actively contributed to national efforts to increase community college student engagement, including serving on the SACNAS Community College Task Force and helping plan Community College Day at the National Conference. For many years, I have volunteered as a 1-on-1 conference mentor, supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds in navigating STEM pathways. My sustained passion and work focus on ensuring that community college students see themselves as future scientists and leaders, both at my institution and across the country through SACNAS.

At the heart of my leadership is a commitment to creating environments where all individuals, especially those historically excluded from STEM, can thrive. Whether as a dean, committee chair, or statewide leader, I focus on removing barriers, advocating for equity-centered policies, and building systems that expand opportunity. My work has included developing inclusive hiring practices, creating supportive spaces, and leading statewide advocacy that secured millions in additional funding for STEM equity programs.

I lead by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds including faculty, staff, students, industry, and community partners who may hold different perspectives but share a common purpose. Through this work, I have learned that lasting change requires both empathy and action: listening deeply, finding shared values, and moving toward solutions that center the needs of the whole community.

As Dean of Mathematics and Sciences, I carry this approach forward in my daily work, partnering across the college and statewide to advance access and success in STEM fields. My leadership is rooted in advocacy, collaboration, and a belief that education transforms lives when we intentionally remove systemic barriers and create pathways where every person can succeed.

My financial and fundraising experience includes leading and supporting efforts to secure significant funding for STEM equity programs. As part of the Community College Association of MESA Directors (CCAMD), I worked collaboratively with our board to advocate for increased state investment in community college STEM programs. This work involved legislative advocacy and policy development, ultimately contributing to over $92 million in statewide funding allocations.

In addition to public funding, I have cultivated partnerships with industry leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area, advocating for financial support and collaborative opportunities that benefit first-generation and low-income STEM students. These efforts resulted in both direct contributions and in-kind support, including student internships, mentoring programs, and leadership development initiatives.

For SACNAS, I see opportunities to expand non-federal funding by deepening partnerships with tech, biotech, and energy companies who have a vested interest in diversifying their workforce. We could also grow regional fundraising through regional industry-hosted events, alumni engagement campaigns, and giving circles focused on supporting community college and early-career STEM scholars. Strengthening our narrative around the long-term impact of SACNAS scholars on innovation and industry success will help broaden the base of philanthropic and corporate supporters.

A core responsibility of a board member is to be a thoughtful steward of the organization’s mission and vision. This means consistently centering decisions on the long-term health, impact, and sustainability of the organization. Board members must ensure that programs, partnerships, and financial decisions align with the organization's core values and strategic goals. I also believe board members should model a growth mindset, encouraging innovation, learning from challenges, and continually seeking ways to expand the organization’s reach and impact. By fostering collaboration, listening to community needs, and staying focused on the future, a board member helps position the organization for meaningful growth and lasting success.

I have extensive governance experience in higher education and STEM equity leadership. At Los Medanos College, I served as Chair of the Institutional Development for Equity and Access Committee (2015–2019), where I led efforts to pass the Student Religious Observance Policy, created the IDEA hiring toolkit, and advocated for the creation of a Dean of Equity position. I currently serve as Co-Chair of the IDEA Committee (2019–present), helping lead collegewide efforts to promote equity and inclusion.

At the statewide level, I am Director of Operations for the Community College Association of MESA Directors (2018–2023), where I organized annual statewide leadership events, created an onboarding process for new directors, and led legislative advocacy efforts that resulted in a significant funding increase for MESA programs from $2.4 million to $36 million.

Nationally, I chair the SACNAS National Community College Task Force (2019–2022), where I secured board funding and help launch national community college programming and conference sessions.

These roles, ranging from institutional to national levels, reflect my sustained commitment to governance that advances access, equity, and student success.

I have had the opportunity to build and strengthen partnerships with both national organizations and industry. As Chair of the SACNAS National Community College Task Force (2019-2022), I established strategic relationships with the SACNAS Board of Directors to secure ongoing funding for community college initiatives. I also collaborated with national partners to create annual programming and conference sessions that expanded SACNAS’s reach and impact among two-year institutions. Through these efforts, I helped position SACNAS as a national leader in supporting community college STEM students.

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 SACNAS’s 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 SACNAS’s vision for a more inclusive STEM community.