Present Leadership
I am currently a research working group leader for VectorBiTE and OIE/FAO Peste des petits ruminants Global Research Expertise Network Atypical Hosts group.
Most recently, I served on the board for four organizations. In these roles I identified gaps in programming and educational resources and took the lead in creating products and workshops to fill in the gaps for the organizations. To fill these gaps, I performed a variety of functions that provided scientific and professional development programming for graduate students and post-docs, but were open to the entire University community.
I am currently a research working group leader for VectorBiTE and OIE/FAO Peste des petits ruminants Global Research Expertise Network Atypical Hosts group.
Most recently, I served on the board for four organizations. In these roles I identified gaps in programming and educational resources and took the lead in creating products and workshops to fill in the gaps for the organizations. To fill these gaps, I performed a variety of functions that provided scientific and professional development programming for graduate students and post-docs, but were open to the entire University community.
PPR Global Research and Expertise Network (PPR-GREN) - Co-leader of Atypical Hosts Working Group (with Dr. Abdelmalik Khallafalla)
Serve as a contact point for PPRV researchers interesting in working in atypical (non sheep or goat) hosts. Solicit and prepare material from members for annual meeting presentations, connect researchers together, communicate with Secretariat. VectorBiTE Research Coordination Network - Species Interaction and Transmission Working Group Leader (2016 - present) Unrelated to my dissertation research, I lead a multi-institutional group of faculty, post-docs, and graduate students to study how species interactions affect transmission for vectorborne diseases. I coordinate and facilitate group meetings in person and via Adobe Connect, develop and communicate research plans and a vision for three subgroups (modeling, meta-analysis, and interaction comparisons), all of which are currently on analyses that will lead to publication. |
Past Leadership
Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics Graduate Student Association (CGSA) President (February 2018 - February 2019), Vice President (February 2017 - February 2018), Member (2015-2020)
As President, I led a team of motivated graduates to create a sense of community, develop professional and technical skill development programming, and liaise with CIDD faculty. As Co-Vice President (Jan 2017-Feb 2018), I identified skill gaps and collaborated with University faculty, administrators, and staff to organize technical workshops and professional development workshops. This included workshops on data visualization, phylogenetics, and a series of workshops on grant writing for different agencies. I collected feedback from each event to make data driven decisions on how to improve future events. I coordinated and facilitated CGSA lunches where graduate students had the opportunity to network with visiting CIDD seminar scientists. I published articles on these activities to the CGSA blog and assisted in keeping the CIDD community informed of events on the CGSA Twitter and e-mail listservs. Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) Science++ Co-Chair (2017 - 2018), Member (2015-2020) I developed and am currently executing a strategic plan for 2017-2018 to organize a series of professional development workshops to serve the broader graduate community, including workshops on resume writing, developing teaching statements, and principles of good self mentorship. I coordinate and participate in social and outreach events with this organization that impact the greater State College and Pennsylvania communities, including the Expand Your Horizons STEM Career Day, mentioned on my Outreach page. This work is shared in monthly Chapter newsletters and sent to the national Graduate Women in Science Organization for dissemination. Biology Graduate Student Organization (BDGSA), Acting President (2018-2020), Acting Vice President (2017-2018) With a vision to improve the graduate program experience in the Biology Department, I started and continue to coordinate the Bio Buddies program to pair incoming students with current students to assist new students with their transition to graduate school. I am also collaborating with another department to develop a resource handbook for Biology Graduate students. I have also led the organization of Biology Department social events such as fall and holiday departmental parties and potlucks (some inaugural and now beloved) and weekly coffee hours. San Antonio Choral Society (SACS, 501c(3) organization) - Board Member (2013-2015) I led committees and managed choral members in preparation for concerts, fundraisers, and social events. Additionally I developed newsletters, organized and promoted social events, concerts, fundraisers, and membership meetings. |