What is your area of research?

Cloud Physics

How did you get into your field?

I was studying Mathematics and Physics as an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto when I got a summer job at the end of my second year at Environment Canada studying how the width and speed of motion of a rain/snow boundary evolved over time. That summer I learned that I could apply my knowledge of math and physics to tangible problems of benefit to society, and hence ultimately decided to pursue a Ph.D. in cloud physics.

What is it about your job that interests you?

My job is my hobby. I love coming to work every day facing new challenges and learning new things. My job is the perfect mix of being able to do research, mentor graduate students, teach, and provide support and long-term direction for CIWRO to accomplish its research goals.

What is one thing you could not live without at work?

All of the wonderful employees at CIWRO who make it possible for us to accomplish our mission goals.

Why do you volunteer for the DEIJ committee?

I felt it very important to establish a DEIJ committee in CIWRO. I wanted to make sure that CIWRO provides a welcoming and all-inclusive environment so that all CIWRO employee feel valued regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, age, background, etc. That is the best way to ensure that we are able to draw from the most qualified candidates to make sure we continue to maintain an excellent staff for accomplishing our mission.

What does diversity, equity, inclusion and justice mean to you?

Diversity means that we assemble a group of people with different backgrounds and thoughts within our workplace. Diversity can take on a varied of forms: not only race, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, and age, but also diversity of thought, economic background, personal and family educational background, interests, and many other factors. Equity means that fair practices and policies are applied to all so that everyone can thrive to the best of their ability. Justice means that everyone is treated fairly according to the same set of standards. Studies have proven that assembling a diverse group in an inclusive environment with equitable treatment inevitably leads to faster progress as complementary thoughts and ideas usually allow one to produce a better end solution.

What does true leadership mean to you?

Leadership means promoting the people around you and letting them develop their careers to the maximum extent possible so that they can excel in their positions. A leader provides whatever resources are needed for their counterparts to do their jobs and provides them the freedom to do their job, offering additional feedback when required.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

I have visited 41 different countries during my life.

What is your area of Research?

Cloud Microphysics and QPE

What is it about your job that interests you?

Work with radars, satellites, and all sorts of sensors.

What is one thing you could not live without at work?

Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones

Why do you volunteer for the DEIJ Committee?

I want to help people in need of DEIJ issues and also learn how we can improve our current work environment in CIWRO regarding these matters.

What does diversity, equity, inclusion and justice mean to you?

It means we should foster a more inclusive and just society that values and respects the diversity of its members.

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in life thus far?

Finish my B.S. degree within two years in FSU. Quite intense and not recommended.

If you could do another job for one day, what would it be?

Badminton coach

What does true leadership mean to you?

True leadership is not about personal achievements or individual glory. It is about inspiring and influencing others to reach their full potential, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment, and making a positive impact on the lives of those around them.

What is your area of research?

Atmospheric Boundary Layer

How did you get into your field?

I first started doing boundary layer research during an REU at the NWC in 2021 and continued onto various different projects since then.

What is it about your job that interests you?

The continued pursuit of knowledge about the natural world drives most of my work. It's interesting to discover new things about the atmosphere around us and all the small mechanisms that drives it. Additionally, the teamwork and passion that drives everyone during data gathering field campaigns really inspires me to help contribute as much as I can in research.

What is one thing you could not live without at work?

I definitely do not think I could live without all my coworkers in BLISS. All their help and welcoming nature makes it easy to love going to work every day either at the weather center or in the field.

Why do you volunteer for the DEIJ committee?

Personally, coming from a Hispanic background and as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I've seen the importance of creating a safe space for everyone to learn and work without fear. By working to make CIWRO and OU a more welcoming place we can ensure that everyone is heard and welcomed, regardless of background, so we can all work together as best as possible.

What does diversity, equity, inclusion and justice mean to you?

To me DEIJ means providing space for everyone that free from bias and judgement so that we can all focus on working towards common goals, rather than worrying about prejudice or exclusion.

If you could do another job for one day, what would it be?

I always thought it would be a lot of fun to be a radio DJ or a pilot

What does true leadership mean to you?

A true leader should work to elevate their team and provide what the team needs to achieve their goals. They should provide guidance and help when needed rather than being overbearing or just a figurehead. Additionally, a true leader is accommodating, and works with the skills and strengths their team has rather than against them.

What is your area of research?

Radar Meteorology

What is it about your job that interests you?

I love my job because it allows me to transform cutting-edge science into operational applications.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

Before radar meteorology, I once worked in a company of IC fabrication and researched in the area of magnetic resonance imaging.

What is one thing you could not live without at work?

Computer

Why do you volunteer for the DEIJ committee?

I would like to help understand the needs of minority and remote-working employees.

What does diversity, equity, inclusion and justice mean to you?

It means fairness and civilization to me. Our work environment will be better with mutual understanding and no bias between people.

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in life thus far?

It has been challenging to balance my career and family.

If you could do another job for one day, what would it be?

I would like to experience being an actress for one day.

What does true leadership mean to you?

In my understanding, authentic leadership is the power to unite individuals together as a team. True leaders build strong relationships with team members to encourage new research/work ideas and respect and help each other's needs.

What is your area of research?

Radar, tornadoes, severe weather, R2O

How did you get into your field?

I was always fascinated by the weather and even kept a weather diary when I was 12. I realized in high school that I wanted to do work with applied math that had an impact on people's lives, so I gravitated towards severe weather. Having no real severe weather in Norway, I decided I wanted to apply to OU and move to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. I moved here in the fall of 2011 to start my freshman year of college and just ended up never leaving. My dream job opened up when I was in graduate school and decided to give it a shot, and here I am!

What is it about your job that interests you?

I really like programming, and love to be able to apply it to tornado nowcasting. I also enjoy operating NSSL's mobile radar during field projects.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

I hav a tattoo with the Navier-Stokes equations.

What is one thing you could not live without at work?

The variety of interesting projects that I'm able to be a part of.

Why do you volunteer for the DEIJ committee?

I think it is important that minority voices are heard, and I want to be an advocate for myself and others. While CIWRO has put in a lot of work to making sure everyone's perspectives and ideas are valued, I think there are still things that can be improved upon, and I would like to be a part of this continued work.

What does diversity, equity, inclusion and justice mean to you?

It means that everyone should feel welcome and that their opinions matter. It means providing equal opportunities and erasing unnecessary dividing lines between groups of people.

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in life thus far?

I've been lucky to have been able to follow my dreams for most of my life, but raising a toddler in graduate school with untreated migraine has probably been my biggest challenge.

What does true leadership mean to you?

Leading by example and genuinely caring about the people you are leading.

What is your area of work?

Public Relations/Outreach

How did you get into your field?

My bachelor's degree is in journalism, and my master's degree is in education. I have experience writing and editing at newspapers and teaching in early childhood, secondary and adult classrooms.

What is it about your job that interests you?

Working at CIWRO is perfect for me because I get to share the good news of vital research that is happening here while also developing relationships with teachers and helping them incorporate meteorology lessons into their classrooms.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

In 1998, my husband and I opened a comic book store, Speeding Bullet Comics, and it has been growing steadily ever since. Superheroes are my jam. I love the art of storytelling and promoting art and literature in our community.

What is one thing you could not live without at work?

The diffuser in my office is a game-changer for me. I love essential oils, and aromatherapy stimulates the writing center in my brain.

Why do you volunteer for the DEIJ committee?

One of my life goals is to empower others. I believe that listening and giving others a seat at the table is vital if we want to harness the best ideas.

If you could do another job for one day, what would it be?

I would love to be an assistant to a composer/songwriter, so I can experience what it is like to write music. That is something I know very little about, and I would love to see the creative process involved.

What does true leadership mean to you?

Leadership is seeking information from lots of different sources and using a collection of evidence and diverse viewpoints to craft innovative solutions that will empower your team. The best leaders are guides who bring out the best in others.

What is your area of research?

Cloud Physics and Winter Weather

How did you get into your field?

During my 3rd year in undergrad, I took a cloud physics course and realized my interest was heightened compared to the other courses I was required to take. After participating in the OU REU program, I found that I also enjoyed research. Both of these experiences have led me into continuing my education under a subject I love.

What is it about your job that interests you?

My job allows me to continuously learn new and amazing things, while being able to discover or assist in other aspects of meteorology. I also love calibrating with others and combining ideas to come up with interesting research.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

When I went to Riobamba, Ecuador, I had the opportunity to try one of their popular dishes, a guinea pig. Till this day, I have no regrets.

What is one thing you could not live without at work?

Most definitely have to be my iPad, as that has everything within it that I need to get me through the day.

Why do you volunteer for the DEIJ committee?

I want to assist in any ways that I can as well as be a voice for minorities who are not usually represented. While continuing to create a safe and successful space for everyone no matter their background.

What does diversity, equity, inclusion and justice mean to you?

DEIJ to me represents the four pillars that will ensure everyone grows within a space without feeling left out. We are all human and deserve to be treated equally as such no matter one's ethnicity/race, disability, social class, etc. These four values help create a foundation that will strengthen any organization/committee.

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in life thus far?

One of the greatest challenges I had to overcome was going online during the pandemic. Those years are marked as my lowest and most challenging. However, I have prevailed. Being able to push through led me into a wonderful graduate school program, and I continue to grow each and every day.

If you could do another job for one day, what would it be?

I will be a content creator as I love to game and express my interests.

What does true leadership mean to you?

True leadership means to be able to guide your team in the direction of growth, whether this is leading them through hard experiences or assisting in giving the necessary resources to build up their strengths. Ensuring them to experience continuous growth no matter where they end up.

What is your area of research?

Radar Meteorology

How did you get into your field?

I developed an interest in my field at a young age, thanks to my mother buying me a toy weather station when I was just 5 years old. This toy made me curious about the weather, from comparing clouds outside to a cloud chart and setting up the rain gauge and cup anemometer outside and looking at it from the window as storms came by.

What is it about your job that interests you?

What is it about your job that interests you?

Why do you volunteer for the DEIJ committee?

Having a Hispanic background, I've had personal experiences that exposed me to the challenges minorities face. I'm passionate about advocating for both myself and others in similar situations. CIWRO is dedicated to valuing everyone's perspectives and ideas, and I'm eager to contribute to this ongoing effort.

If you could do another job for one day, what would it be?

I would love to be a librarian. Growing up in a small town, the library was the place I always looked forward to going to. The idea of helping people by discovering the perfect genre or type of book while immersing myself in a world of literature, where I can explore multiple adventures and ideas excites me.