2023-2024 Elected Officers

Katie Ackerman, President

Katie is starting her fourth year as a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences. She studies sea salt aerosol production in coastal environment Her research utilizes arduino and 3-D printed technology to sample these aerosols on kites and drones. Overall, she's hoping to help better understand how these aerosols contribute to cloud production and rain initiation across the Hawaiian islands.

As the development coordinator for the past two years, she's most excited to "provide events that foster professional and personal growth, outreach opportunities, and most importantly, friendship" and continue the legacy of GWISH. 

Katie loves the ocean, running, yoga, and playing video games in her free time, and has recently taken up tennis.  

Audrey Nash, Vice President

Audrey is starting her second year as a PhD student studying Atmospheric Science in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences (SOEST), and currently works on research examining the factors influencing weakening rates of tropical cyclones in the eastern and central Pacific. 

She joined GWISH to become a part of a group who are uplifting towards all women and create opportunities for all of us represented in STEM. After serving on GWISH EC as Secretary for two years, it has only been a positive experience. As Secretary, she was involved with welcoming new members and informing the entire division of monthly events. Now, she's excited to be our new VP and the official host of book club!

​Interestingly Audrey eats Pho at least once a week & is 6 ft tall! 

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Renee Setter, Secretary

​Renee is a PhD student in the Department of Geography & Environment with research interests in GIS and climate change projections. Her PhD focuses on projected climate change impacts on coral reefs. Renee is also a Graduate Assistant in ISR (Institute for Sustainability and Resilience) where she conducts geospatial analyses to support research on sea level rise and climate hazards in Hawaiʻi. She received her BS in Interdisciplinary Studies at Cornell University (2013) and her MA in Geography & Environment from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2019).

In her free time, she enjoys running, surfing, diving, playing music, and attending GWISH book club. After a year in GWISH, Renee is excited to join the EC to better connect with and support women in science!

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Kira Webster, Treasurer

Kira is a PhD student in the Department of Geography & Environment with research that focuses on climate change impacts on crops. She completed her BS in Biology (2019) and MA in Geography & Environment (2021), both from UH. She has taught for several years and has previously held a graduate assistantship at the UH Cancer Center. It was through all of these experiences in different sectors at UH that Kira felt the push to connect with other women in science.

​The range of what women in science are working on is vast while still sharing many experiences, and Kira hopes to facilitate that connection and growth through this appointment to the EC!  

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Arianna Bunnell, Development Coordinator

Arianna is a first year PhD student in the Information and Computer Sciences Department. She is excited about the chance to help our GWISH members be the best they can be, herself included!  She's benefitted so much from GWISH’s professional and academic development opportunities for the past two years and is looking forward to creating new opportunities. As the Development Coordinator, she hopes to help us develop a robust (moral and technical!) support network we can all call on in times of need and bring in learning opportunities from those inside and outside of academia. 

 

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Linnea Wolnievicz, Outreach Coordinator

Linnea is a second year Master's Student in the Information and Computer Sciences Department. 

She's very interested in both expanding access to STE(A)M and increasing awareness of women and minority groups in STEM.  Sharing with other young women and minorities the amazing things you can do in STEM and that you are not alone is something I am passionate about. She wishes she had had more awareness of the women in her field from a younger age, and so the opportunity to be GWISH's outreach coordinator and connect young women who are interested in STEM with GWISH members excites me. She has also enjoyed every GWISH event she's attended, and feels that the GWISH community has played a large role in making Hawai`i feel like home. She hopes to return that favor and give back to the group. 
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Gabi Mukai, Social Media Coordinator

​Gabi Mukai is a third-year PhD student studying the effects of temperature on larval development and dispersal. GWISH has been an amazing organization for her during the time she's been here, and she hopes to help GWISH grow and become a resource for more women in STEM as Social Media Coordinator. Mahalo! 

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Past Officers, 2022-2023

Dani Escontrela, President
Kirby Parnell, Vice-President
Audrey Nash, Secretary
Laura Tipton, Treasurer
Katie Ackerman, Development Coordinator
Manya Singh, Outreach Coordinator
Amy Kitchener, Social Media Coordinator

Past Officers, 2021-2022

Dani Escontrela, President
Kirby Parnell, Vice-President
Audrey Nash, Secretary
Laura Tipton, Treasurer
Katie Ackerman, Development Coordinator
Manya Singh, Outreach Coordinator
Amy Kitchener, Social Media Coordinator

Past Officers, 2020-2021

Maddy McKenna, President
Marisa McDonald, Vice President
Andi Erickson, Secretary
Laura Tipton, Treasurer
Sefa Muñoz, Outreach Co-Coordinator
Jesse van der Grient, Outreach Co-Coordinator
Dani Escontrela, Social Media Coordinator

Past Officers, 2019-2020

Maddy McKenna, President
Marisa McDonald, Vice President
Andi Erickson, Secretary
Laura Tipton, Treasurer
​Danita Dahl, Outreach Coordinator

Past Officers, 2018-2019

Shelby Fillinger, President
Sabrina Diemert, Vice President
Maddy McKenna, Secretary
Laura Tipton, Treasurer
Danita Dahl, Outreach Coordinator
​Rachael Wade, National Liaison to GWIS
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