2020-2021 Elected Officers

Madeline McKenna, President

Aloha kākou! I'm Maddy McKenna, a PhD candidate in Atmospheric Science at UH Mānoa and your GWISH President.  I have been involved with GWISH for three years now and am devoted to supporting gender equality and diversity within the scientific community.   I love sharing my excitement for science through youth outreach; you can usually find me making clouds in a bottle. My current research is focused on tropical-extratropical interactions, or, how the tropical climate can affect changes in midlatitude weather!  When I’m not researching you can find me at the beach with my newly adopted dog, Mākaha.  

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Marisa McDonald, Vice President

Aloha! My name is Marisa McDonald, and I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in Marine Bio at UH!  My research focuses on visual systems of crustaceans, focusing on larval mantis shrimp.  I'm honored to continue serving as the vice president of GWISH in the upcoming year. I find it is easy to get caught up in the "bubble" of your own lab or department while in grad school, and  GWISH has been a fantastic opportunity to meet other like-minded, amazing women at the university. This year I hope to continue working on expanding our representation and membership on campus. Look out for fun events, including our book club, fall luncheon series, and more.  In my free time, you can find me rock climbing, in the water, or out salsa dancing  (at least pre-Covid!). I'm looking forward to another great year. 

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Andi Erickson, Secretary

​Hello everyone! My name is Andi Erickson. I am a California native , In-n-out lover  and taco enthusiast . I am a second-year graduate student in the Ocean and Resource Engineering Department. My research studies the effects of climate change across the Pacific Ocean with regards to ENSO.  This is my second year working as the GWISH Secretary. I love working with this amazing group of women and welcoming in new faces to GWISH. I love spending my free time at the beach/outdoors , hanging with friends , traveling, and watching the best football team in the NFL, the LA Rams .

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Laura Tipton, Treasurer

Hello! My name is Laura Tipton, I'm a professor of data science at Chaminade (#GoSwords!) and work closely with the Hawai`i Data Science Institute at UH (#GoBows!). Among my many titles, I’m an #academicmama ‍ and am obsessed with introducing my daughter (who’s not quite 2) to women in science through kid’s books and GWISH book club.  My research focuses on computational analyses of interactions, usually between microbes but sometimes between people. This is my third year as GWISH treasurer and my goal is to continue to host fun fundraisers to support our members in research, travel, and outreach.  Fun Fact: Given that we live in Hawai`i, I have an unusually large collection of scarves, partially inspired by Isadora Duncan and partially as a means of sci-comm. 

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Sefa Muñoz, Outreach Co-Coordinator

Aloha kākou! My name is Josefa Muñoz, but you can call me Sefa! My research focuses on the impact of climate change on green sea turtles in the island of Guam, where I’m originally from. My goal as outreach co-coordinator is to fascinate the keiki with all things STEM and to cultivate a space of ally-ship for our graduate school community to promote diversity in STEM. Fun Fact: I’m addicted to all things related to sea turtles (obviously), succulents, and boxing.

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Jesse van der Grient, Outreach Co-Coordinator

Hello everyone! I am Jesse van der Grient, and during my research hours I am working on the effects of deep-sea mining impacts on midwater communities. I am one of the outreach coordinators this year, and with my outreach partner I will focus on having GWISH be an ally for our early career community (graduates and postdocs) and inspire children with science to promote diversity and interest in STEM.  Fun facts: I am from the Netherlands,  but I have a bit of a British accent as I lived in the UK for the last 10 years . I have a gecko called Remi (he is being gecko-sitted by my parents in the Netherlands – he did not fancy the long flight!). I am crazy about the Hawaiian native birds, monk seals, turtles (you get the picture) . And I really enjoy rugby (although I have retired from playing… for now).

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Dani Escontrela, Social Media Coordinator

Hello everyone! My name is Dani and I am PhD student in Marine Biology at the University of Hawai‘i.  My research focuses on the effects of a coral eating sea star on Hawaiian coral reefs.  I am excited to serve as social media coordinator because I want to highlight the wonderful events this organization does in addition to the amazing research the women scientists are doing at our university. Fun facts: I am from Venezuela, you can find me mostly underwater, I have developed an unhealthy addiction for plants  and have been known for making some really fun decorated cakes .

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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