2026-2027 Elected Officers
Arianna Bunnell, President
Arianna is a sixth 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 is looking forward to creating new opportunities.
As the development coordinator and president, she's most excited to provide events that help GWISH members 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. Arianna loves to snorkel, embroider, and explore Oahu's restaurants in her free time.
As the development coordinator and president, she's most excited to provide events that help GWISH members 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. Arianna loves to snorkel, embroider, and explore Oahu's restaurants in her free time.
Sophia Somerscales, Interim Vice President
Sophia is a second-year PhD student in the Geography and Environment Department, where she researches smallholder crop mapping methods for Hawaiʻi’s complex landscape. She grew up loving math but found it isolating at times as she progressed in her academic career, and she is excited to contribute to a space where fellow women in science can feel supported in their work.
Sophia has found GWISH to be a wonderful community that brings women together across a wide range of disciplines at UH. She looks forward to facilitating outreach during her time on the EC to strengthen those connections and help more young women see STEM as a place they belong. In her free time, Sophia enjoys thrifting, sewing, climbing, and cooking.
Sophia has found GWISH to be a wonderful community that brings women together across a wide range of disciplines at UH. She looks forward to facilitating outreach during her time on the EC to strengthen those connections and help more young women see STEM as a place they belong. In her free time, Sophia enjoys thrifting, sewing, climbing, and cooking.
Linnea Wolniewicz, Vice President
Linnea is a fifth-year PhD student in the Information and Computer Sciences Department. Linnea is passionate about making STE(A)M more inclusive and accessible, and believes everyone deserves to see someone who looks like them doing amazing things in STEM. Linnea coordinates the outreach events for GWISH and is excited about inspiring future scientists. She wishes she'd had more opportunities to connect with female scientists when she was younger, and wants to help young girls find the role models she didn't have.
GWISH has played a huge role in Linnea's Hawaiʻi journey,. Now she’s excited to give back by helping others find their place here too. When she’s not in the lab or doing outreach, Linnea can be found climbing at HiClimb, surfing the waves at Diamond Head, reading a good book, or playing the harp.
GWISH has played a huge role in Linnea's Hawaiʻi journey,. Now she’s excited to give back by helping others find their place here too. When she’s not in the lab or doing outreach, Linnea can be found climbing at HiClimb, surfing the waves at Diamond Head, reading a good book, or playing the harp.
Naomi Rohrbaugh, Secretary
Naomi is a third-year PhD student in the Oceanography Department, where she investigates trace metal chemistry in coral reef ecosystems. Passionate about bridging science and society, Naomi is eager to sharpen her skills in science communication to effectively share her work with audiences from all backgrounds and contribute meaningfully to the local community.
As GWISH’s secretary, Naomi is thrilled to help keep the group informed and engaged—whether it’s through emails, updates, or (her personal favorite) coordinating the GWISH book club. A lifelong book lover, she is excited to create space for thoughtful conversations about science, identity, and storytelling with fellow women in STEM. Outside of the lab and GWISH, Naomi enjoys surfing, hiking, climbing, dancing salsa, and reading.
As GWISH’s secretary, Naomi is thrilled to help keep the group informed and engaged—whether it’s through emails, updates, or (her personal favorite) coordinating the GWISH book club. A lifelong book lover, she is excited to create space for thoughtful conversations about science, identity, and storytelling with fellow women in STEM. Outside of the lab and GWISH, Naomi enjoys surfing, hiking, climbing, dancing salsa, and reading.
Kira Webster, Treasurer
Kira is a PhD student in the Department of Geography & Environment whose research focuses on climate change impacts on human food systems. She has taught undergraduate courses and has previously held graduate positions at the UH Cancer Center, managed laboratory mosquito populations, and worked on interdisciplinary research projects. Through these experiences in different sectors Kira felt motivated to connect with and support other womxn in science here in Hawaiʻi.
Kira has helped raise thousands of dollars for GWISH and organized events that bring womxn in STEM together. Kira looks forward to every GWISH event as an opportunity celebrate the accomplishments of womxn in science. When Kira is not attending GWISH events, she is probably doing ceramics, sewing, swimming, scuba diving, or camping at another National Park!
Kira has helped raise thousands of dollars for GWISH and organized events that bring womxn in STEM together. Kira looks forward to every GWISH event as an opportunity celebrate the accomplishments of womxn in science. When Kira is not attending GWISH events, she is probably doing ceramics, sewing, swimming, scuba diving, or camping at another National Park!
Syd Campbell, Social Media Coordinator
Syd is a fourth-year PhD student in the Economics Department, where she studies environmental economics and institutions. She is passionate about making economics more accessible and meaningful, especially for people who want to use its tools to better understand social and environmental issues and help address them.
Syd cares deeply about creating supportive spaces for women and is excited to help nurture the sisterhood that make GWISH so special. Having been personally uplifted by this community, she hopes to help cultivate that same feeling of connection for others. As social media coordinator, Syd is especially excited to highlight events, strengthen community, and celebrate the research, learning, and shared experience of navigating grad school together. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, outrigger paddling, cooking, gardening, and trying new foods.
Syd cares deeply about creating supportive spaces for women and is excited to help nurture the sisterhood that make GWISH so special. Having been personally uplifted by this community, she hopes to help cultivate that same feeling of connection for others. As social media coordinator, Syd is especially excited to highlight events, strengthen community, and celebrate the research, learning, and shared experience of navigating grad school together. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, outrigger paddling, cooking, gardening, and trying new foods.
Past Officers, 2025-2026
Arianna Bunnell, President
Linnea Wolniewicz, Vice-President
Naomi Rohrbaugh, Secretary
Kira Webster, Treasurer
Linnea Wolniewicz, Vice-President
Naomi Rohrbaugh, Secretary
Kira Webster, Treasurer
Past Officers, 2024-2025
Arianna Bunnell, President
Linnea Wolniewicz, Vice-President
Neeve Slee-Poulos, Secretary
Kira Webster, Treasurer
Linnea Wolniewicz, Vice-President
Neeve Slee-Poulos, Secretary
Kira Webster, Treasurer
Past Officers, 2023-2024
Katie Ackerman, President
Audrey Nash, Vice-President
Renee Setter, Secretary
Kira Webster, Treasurer
Arianna Bunnell, Development Coordinator
Linnea Wolniewicz, Outreach Coordinator
Gabi Mukai, Social Media Coordinator
Audrey Nash, Vice-President
Renee Setter, Secretary
Kira Webster, Treasurer
Arianna Bunnell, Development Coordinator
Linnea Wolniewicz, Outreach Coordinator
Gabi Mukai, Social Media Coordinator
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
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
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
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
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
Sabrina Diemert, Vice President
Maddy McKenna, Secretary
Laura Tipton, Treasurer
Danita Dahl, Outreach Coordinator
Rachael Wade, National Liaison to GWIS
