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2024 Candidate Elise Gornish

2024 candidate for Governing Board Elise GornishElise Gornish
Cooperative Extension Specialist
University of Arizona

Candidate for: Member of the Governing Board

My research and outreach program focuses on vegetation management in dryland systems. I have worked in the fields of ecological restoration and weed management for over 15 years. Prior to graduate school, I had a variety of jobs that had nothing to do with science.

I currently serve on the board of 11 management relevant groups and often serve in leadership, for example, as the President of the Society for Ecological Restoration Southwest Chapter.

I also serve as the Director of GALS (Girls on outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science), a free outdoor science program that brings high school girls to the backcountry for a week of STEM, skill building, camping and friendship.

What interests, experiences or skills would you bring to this position?

I have been a member of ESA since 2007 when I started graduate school and I am now a life member. I also started and currently serve on the leadership of the ecological restoration chapter. As such, I have experienced ESA from many different angles and have a good idea of how individuals at different stages of their career use and rely on ESA. I am also a fairly non traditional member of ESA as I am a returning student and spent many years outside of academia, and science in general. This provides me with a good background of how non scientists relate to science. This background, coupled with my job that requires near constant interaction with non scientists has trained me well in how to communicate with non scientists.

How would you support ESA’s mission? How would you plan to promote DEIJ in ESA membership and activities if elected?

I think the most effective way to support ESAs mission and to promote DEIJ is to better support potential and current early career membership. Early career members are the very individuals who will be responsible for doing and communicating science now and in the future. My goal on this board would be to enhance the value of what ESA can provide early career members as well as reduce barriers to entry (for example, by significantly reducing conference registration costs to early career members).