2024 North Central Section Elections

Officer Candidates

President: Michelle Cauley

How have you been engaged with NAGT already?

Although I am new to being an active member of NAGT, I have spent the last 20 years of my professional life educating in the Earth and Environmental Sciences for all ages. I have joined several webinars this past year and will be presenting a professional workshop at the Earth Educators Rendezvous later this summer. I brought "World Geology Week" to my campus this year through the help of NAGT materials, lessons, activities and online programs. I'm also the Committee Chair for the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award for the 2-Year College Division.

How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?

Our North Central section is filled with very active and passionate geoscience educators. As a previous K-12 educator for 20 years and now a higher education professional, I believe that the best way to move forward in an organization is to listen to your members.  I firmly believe we need to hear from our community members about new ideas, struggles in the field, and opportunities for growth in order to build our section and move geoscience education forward.  I will use my years of recruiting, outreach, and teaching to inform my goals but to also reflect on how our section can improve what it is currently doing and how to showcase our incredible educators already in the field.  I hope to use my experience as a motivator for others to step up and be more active in this community as well -  because our love for the geological world deserves to be shared with others and inspire the next generation.

Secretary/Treasurer: Ben Maas

How have you been engaged with NAGT already?

The main way that I have engaged with NAGT is through the Earth Educators Rendezvous (EER) meetings. At these meetings, I have contributed content to NAGT. Before the pandemic I helped plan sessions for EER and was on the planning committee. Since coming back to academia after two years in the Civil Engineer field, I have worked to get reengaged with EER and NAGT.

How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?

My past engagement with NAGT, other organizations, and on committees has influenced my goals and for my desire for leadership position in NAGT because I have come to appreciate the value of NAGT as a educator focused organization that develops sound pedogeological methods. I also have come to appreciate the value of the NAGT community and the diversity of ideas in our group. I will work to expand both the membership base and the viewpoints expressed in NAGT. One way that I can help do that is by reinvigorating the North Central Section of NAGT.