Your Vote Counts: Help Determine the Future of SETAC North America

Michele Harmon

I have been an active member of SETAC North America and the Carolinas Regional Chapter for more than 25 years. I have held various positions in the regional chapter, including several officer positions and I currently serve as Treasurer. In addition, I currently serve on SETAC North America’s Finance Committee.  

If I join the board, I will bring perspectives from both the academic and business sectors as while I am currently a professor, I previously had a 10-year career in environmental consulting. I will also bring extensive expertise in governance I acquired through various roles I have been in, where I honed my diplomacy skills. In our ever-changing world, environmental scientists need safe platforms for open discussion and opportunities for global collaboration across sectors. I firmly believe that this is where organizations like SETAC find their value, thus making it more important than ever to ensure the operational health of the organization so that it can advance its mission.  

I have PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. I had a 10-year career in environmental consulting. Since 2005, I have had a full-time position at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA), where I also serve as Director of USCA’s Environmental Restoration and Remediation Program and Co-director of USCA’s Center for Research Excellence. 

Cheryl Murphy

I am interested in joining the SETAC North America Board of Directors because I have benefited from this wonderful organization for about two decades and would like to give back. I have organized several sessions at SETAC meetings and contribute articles to the journals over the years. I was on the steering committee for a SETAC Focus Topic Meeting and an invited participant in three Pellston® workshops. I have also served on the Awards Committee and am a member of five Interest Groups.

I believe that collaboration is the key to solving our contamination issues and would like to use the skills that served me well as founder and director of a research center at MSU to support SETAC. I will bring my facilitation, collaboration and strategic planning competencies to help SETAC achieve its mission. I also strongly believe that diversity and inclusion are key drivers of innovation and would contribute and learn with other SETAC members to advance these attributes in our society.

I am a professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. My current research focuses on how information collected on an individual translates across higher levels of biological organization. Much of my work is dedicated to improving the way we evaluate the toxicity of chemicals, and my research is dedicated to advancing the Adverse Outcome Pathway Framework.   

Ryan Otter

I was first introduced to SETAC in 2002 and I have been an active member ever since. I have been a part of multiple meeting program committees in both North America and Europe. I am a dedicated reviewer for SETAC journals. I have been an invited participant to SETAC Pellston® workshops and enjoyed contributing my expertise to advance environmental science and management. I am fully committed to the multi-sector focus of SETAC and believe that this approach is what separates SETAC from other societies.  

If offered the opportunity to serve, I would bring my scientific expertise to help SETAC continue to be a global leader in environmental science and sustainability. In addition to my technical expertise, I bring with me association governance experience that can benefit SETAC. I am very versed in setting the strategic direction of an organization – skills I acquired as Director of the Data Science Institute at Middle Tennessee State University. I also gained valuable insight into finances and fiscal responsibility in that position. 

I received my PhD from Clemson University in 2006. I did a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Miami and then joined Middle Tennessee State University in 2007, where I remained for 16 years. During my last four years there, I was the Director of the Data Science Institute. In 2023, I joined Grand Valley State University to focus as a professor. 

Patricia Ramírez Romero

I have been a SETAC member since 1993. I was the founding President of the SETAC-Mexico Chapter (AMEQA) in 2003 and have been on its board of directors since then, helping organize national and international meetings and editing special journal numbers of scientific relevance for Mexico. I have previously served on the SETAC North America Board of Directors and the SETAC World Council, but I would like to do it one last time before retiring. 

I bring a multicultural perspective to the board of directors on how the environment should be used and protected. I have also been a member of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Committee on Coral Reef Enforcement & Investigation since 2007, and I have helped build capacity in over 20 countries in marine forensic evidence handling. I am also dedicated to teaching. I have over 30 years of teaching experience in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. I have been the Energy and Environment Postgraduate Program Coordinator for over four years.

I obtained my PhD in Zoology from Miami University of Ohio in 1997. I started my professional career at Autonomous Metropolitan University Iztapalapa as a Research Assistant in 1988, and since then I have worked in my current position as Principal Professor. 

Karen Watanabe-Sailor

SETAC is my professional home. I’m committed to SETAC’s mission of advancing environmental science and management by way of building member engagement. I have served the society in different capacities over the years. From 2006 to 2008, I was the Academic-At-Large Board Member for Pacific Northwest Regional Chapter. In 2017, I joined the SETAC North America Awards and Fellowships Committee. In 2018, I began leading an effort to revitalize the Desert Southwest (DSW) Regional Chapter. I served as the DSW liaison to the SoCal SETAC regional meeting organizing committee for 2021 and 2022 and served on the SETAC North America 42nd Annual Meeting (Portland) planning committee.

I value how SETAC engages professionals from academia, government and industry, and I’ve applied that in the classroom when talking about career options and selecting invited speakers. Strengths that I would bring to the board include a perspective on advancing computational methods in toxicology, building undergraduate research and education, and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. I can also bring an association governance perspective to the board, as well as my project management skills, which I gained through my experience with revitalizing a regional chapter level as well my experience as a faculty member leading the development of new academic programs and managing multi-institutional research projects.

Meredith Bohannon

SETAC has been my professional “home” since I was in graduate school in 2007. Therefore, not only have I been deeply influenced and positively impacted by SETAC in my career development, but I have experienced SETAC throughout my entire career, from graduate student through post-doc through college instructor, and now as a scientist working in toxicology. My scientific and fiscal experience will serve the society well if I am elected to the SETAC North America Board of Directors. I contribute knowledge regularly to the field in my role as Study Director in my current position by conducting toxicological studies on important compounds. I have also served in governance for the Chesapeake-Potomac Regional Chapter (CPRC) as Treasurer and President (currently rotating off as President). As treasurer, I was involved with the financial stewardship of CPRC. I bring all that experience and influence to bear on insights and perspectives I can offer on the board. 

I received a PhD in the Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences program at the University of Maryland-College Park in 2014. I later worked as a postdoctoral research associate at UMCP. I work at the Defense Centers for Public Health Center conducting toxicity studies to determine safe occupational and environmental levels of compounds pertinent to military use.

Rebecca Dalton

I have been a member of the SETAC North America Science Committee since 2022. I have served on several SETAC North America committees and have chaired sessions at annual meetings. I have also served in several leadership positions within the Laurentian SETAC Regional Chapter, including President, Vice-President and Chair of various committees. I am particularly proud of having organized over 50 seminars and socializing events as Chair of Laurentian SETAC’s Ottawa pub night committee. I aim to be a strong and positive leader in science and hope to bring to the board my multidisciplinary experience and ability to foster meaningful connections across SETAC’s diverse membership. I bring my passion for inclusion to SETAC. I aim to be an effective ally and contribute to SETAC’s goal of fostering equity, diversity and inclusion. I continue to look for ways to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in both my professional and personal life.   

I am a Senior Evaluator at Environment and Climate Change Canada where I lead regulatory risk assessments, as well as several initiatives aimed at modernizing ecological risk assessment. I have a PhD in Biology, specializing in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology from the University of Ottawa.  

Marissa Giroux

My motivation for running for the SETAC North America Board of Directors is to continue establishing SETAC as a valuable resource for scientific and career development for all members. As a SETAC attendee since my undergraduate studies and former student representative for the North Atlantic Regional Chapter, there is no doubt that SETAC has been crucial in shaping my career. Currently, I am a Biologist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division. I received my BS in Marine Science from the University of Maine and my PhD in Environmental Toxicology from University of California- Riverside. Before becoming a federal scientist, I was an ORISE Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the USEPA. My main research interests focus on using molecular approaches to understand the sublethal impacts of pesticides, plastic particles, and other contaminants of emerging concern on aquatic organisms and connecting them with effects at the community level.

Over the past four years, I’ve been a member of the Early Career Committee and Chair of the Careers Committee. I’ve spearheaded the development of numerous new resources, including SETAC Cafés on professional development topics and in-person workshops and panels at the annual meeting. I am passionate about creating resources and opportunities to help support scientists from all backgrounds find their place and broaden their professional networks. I value innovative ideas to enhance SETAC’s impact and accessibility, particularly for early career and student members who are the future of our organization.

Scott Lynn

The SETAC North America annual meeting was my first scientific meeting as a student, and SETAC has remained my professional society of choice ever since. I am active in SETAC North America and the SETAC Chesapeake-Potomac Regional Chapter (CPRC). I have been on the board of directors of the CPRC chapter for two terms. I am an avid volunteer, and I have volunteered on many SETAC North America committees. Recently, I chaired the Science Committee after a decade of serving as a member. I was a co-chair of the SETAC North America 43rd Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, I was a member of the program committee for the SETAC North America 44th Annual Meeting in Louisville, and I am now supporting the 2024 annual meeting in Fort Worth. 

The vision and mission of SETAC have always resonated with me as I care about promoting better environmental quality. As Chair of the Science Committee, I reinvigorated an effort to identify emerging scientific topics to help advance environmental science and management by planning future meetings and workshops. I have always been a strong advocate for career-enriching opportunities for all (especially students) and supporting diversity and inclusivity, which I believe helps build, grow and strengthen our society. If I’m elected to the board, I’ll continue to support engagement within our society to promote environmental quality through science.    

I have been a fish biologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the last 13 years. My background before joining the USEPA began in environmental science and water quality (BS), then moved to environmental toxicology (MS), molecular endocrinology (PhD) and molecular toxicology (post-doc).   

Jessica Donaldson

Following my first SETAC annual meeting in Louisville last year, I quickly discovered how special the organization is. During the conference, I organized a few unofficial socials for some of the other graduate students to help promote a community in our cohort. I know how vital a community is especially within science, and I aimed to help build the SETAC community. Luckily, while small, the socials helped build that comradery with us all staying in contact. This small taste of organizing events for our graduate school cohort further pushed me into applying for a co-chair position of NASAC. I hope to plan and participate in more events for the graduate students to further enhance the SETAC community which we will have throughout our scientific careers. Previously, I have held a leadership position during graduate school as an ambassador. During my time as an ambassador at the University of Florida, I had the opportunity to plan events and talk to incoming students. For the past two years of being an ambassador, I have designed and planned a ‘demystifying quals’ Q&A. This is a casual event where students can talk to faculty and candidates about the qualifying exam process to take away the mystery of it. It has been a huge success with students and candidates giving positive reviews. This event holds a special place for me and indicates my ability to be the NASAC co-chair. While this event specifically focuses on qualifying exams, it is a way for our cohort to learn and support each other. SETAC gives scientists a place to socialize with other individuals and learn and grow from each other. I hope to be part of the organizing side to further facilitate the growth of graduate students specifically.

Katie Mayer

My name is Katie Mayer, and I am a second-year PhD student at Virginia Tech (VT) studying pharmaceuticals and organismal toxicology. I have been a SETAC member since starting my program in the Fall of 2022 and presented posters at annual meetings in both North America and Europe. As a student scientist, SETAC has provided a space for me to connect with other students and professionals, which has aided my development as a researcher and early career professional. My experience in attending meetings not only has contributed to my growth but also provided me a chance as a student to identify meeting components that could be improved for students. This encouraged me to pursue my current co-chair position on the Outreach Committee within NASAC. In this role, I am facilitating the implementation of engagement activities to improve the student experience at SETAC meetings. Getting to know the current NASAC chairs and other committee chairs, as well as members of the general student body, has supplemented my motivation to continue to contribute to the improvement of SETAC student experiences. I am interested in running for the position of Vice Chair for NASAC because of the joy I have developed for both interacting with my peers and supporting the student body through improvements in engagement. I have experience serving as an Outreach Committee Chair and a Professional Development Chair for the VT Stream Team, as well as previous leadership experience as an NCAA athlete during my time as an undergraduate. Serving as the Vice Chair of NASAC would be an honor and a privilege, and my goal within this position is to continue the legacy of student leaders in this role before me to improve student networking, engagement and support at meetings for all SETAC students.