Candidate Statement: Sheila Kannappan

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Nominated Office: Councilor

Affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Position/title: Associate Professor, Associate Chair for Diversity

PhD institution: Harvard University (2001)

Areas of scientific interest:

  • evolution of large scale structure and galaxies
  • compact stellar systems
  • multi-wavelength surveys (UV/optical/IR/mm/radio & 3D spectroscopy)

AAS positions: n/a

Other relevant positions and experience:

  • REU Director, Computational Astronomy & Physics REU Program, UNC Chapel Hill (2010-present)
  • PI/co-PI for NFGS/RESOLVE/AIMSS surveys (2001-present)
  • Panels: ALMA and NOAO TACs, NSF Review Panels, SALT Science Committee (2008-present)
  • Chair/co-Chair of Graduate Admissions/Recruiting/First-Year Advising, UNC Chapel Hill (2008-2009, (2013-present)
  • Advisor, Women In Physics undergraduate organization, UNC Chapel Hill (2013-present)
  • K-12 outreach: school visits, curriculum development, teacher & student workshops/events (1993-present)
  • Teach For America 9th grade teacher (1991-1993)

Candidate Statement: My priorities emphasize fostering careers and encouraging diversity at all levels. In my REU director, graduate recruiting/advising, and Women In Physics advisor roles, I have listened and made changes that significantly improved recruitment and retention of women and minorities at UNC. Listening to students at the 2009 National Societies of Black & Hispanic Physicists meeting led me to start a computational REU program. Astronomy lags behind physics in attracting minorities, but we can do better by enhancing — and advertising — the practical training in advanced computing offered by astronomy degrees. Building faculty expertise in computing will promote faster-than-generational progress in research capability as well as in diversity, so I am excited to see AAS meetings now offering data science and astrostatistics workshops for everyone. I will work to expand such initiatives. AAS meetings have become an interview hub for not only postdoc/faculty jobs, but even graduate admissions. This career-making power should motivate the AAS to analyze the demographics and funding of attendees, which can inform egalitarian initiatives akin to the Rodger Doxsey travel prize. Also, scheduling dissertation talks on Thursdays needs rethinking. I welcome the chance to brainstorm with the Council, and I’d love to hear your ideas too!