Recognizing Volunteer Month at AMS
April is Volunteer Month! Thousands of people contribute their time and energy to the activities of the American Meteorological Society, whether they are advancing their fields through scientific commissions, editing or reviewing manuscripts submitted to AMS journals, serving as the Society’s volunteer leadership, or helping make the enterprise as a whole more effective, inclusive, and innovative. In the first of two blog posts, we hear what some of our volunteers have been working on!
What work have you been involved with as an AMS volunteer?

“Through the AMS Board on Student Affairs, I have had the privilege to work with students from many different universities and meet students from around the world! This experience has led to new, lifelong friendships within the AMS community.
Our board also serves as the voice for students throughout AMS, and this unique opportunity has led to many different connections between students, other AMS boards, and AMS leadership. … I look forward to the continued success of bringing student voices to the table.”
–Dillon Blount
“Serving as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology (JAMC) has been a rewarding and impactful experience. It’s an opportunity to contribute to the community, remain at the forefront of groundbreaking research, and support authors in refining their work for maximum impact. …
Looking ahead, I am excited to continue supporting AMS’s mission and to play a role in fostering an inclusive and high-quality scientific publishing environment.”
–Yog Aryal


“When we scientists think about science education and outreach, we think of students in preschool to graduate school. … We can forget about … our family members, friends, neighbors, and community members who also deserve accessible opportunities to learn about weather, water, and climate. … I volunteer with the Board on Outreach and Informal Education (BOIE) where we are developing long-term science programming across the United States for adults. I’m excited to be part of this continued planning to help establish an informative and trustworthy relationship between AMS and the adults of our communities.”
–Michelle Serino
“I find working with the Weather, Climate, and Society [editorial] board in reviewing academic articles very fulfilling as I get to play a crucial role in ensuring high standards are maintained in the quality of research outputs that are published in the field. I am excited when I get glimpses of cutting-edge concepts and findings around the world and having the opportunity to refine directions in this field is a humbling experience. Hailing from the Caribbean, participating in this process allows me to bring a critical perspective to the discourse from my experiences with the realities of Small Island Developing States.”
–Sarah Buckland-Reynolds


“Volunteering with the AMS Student Conference Planning Committee has been an incredibly rewarding experience. … I’ve been able to directly contribute to the organization and execution of impactful conference events that bring together students from all over the U.S. (and world!), providing them with a platform to share their research and ideas.
What excites me most is the chance to create a space for collaboration and learning, where emerging scientists can engage with each other and seasoned professionals. I’m particularly proud of the way our committee has continuously elevated the conference experience, making it more inclusive and accessible to a diverse range of students. … We are dedicated to providing a supportive environment where students can present their research, develop professional skills, and form lasting networks.”
–Joey Rotondo
“I have had the privilege of serving on several AMS committees over the years and this activity has been one of the major highlights of my career. There is tremendous satisfaction in helping organize a conference and then seeing it unfold successfully in real time. Being on AMS committees has also given me the opportunity to interact with a much larger segment of the atmosphere/ocean community, as well as the dedicated staff at the AMS. These activities have led to both scientific collaborations and the development of long-lasting friendships that would not have happened otherwise. I highly recommend that AMS members of any generation, but especially young scientists, join an AMS committee to enhance their careers and experience the rewards of working as a team to enhance our science for the benefit of society.”
–George Kiladis


“I joined the AMS Weather Analysis and Forecasting (WAF) Committee as a postdoctoral research associate to engage with the broader AMS community and immediately started contributing to the development of an implementation plan. … I collaborated with colleagues from diverse scientific backgrounds and career stages to represent the interests of government, academia, and the private sector in weather analysis and numerical weather prediction. Our work focused on outreach, advocacy, and organizing conferences to advance the field. … I co-led an initiative to engage experts in social and behavioral sciences to better understand how to effectively disseminate localized information to vulnerable communities at risk from extreme weather events. …
Moving forward, I am excited to serve on the WAF outreach subcommittee, where we plan to organize periodic webinars and outreach events to engage a broader audience. Our goal is to share the latest research and expert guidance, ensuring that stakeholders receive scientifically accurate information and remain situationally aware of weather-related risks. By fostering informed decision-making, we aim to build a more resilient community prepared for future disasters.”
–Milind Sharma
“I loved the experience of helping develop [Certified Digital Meteorologist (CDM)] certification and meeting so many gifted meteorologists. The connections with so many different fields in meteorology have been extremely rewarding.”
–Steven DiMartino


“Volunteering in the AMS has been an energizing experience, regardless of whether it has been on Boards, (BBP, BEED, BCCM), Committees (CoE, Henry Harrison Award Nomination, CCM Examination Update, Ad Hoc Committee on the Ethics and Policy of AI/ML), organizing conferences (CCM Symposia), leading boards (BCCM, BBP), acting as a reviewer for Weather, Climate, and Society, developing and participating in short courses … webinars … or discussion panels it has been exciting and fulfilling. In every case, I have met and worked with amazing colleagues and AMS staff that have supported and encouraged my career and efforts to help our society. … You can choose where to be involved and make an impact on our profession… I highly encourage you to explore the opportunities to help and learn. Take the plunge now. Don’t delay.”
–Gerald Mulvey