Geological Society of America Names Emily Orzechowski as Director of
Geoscience Policy & External Relations
Boulder, Colo., USA: The Geological Society of America (GSA) is delighted
to welcome Emily Orzechowski as its new Director of Geoscience Policy &
External Relations. With extensive experience in legislative relations,
science policy, and geoscience research, Orzechowski will lead GSA’s
advocacy efforts to support the geoscience community and its contributions
to society.
Orzechowski joins GSA from the University Corporation for Atmospheric
Research (UCAR), where she managed legislative relations for over 120
member institutions specializing in Earth system science. Previously, she
served as an AAAS Congressional Science Fellow in the Office of U.S.
Senator Michael F. Bennet and as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy
Fellow at the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Climate Adaptation Science
Center. She also represented the United States as a delegate to the
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris,
France.
A paleontologist by training, Orzechowski earned her Ph.D. from the
University of California, Berkeley, where she analyzed environmental changes
recorded in the Pleistocene marine terraces of Southern California. She
holds a bachelor's degree in Integrated Biology from the College of William
and Mary with Interdisciplinary Honors in Geology. Her academic
achievements include receiving the Winifred Goldring Award from the
Paleontological Society and the Association for Women Geoscientists.
“I am honored to join GSA in its mission to advance geoscience through
policy advocacy,” says Orzechowski. “Science-informed policies are
essential for addressing critical societal challenges, and I look forward
to advancing GSA’s priorities in Washington and beyond.”
“Emily’s expertise in science policy and legislative relations makes her an
outstanding addition to GSA,” adds Melanie Brandt, GSA’s CEO and Executive
Director. “Having her in this key role will help GSA ensure that knowledge
and insights deeply rooted in science lead to the creation of sound public
policy.”
Nathan Niemi, Acting President of the GSA Council, expanded on the
excitement of Orzechowski joining the GSA staff. “Advocacy for the
geosciences in the public domain is more crucial now than ever. GSA is
committed to supporting our members who work in the public sector,
championing support for geoscience research, and confronting the
geoscience-related challenges faced by our communities. Emily’s appointment
reinforces GSA’s dedication to bridging geoscience and public policy. By
strengthening connections between researchers and decision-makers, she will
help ensure that geoscientists play a central role in shaping policies on
natural resource management, climate resilience, and public safety.”
To learn more about GSA’s public policy advocacy, please read GSA’s
Position Statements
and subscribe to the GSA
Public Policy Newsletter.
About The Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America (GSA) is a global professional society
with more than 17,000 members across over 100 countries. As a leading voice
for the geosciences, GSA advances the understanding of Earth's dynamic
processes and fosters collaboration among scientists, educators, and
policymakers. GSA publishes Geology, the top-ranked geoscience
journal, along with a diverse portfolio of scholarly journals, books, and
conference proceedings—several of which rank among Amazon’s top 100
best-selling geology titles.
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