2010 Assembly of Delegates:
Mid-Atlantic Geographic Region Director

2010 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting & International Research Conference

November 11-14, 2010
Raleigh Convention Center
Raleigh, North Carolina

Name: Cristina Gouin-Paul

Present Position:Citrus Quarantine Greenhouse and Laboratory Support Scientist
Organization: USDA

Chapter Affiliation: District of Columbia

Biographical Information: I am the citrus quarantine greenhouse and laboratory support scientist for USDA and have been in this position for over 19 years. I have both an M.S. and B.S. from UMD in horticultural research and grew up doing research with my father, Dr. Francis Gouin, Sigma Xi UMD chapter. I was indoctrinated into Sigma Xi in 1999 as an associate member and elected vice president of the DC Chapter all at one sentence. In 2002 I was elected President of the chapter and have remained as President ever since, re-elected by members. During my tenure with the DC Chapter I have organized or helped to organized traditional chapter dinner lectures 2-3 per year for our chapter. We have also co-sponsored meetings with other regional chapters.

In 2009 I was contacted by SX members and became involved in co-sponsoring monthly Café Scientifiques along with the Rockville Science center and Rockville Science Consortium. I am now on the planning committee for the café's and assist in finding speakers and organizing the monthly free café's. In conjunction with the UMD and Tidewater chapter's I have helped to organize the first annual grad and undergrad Sigma Xi poster colloquium. I have also helped to lead my chapter out of the proverbial box (restaurant) and organize hikes and tours of various local points of interest that have been well received and attended by chapter members and guests. This past year I have also been involved in revitalizing the Frederick Chapter and have participated in member meetings and met with their board to assist in brainstorming sessions.

My involvement with Sigma Xi has been extensive since I began attending the national meetings, it has been refreshing to meet with so many like minded intelligent individuals. I have been a member of the CQM for the past 3 years, and am now chair of the Committee on Qualifications and Membership (CQM), and lastly I am serving as the current Associate Director for the Multi institutional Constituency. I have also been the staff photographer and student poster judge for national meetings and have presented a student session on poster graphics. I will also be organizing the Sigma Xi booth on the DC National Mall for the Science Festival in October of 2010.

I would like to continue my involvement with Sigma Xi and lead it into the future. Continuing my Associate Directorship for MI would be an honor and I look forward to my continued involvement with Sigma Xi. If there is ever a job or project that involves Sigma Xi I do not hesitate to volunteer and put every ounce of effort I have into it.

Name: Andrew J. Velkey, II

Present Position: Assoc. Prof. of Psychology & Director — Univ. Office for Undergraduate Research
Organization: Christopher Newport University

Address: 1 University Place
Newport News, VA 23606
United States

Chapter Affiliation: Tidewater, VA

Candidate's Statement: The success of Sigma Xi depends on the organization's ability to quickly become more relevant---if the declining membership trend is not reversed within the next few years, the present inception of the Society will no longer exist. I believe that Sigma Xi will be more relevant when members work through the larger organization to benefit the greater good. Sigma Xi should be the ideal mechanism through which scientists and engineers contribute to the local, regional, national, and global welfare of all.

Over the past 10 years, I have served both my local chapters and the national organization in various officer positions and have contributed to the success of Sigma Xi in a number of ways. If re-elected to the office of Director for the MA constituency group, I will encourage dialogue and foster connections between members, chapters, and the Society at large.

Sigma Xi and Other Activites: Sigma Xi: Tidewater Ch. Secretary, 2001-2003, 2007-present; Tidewater Ch. Membership Chair, 2006-2007; Facilitator, Tidewater Area Science Cafe, 2005-present; Tidewater Ch. Past-President, 2005-2006; Tidewater Ch. President, 2004-2005; Tidewater Ch. President-Elect, 2003-2004;; University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) Ch. President, 2000-2001; UMMC Ch. President-Elect, 1999-2000; Delegate every year from 1999 through 2007; Mid-Atlantic Regional Director 2008 – present; Associate Director of Mid-Atlantic Region, 2007- 2008, National Nominating Committee, 2006-2008; National Committee on Qualifications & Membership, 2006-present; Area Groups/Industries/State and Federal Laboratories Constituency Group Nominating Committee, 2001-2004; National Committee on Minutes, 2001-2004; Teller, 2002 Annual Meeting; Sigma Xi National Travel Grant for PKAL summer institute workshop on "Developing Courses that Link to Themes and Goals in Project 2061 (AAAS)", 2000; Sigma Xi Science Education Development Grant for the development of a new science course at Millsaps College, 2001; Supervised seven undergraduate research projects funded in part by local grants awarded by the UMMC Chapter, 1998-2001. Also an active participant in Project Kaleidoscope, including selection as a member of the "PKAL Faculty for the 21st Century" (F21, class of 2006).

Biographical Information: Education: Ph.D.-Experimental Psychology, The Univ. of Montana, 1997; M.A.-Experimental Psychology, The Univ. of Montana, 1995; B.S.-Psychology, Millsaps College, 1991. Employment: Assoc. Prof. of Psychology, Christopher Newport University, 2005-present; Asst. Prof. of Psychology, CNU, 2001-2005; Asst. Professor of Psychology, Mississippi College, 1997-2001; Asst. Program Evaluator, Department of Community and Government Studies, The Univ. of Montana, 1995-1997. Publications: American Journal of Primatology, Journal of General Psychology, Behavioural Processes, Cognitive Technology, Creighton Law Review, Perceptual & Motor Skills, and Psychopharmacology. Currently researching territoriality and aggression in Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens), the computer-based analysis of bubble-nesting behavior in B. splendens, and discrimination between smaller-sooner and larger-later reinforcement opportunities in Danio rerio.