2013 Assembly of Delegates

Mid-Atlantic Geographic Region Director

Name: Cristina Gouin-Paul

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

Chapter Affiliation: District of Columbia

Candidate's CV

Candidate's Statement: I am the citrus quarantine greenhouse and laboratory support scientist for USDA and have been in this position for over 22 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 in 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 organize 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 CQM, and lastly I am serving as the current Director for the Mid-Atlantic Region. I have also been the staff photographer and student poster judge for national meetings and have presented a student session on poster graphics. I organized 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. Serving again as MA Director 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.