Page 71 - Spring2020

Trevor: “Strengthen old connections and forge new friend- ships. In my opinion, the greatest strength of the ASA is its breadth. In addition to regular ASA meetings, participate in a chapter and attend regional meetings. Engage with as many types of ASA members as you can. Find out what types of volunteer opportunities the Society has and play to your strengths as you pitch in. Meet members of the Student Council and introduce yourself to the technical committee chair and others at one or more open meetings.”
Kieren: “Get involved! Participate in the student events at conferences. Come talk to us to see how you can get involved between conferences. Do the Students Meet Mem- bers for Lunch (Blackstock, 2015). Sign up for committees and go to your technical committee meetings. Get out of your comfort zone and volunteer. You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish and how much support you will find in the ASA community.”
We outlined many of these student involvement and volun- teer opportunities in a previous article (Burke and Doebler, 2019), so be sure to check that out.
Reflections on the Impact of the Acoustical Society of America
We asked Trevor and Kieren to think about how the ASA has impacted their lives so far.
Kieren: “The ASA has been an incredible support for my academic career thus far. It is the first conference where I presented research, the first place where I published, and where I have received and given academic mentorship. I have taken advantage of many of the opportunities the ASA has to offer, with scholarships, travel grants, publi- cation opportunities, and so much more. It has given me a community and helped me in the formation of my aca- demic identity.”
Trevor: “My connections with ASA members have devel- oped into two internships, a military fellowship, graduate school, dozens of job prospects, and several formal job offers. I feel a sense of pride for the ASA, the network it supports, and the technical breadth it embodies. I’m always eager to introduce the ASA to others when working on proj- ects or just chatting with friends. When discussing acoustics and its importance to those unfamiliar with it, it is natural for me to frame the conversation in terms of the research
and interdisciplinary aspects of the ASA and its interna- tional sisters.”
The ASA is clearly an important cornerstone in Trevor’s and Kieren’s paths to exemplary leadership.
Kieren’s Vision for Her Term and Future Student Excursions
When asked what her goals are as Student Council chair, Kieren enthusiastically replied, “I want to continue the work of creating volunteer positions to help open leadership roles to more students and provide ways for them to get more connected. I also want to help strengthen our international connections. I want to connect with the leaders of student acoustic organizations around the world to create a global network of students where we can support each other in our research and work. I am excited about the term as Council chair, and I am so grateful for the amazing Council that we have. Everyone is incredibly hard working, and we will get so much done!” She also wholeheartedly endorses POMA (see bit.ly/ASA_POMA) and highly encourages all students to submit their conference proceedings there.
Trevor also commented that there are often more students will- ing to help out than there are Student Council positions. He is hopeful for student involvement to be expanded to include a
“Student Delegation” that would aid in auxiliary efforts outside of typical Student Council activities. Kieren plans to continue pursuing this additional student group during her tenure. Look out for more information on this effort in the future!
Summary and Additional Opportunities
When looking for role models in acoustics, it is easy to add Kieren and Trevor to your list. The two demonstrate the success that student members of the ASA can achieve, and they serve as an inspiration to current students. We look forward to their continued success as Trevor moves toward early-career membership and Kieren toward fulfilling her term goals.
In summary, the chairs pointed out the importance of connect- ing with acoustics students from across the country and the world at the ASA meetings. They both urged students to find ways to get involved with the ASA because of the ability of the ASA to propel members to success. Finally, they reminded us to take advantage of the breadth of the knowledge within the Society by continuing to learn about the many aspects of the interdisciplinary field we all love: acoustics.
Spring 2020 | Acoustics Today | 71