September 18, 2017

Changes in Leadership

James Whitcomb Retires After Distinguished, 27-Year Career

Jim Whitcomb
James “Jim” Whitcomb retired from the National Science Foundation (NSF) after an accomplished 27-year career as program officer and section head. A talented seismologist, Jim brought enthusiasm and pride in the collaborations, discoveries, and outreach activities of the Earth Science community. He promoted interagency partnerships critical to Earth observations and our research community. Whitcomb made many contributions to EAR, NSF, and the world of science.

The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) currently has two Acting Section Heads, which correspond to its new organizational structure. The Division recently organized into two new sections:  Integrated Activities and Disciplinary Programs.

Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson currently serves as Acting Section Head of EAR’s new Integrated Activities Section. In this new capacity, Anderson oversees the Education and Human Resources, Instrumentation and Facilities, Earth Scope, and Integrated Earth Systems portfolios for the Division.

Eva Zanzerkia
Eva Zanzerkia currently serves as Acting Section Head of EAR’s Disciplinary Programs Section. Zanzerkia oversees EAR’s core science programs, including Sedimentary Geology & Paleobiology; Geophysics; Hydrologic Sciences; Petrology & Geochemistry Program; Tectonics Program; Geobiology and Low Temp Geochemistry; Geomorphology and Land Use Dynamics.

The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) welcomes three new program managers, and thanks Wendy Graham for her service.

Maggie Benoit
Program Director for the EarthScope Program.  Margaret (Maggie) previously served as a rotator in the EarthScope Program in 2013-2015. Prior to returning to NSF, Maggie was a professor in the Physics Department at The College of New Jersey.

Neysa Call
Program Director for Communications and Analytics. Neysa Call handles internal communications, EAR’s Committee of Visitors, and co-manages the Paleo-Perspectives in Climate Change Program. Prior, Call served as a Science Advisor in the U.S. Congress and on NSF’s Congressional Affairs Team

Maggie Toscano
Program Director for the Geomorphology and Land Use Dynamics Program. Marguerite “Maggie” Toscano joins EAR from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. She is Editor of the Atoll Research Bulletin (Smithsonian Scholarly Press) and a member of the International Society for Reef Studies.

Wendy Graham
Wendy Graham Completes Rotation in EAR. Wendy Graham returned to University of Florida after completing a rotator position with the Hydrologic Sciences Program. Wendy served as program director for the interagency Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems program and Chair of EAR’s Planning Committee for Communications and Outreach. Wendy was an enthusiastic and helpful team member and will be missed.

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date. Originally published Feb. 15, 2017.

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