SIAM’s Newest Leadership Assumes Office

In November 2025, eligible members of the SIAM community voted in the annual election to select the Society’s new and returning¹ leadership. SIAM is thus pleased to introduce the incoming President-Elect, Vice President-at-Large, Secretary, three members of the SIAM Board of Trustees, and four members of the SIAM Council. 

The President-Elect will shadow current SIAM President Carol Woodward (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) throughout 2026 and assume the role of President for the entirety of 2027 and 2028. The newly elected Vice President-at-Large and reelected Secretary began their terms on January 1 and will serve until December 31, 2027. New and returning members of the SIAM Board of Trustees and SIAM Council also took office on January 1 and will retain their positions until December 31, 2028.

Here, SIAM’s newest leaders—all of whom have maintained active involvement with the organization in recent years—reflect on their positions and outline their intentions for their time in office. More information about the electees is available online.

President-Elect

Cynthia Phillips (Sandia National Laboratories): “I am so grateful that the SIAM membership has given me the opportunity to serve as President-Elect and then President. It is exciting and very humbling that I will at times be the face of this amazing organization. Though I hope to help SIAM with all of its endeavors, I especially wish to find ways to make our critical conference program more financially sustainable as costs rise and some people choose not to travel.”

Vice President-at-Large

Simon Tavener (Colorado State University): “I am surprised and delighted to have the opportunity to serve the SIAM community as Vice President-at-Large. For many of us, SIAM has significantly enhanced our professional development through its conferences and workshops, journals and books, and activity groups and sections. SIAM engages and supports its members from their time as graduate students through their early careers and ultimately to their roles as senior mathematicians in academia and industry. Moving forward, we face several challenges — particularly regarding the role of artificial intelligence and declining public confidence in science. I will seek to make the most of this opportunity to contribute to SIAM and its members as we address these challenges together as an international community of mathematicians.”

Secretary

Karen Devine* (Sandia National Laboratories, retired): “I am excited to be reelected as SIAM Secretary, and especially to lead the SIAM Committee on Committees and Appointments (CCA). In 2025, almost 25 percent of new CCA appointments were volunteers: SIAM members with a desire to serve our community in a special way. If you would like to be more involved in SIAM—building your professional network and sharing your time and talent—please volunteer by filling out the online form.” 

SIAM Board of Trustees

Bonita Saunders* (National Institute of Standards and Technology): “I am extremely honored to be elected to a third term on the SIAM Board of Trustees. I look forward to continuing the Board’s work and striving to make informed decisions that support applied and computational scientists throughout the U.S. and abroad. I will maintain efforts to open the lines of communication between SIAM leadership and activity groups or sections, where fiscally sound decisions may not be appreciated as such. More transparency can lead to outcomes that work for both sides, or at the very least, help each side better understand the other.”

Konstantina Trivisa (University of Maryland): “I am delighted and grateful to have been elected to the SIAM Board of Trustees. As a member of the SIAM Board, I will use this platform to further the field of applied mathematics and advocate for the essential role of interdisciplinary research in scientific discovery. SIAM plays a critical part in fostering interdisciplinary connections and promoting education and training, and I believe that we can double down on these strengths to help advance science and technology. At the core of a thriving society is a robust, engaged, and diverse membership, and I will serve as a steward for the growth of the Society.”

Ulrike Meier Yang* (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, retired): “I am very grateful to the SIAM membership for reelecting me to the SIAM Board of Trustees. Topics of interest for SIAM include the use of artificial intelligence and large language models. SIAM needs to carefully evaluate any risks or complications that stem from such tools, as well as potential opportunities that they provide to improve areas within SIAM, such as conferences, publications, and more. SIAM should also continue to pursue diversity—whether it is based on gender, race, geographic location, career stage (from students to senior researchers), or institution type (academia, national labs, or industry)—since this is crucial for the continued generation of fresh ideas and advancement of mathematical and computational research.”

SIAM Council

Luis Chacón (Los Alamos National Laboratory): “I am sincerely grateful for the trust that my SIAM colleagues have placed in me by electing me to the SIAM Council. As I begin my first term, I’m eager to learn more about the organization and support its mission. SIAM plays a unique and vital role in connecting researchers from universities, national labs, and industry, and advancing our shared scientific enterprise. Being part of its leadership at such a dynamic moment is a privilege and responsibility that I embrace with humility and deep appreciation.”

Rachel Levy (North Carolina State University): “Thank you for the opportunity to serve! One of the wonderful things about running for SIAM Council was the kind words of support from colleagues. I’m looking forward to reengaging in a leadership capacity and hope to be useful to SIAM in my new role by thoughtfully considering the varying perspectives and constituencies within the organization.”

Noemi Petra (University of California, Merced): “I am very grateful and honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve on the SIAM Council. SIAM plays a critical role in advancing applied and computational mathematics across academia, industry, and government, and I am eager to contribute to this mission. I hope to help expand inclusive and accessible opportunities for research exchange, professional development, and mentorship — particularly for members that face barriers to participation. I look forward to working with the Council to strengthen SIAM’s leadership in research, education, and outreach.”

Jennifer Ryan (KTH Royal Institute of Technology): “I am deeply honored to have been elected to the SIAM Council. SIAM provides a range of venues for intellectual engagement, which is vital to ensuring the continued impact of mathematics on societal and scientific advancements. I look forward to working with SIAM leadership to support activities that provide opportunities for vibrant intellectual exchange and promote collaboration and career development for the next generation.”

The ongoing dedication and commitment of SIAM’s leadership contribute to the enduring success and forward motion of the Society, and SIAM is deeply appreciative of the entire slate of candidates and the members who voted in the most recent election. Thank you for your continued willingness to serve our community!

¹ * indicates an incumbent member