Author Archives: Karen Saxe

About Karen Saxe

Karen Saxe is Director of the AMS Office of Government Relations which works to connect the mathematics community with Washington decision-makers who affect mathematics research and education. Over many years she has contributed much time to the AMS, MAA, and AWM, including service as vice president of the MAA and in policy and advocacy work with all three. She was the 2013-2014 AMS Congressional Fellow, working for Senator Al Franken on education issues, with focus on higher education and STEM education. In Minnesota she has served on the Citizens Redistricting Commission following the 2010 census and serves on the Common Cause Minnesota Redistricting Leadership Circle. She has three children and, when not at work especially enjoys being with them and reading, hiking and sharing good food and wine and beer with family and friends.

Sexual Harassment and a “Call to Action”

Posted on December 5, 2018 by Karen Saxe

UPDATE: At the bottom of this post I discuss Secretary DeVos’s proposed changes to Title IX guidelines. Since I published this post, the comment period has opened. You can give feedback until January 28, 2019. This link should bring you … Continue reading →

Posted in Sexual Harassment | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The election outcome and what it means for mathematicians

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Karen Saxe

  This post contains three parts: a long section on the newly elected members of Congress and the potential committee shake-ups that will affect the NSF and other science agencies; a shorter section on redistricting legislation that passed on November … Continue reading →

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Voting Rights Data Institute for Students

Posted on October 24, 2018 by Karen Saxe

  Editor’s Notes: (1) Democracy counts on voters voting; please vote on November 6! (2) This post is written by three undergraduates who spent much of their summer working on gerrymandering. I invited them to share their experiences applying their … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadening particpation in STEM, Higher Education, Redistricting | Tagged | Leave a comment

Good news! Great reports now available to all!

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Karen Saxe

  CRS reports are now public!! What in the world is she talking about, you ask? What is “CRS” and who cares about their reports? Please do read on….. Say you want to learn more about the role of the … Continue reading →

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Submit your big and wonderful ideas by October 26

Posted on September 27, 2018 by Karen Saxe

We know that mathematics touches every other field of science funded by the NSF. I hope that the next set of “big ideas”—that help guide NSF funding priorities—reflect that. We have an opportunity and, arguably, a responsibility to make this … Continue reading →

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The White House issues annual science memo

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Karen Saxe

Editor’s Note: Today marks 17 years since the tremendous loss of lives on the east coast of our nation. It would be difficult to post this without remarking on the pain that the survivors and families have endured since that … Continue reading →

Posted in Appropriations, Federal support for science, OSTP, Science Policy, White House | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

White House top science advisor Kelvin Droegemeier’s confirmation hearing to be held August 23, 10:15 EDT

Posted on August 21, 2018 by Karen Saxe

On August 1, President Trump made his nomination for a Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). This position requires Senate confirmation. Once the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee gives their approval, he will … Continue reading →

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Recess in Washington; Science Appropriations Update

Posted on August 8, 2018 by Karen Saxe

August is normally a time when all Congressional members return to their home districts. In DC, their staff members continue to work – meeting constituents, drafting legislation – and they have the opportunity to take more reflective time to consider … Continue reading →

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It’s almost August — invite members of congress to visit your campus!

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Karen Saxe

Your senators and representatives spend significant amounts of time in their home districts and are eager to meet constituents (you!) on the ground. One week per month and the entire month of August are “recess” for the US Senate and … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Congress, Graduate students, Higher Education | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Supreme Court has decided on gerrymandering, what does it mean for the math & stats community?

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Karen Saxe

What is going on with the Supreme Court vis-à-vis gerrymandering? The Supreme Court justices are busy finishing up their current term and the past weeks have seen decisions handed down on gerrymandering cases. To get you up to speed, the court … Continue reading →

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