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.

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 →

Posted in Appropriations, Congress, Federal support for science, National Science Foundation, NSF | Tagged Appropriations, NSF budget | Comments Off

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 Government Relations, Mathematics | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in Redistricting, Supreme Court | Tagged gerrymandering, Redistricting, Supreme Court | Comments Off

Origami meets math, science, and engineering

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Karen Saxe

This is the enticing title of the most recent Congressional briefing, sponsored jointly by the AMS and the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute. On May 22, Professor Erik Demaine of MIT (a MacArthur Fellow “genius”) wowed the audience with surprising – … Continue reading →

Posted in AMS Washington office, Congress, Federal support for science, Mathematicians, Uncategorized | Tagged Congress, Washington Office | Comments Off

Take action today!!! Petition to protect graduate students has June 1 deadline

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Karen Saxe

SCROLL DOWN TO READ ABOUT & LINK TO THE PETITION, or use this Direct Link to PETITION (described below) Congress is currently working on a re-authorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). This law, first enacted in 1965, is the basic … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Graduate students, Higher Education | Tagged Broadening participation; diversity; higher education, higher ed | 1 Comment

My AMS internship in the Washington, DC office

Posted on May 23, 2018 by Karen Saxe

Editor’s Note: This is the second of two consecutively posted pieces by the AMS Office of Government Relations AY2017-18 student interns. As you will read, Eliot is an undergraduate at the University of Maryland. My name is Eliot Melder, and … Continue reading →

Posted in AMS Washington office, Higher Education, Internship | Tagged Broadening participation; diversity; higher education, Government Relations, Washington Office | 1 Comment

The NSF is taking action against sexual harassment in science

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Karen Saxe

Editor’s Note: This will be the first of two pieces by the AMS Office of Government Relations AY2017-18 student interns. Abby Quick is working on her M.A. in Mathematics at American University. She is recipient of the 2017 Hanna Miriam … Continue reading →

Posted in National Science Foundation, Sexual Harassment | Tagged Sexual Harassment | Comments Off

Trump v. Hawaii, why should we care?

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Karen Saxe

On the last day of oral arguments of the current term, April 25, the Supreme Court will examine President Trump’s third travel ban. Specifically, the justices will consider the validity of Presidential Proclamation 9645 (September 24, 2017), captioned “Enhancing Vetting … Continue reading →

Posted in Higher Education, Immigration, International science, Supreme Court | Tagged higher education, immigration | Comments Off

We (probably) have a budget for 2018; what’s in it for the mathematical sciences?

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Karen Saxe

It has been a (very) busy week, budget-wise! On Wednesday evening, the House introduced its (very) long 2,232-page omnibus spending bill. On Thursday, the House passed it and in the (very) early hours of this morning (Friday at roughly 12:30 … Continue reading →

Posted in Appropriations, Congress, Mathematicians, NSF, Science Policy | Tagged Appropriations, NSF budget | Comments Off

Act Today to Help Ensure Adequate Federal Funding for Math Research!

Posted on March 9, 2018 by Karen Saxe

This post is a “call to action” and if you are going to act, you need to do so asap (ideally by March 12)! I hope the following explains what I am asking you to do, and also how you … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Appropriations, Congress, NSF | Tagged Appropriations, NSF budget | Comments Off