Dr. Tashiana Osborne Cherké

Science to Action | Risk Management & Resilience
Thought Leadership | Project Management

During my journey thus far, I’ve developed and applied skills for science-informed action, through thought leader, technical advisor, project manager, research, mentor, and lecturer roles. Recent work, including with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) interagency activities, integrates actions that identify and mitigate risks and increases the resilience of communities, ecosystems, and the environment to weather and water related shocks.

My efforts contribute to strengthening progress within and across key development areas, including human wellbeing and livelihoods, environment, agriculture, education, water and sanitation, localization, equity, peace and security. It is important to me to uphold and build on goals that strengthen our ability to go further together in STEM and society.

Previously, I completed an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellowship. I also co-led the Global Ocean Corps and Conveyor, which achieved endorsement as an official United Nations Ocean Decade program. Within Ocean Corps, I facilitated educational and capacity development programs, including the Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Nigeria and Ghana.

I completed my postdoctoral fellowship within the Johns Hopkins University Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. As part of interdisciplinary weather and health projects,  I investigated Amazonia region rainfall and floods, which serve as predictors for malaria risk.

I earned my Ph.D. and M.S. at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego. My dissertation defined and described extreme variations in the rain-snow transition elevation during California storms, many of which are considered atmospheric rivers. I earned a B.S. at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, graduating with a double major in meteorology and hydrology and a mass communication minor.

As part of my journey, I completed specialty area and professional development experiences, including through AAAS and USAID, NASA science journalism (Media page), NOAA North Central River Forecast Center, CNN Weather, and Bahamas hydrogeology research via an NSF REU. I was part of the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) field campaign, and DEEPWAVE which explored atmospheric gravity waves and cloud stereo photogrammetry in New Zealand. 

In addition, I completed a NASA research experience on spatial patterns and large scale drivers of western U.S. atmospheric rivers and precipitation. I also completed the AMS Summer Policy Colloquium and served as an AGU Voices for Science Advocate and a Scripps and Moravian College Delegate for United Nations Conferences of the Parties (COPs).

Through it all, I aim to continue cultivating meaningful relationships and steps forward together on this path of discovery and growth.

I enjoy time with those close to me, nature walks, being in or around water, exploring new and known places.

Gratitude: Thank you to individuals and organizations who show support in my endeavors.