Professor Janine Ann Baijnath-Rodino (JABR) is the Director of Meteorology and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS). A passionate Atmospheric Scientist and Educator, she collaborates with NASA JPL, NOAA’s National Weather Service, and academic partners to investigate how surface–atmospheric hydrometeorological processes drive extreme weather, such as heavy snowstorms and wildfires. She teaches courses including Meteorology and Extreme Weather and Analysis and Prediction of Weather Systems. She recently developed a Meteorology Certification program in AOS endorsed by the National Weather Service, opening career pathways for UCLA students. Prof. Baijnath-Rodino earned her PhD at the University of Waterloo, conducting research at NASA Ames on earthquake precursors, and pursued postdoctoral work in Environmental Engineering on wildfire dynamics.  She is currently a co-PI on the NASA field campaign (INSPYRES), studying pyro-convective clouds generated by extreme wildfires. During her grad school, she also worked as a Television Meteorologist for CBC News, forecasting, broadcasting, and producing weather stories for national audiences. A strong advocate for science communication, she has interviewed “Bill Nye the Science Guy” and now co-hosts of the award-winning science show, Jibber JABR.