Alumni


	Alumni News

Hi, I'm Khal Spencer, U of R class of 1976 (Geology, B.S.). I'm currently an Associate Specialist at the Dept. of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/

my web page is woefully out of date, but here it is:
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/FACULTY/kspencer.html

Khal Spencer
p.s. Regards to Larry Lundgren. Tell Larry that my triple-major in "frisbee, geology, and genesee beer" bequeathed to me by Zeddie is doing well for itself. Just can't get Genny Creme out here in Honolulu....

mailto: khal@mano.soest.hawaii.edu

Hi,
I graduated in 1982 in Geology and was just wondering what the department was up to since I'd left. I notice Dr. Larry and Dr. Carl brett are not listed any more. So has the place turned totally around now. Am getting a Masters in English! Really turn the dept. around with my view of life and the earth. Now there is a new critical theory called eco-criticism which incorporates literature, nature, man's role and position in nature, philosophy, conservation, etc. fascinating. Anyway, let me know what's going on at Kate Davis, kdav498@wolf.sulross.edu or P.O. Box 45, terlingua, TX 79852. Ho about a geology field trip to the Big Bend of texas? Have contacts in geology dept. here, paleonotologists, camping, food, great structural and chemical gology area. I'd be happy to help coordinate a field trip. Best time to come is over Christmas or early summer or October. Love to help show off this fabulous area, my home.--Kate

Hello!

I'm delighted to see that you're putting together a directory of alumni from Earth and Environmental Sciences (formerly Geology).

Although I was not formally part of the Geology Dept., one of my concentrations focused there.

I received my B.A. in General Science in 1978. I designed my major with a concentration in psychology and earth sciences. After I left the U of R, I went to Boston University and received an M.S. in Science Communications. I put both of those degrees together in a science journalism career that has focused for almost 20 years on earth, environmental, and energy sciences. I'm currently the managing editor of ENVIRONMENT magazine.

My husband, Charlie Richman, received a B.S. in Biology/Geology, also in 1978. He received his Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the Johns Hopkins University in fall 1984. After serving as Daniel Patrick Moynihan's (D-NY) energy and environment senior advisor for three years, Charlie moved to ICF Kaiser, Inc., an environmental consulting firm. He now directs ICF's Geographic Information System laboratory.

The only course that Charlie and I officially took together was Environmental Decisions (GEO 340). Obviously, we've taken our commitment to the environment seriously.

You can reach us at btrichman@yahoo.com

Best,
Barbara T. (Shore) Richman
UR 78

Hi, I am a graduate of the Biology-Geology degree, B.S., 1981 My email is thorbjar@geology.sdsu.edu and I am now currently an associate professor of hydrogeology at San Diego State University in California. I am married with two children, Jamie - a 6 yr old girl and Craig - a 4 yr old boy. Back in my days, Carl Brett, Asish Basu, Larry Lundgren and Bob Sutton were around - glad to see that at least Basu is still there. Many fellow graduates are still in the science field and can be accessed - however, have lost touch with Marian Allen - graduated B.S. geology 1982. Anyone know where she is? Kathy Thorbjarnarson

Here's a nuts and bolts entry for the Alumni database:

Name: Doug Allen
Year & Degree: 1994 Environmental Studies
Graduate School: MS 1997 Lehigh University, Geological Science
(Advisor: Dr. Bobb Carson)
Residence: Rochester
Employment: Hydrogeologist
Haley & Aldrich of New York
email: dca@haleyaldrich.com

Thanks!

Doug

Hello:
I would just like to add a brief bio sketch to the alumni directory. I am now a PhD student in the Dept. of Env. Science, Policy, and Mgt. at UC Berkeley, concentrating in landscape ecology and conservation biology, particularly the use of computer models. I am now working on my thesis in South Australia, exploring bird conservation and optimal management strategies. I spent last summer in southern Africa, where I am peripherally involved in an incipient program on community-based management of wildlife resources. As an undergrad, I worked as a lab tech with Udo Fehn on his 129/127 Iodine projects.

Cheers,

Michael Westphal, 1995 BS Env. Science
Michael Ian Westphal, PhD Candidate
Dept. Environmental Science, Policy, & Mgt.
University of California
Wellman 201
Berkeley, CA 94720

Hugh Possingham lab in ecological modelling
Dept. of Applied and Molecular Ecology
Waite Campus
The University of Adelaide
PB 1 Glen Osmond
South Australia
AUSTRALIA
phone: 61 8 8303 6712; 61 8 8303 6714
fax: 61 8 8379 4095
mwestphal@waite.adelaide.edu.au

I just hopped on the alumni page and saw that it has been up and running since at least August, 2000. Very nice! I'll update my information....

I am down in Florida at UF working with Ellen Martin to constrain the opening of the Drake Passage using Nd as a proxy for paleocirculation. We'll be presenting some of our data at AGU in December, hope to see some of you! I'll be starting my dissertation research after this project, reconstructing paleocirulation in the North Atlantic on glacial/interglacial timescales. All is well.

In non-academic news, Emily and I will be getting married in June up in CT. She is now down here in Gainesville, working as a nurse at the university hospital. She says hello to all the rock-heads in Hutchinson and to those who have since scattered!

Gainesville is nice, I don't need a snow shovel and crampons to get to the office. But there's nothing like Rochester in the Fall. I hope that everyone, in and out of Rochester, is doing well. Drop me a line and tell me how your life is, I'd love to hear from everyone.

Howard Scher
Department of Geology
University of Florida
hscher@ufl.edu
http://grove.ufl.edu/~hscher/

I like the web page; very snazzy. Sounds like there have been some interesting speakers this semester.

I'm currently living "way down yonder by the Chattahootchie", here in Marietta, Georgia, which is just outside of Atlanta. I've been working for Clayton Environmental Consultants, Inc. since March 1998, which is actually a division of Clayton Group Services, Inc. (www.claytongrp.com). I work in the Environmental Risk Management and Remediation Services division, and mainly conduct Phase I Environmental Site Assessments at numerous commercial or industrial properties. Lately, I have also done some Phase II sampling work at dry cleaning sites. Atlanta's a great town, tons to see and do culturally, not to mention the bars . . . Yet, I can't see myself living down here for too much longer. I miss the winter, but more importantly, I miss my family and friends back in Pennsylvania. I've tossed around the idea of going for my masters at GA Tech, but I'm still not sure exactly what route I would like to go.

My email address is ddefazio@claytongrp.com; ignore this AOL address since it will soon be canceled. I'm in the process of moving, so I can't give you a permanent mailing address just yet. I'm sure that I'll be up to visit sometime next year since it is the 150th B-day of "Meliora".

Hello to Professors Lundgren, Fehn, and Poreda. Any new developments with Bucky Balls Professor Poreda?

Karel Tracy, class of 1995
current e-mail: tracyk@cc.wwu.edu
I am living in Bellingham, Washington, and in a graduate program at Western Washington University.

Update from Karel, January 16, 2002

I have just received my Master's degree with a focus in hydrology from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA.
Karel Tracy
BA 1995 Geology
current address:
1014 23rd St. #5
Bellingham, WA
(360)756-2269
kareltracy@lycos.com

I'll retire from teaching in June to move to Cave Creek (Phoenix area) Arizona. Review books #4 and #5 with Amsco School Publications will be released next spring.

A field guide to Westchester County, NY can be downloaded without charge on my web page. (Rochester Mineralogical Symposium, 1991)

I currently live in Brookline, MA. I received my Master's in Public Health in Environmental Health from Boston University School of Public Health in the fall of 98. I work for an environmental consulting firm- EBI Consulting as an environmental scientist.

I'm a '93 Environmental Science grad of the Department, I'm currently teaching Earth Science at a high school in Akron outside Buffalo, NY.

I was actually surfing to find Dr Carl Brett's address when I could not find him among the honored staff. Could anyone shed some light on this for me. If you have a current adderss I'd appreciate it.

hello! from a former environmental studies grad (1995) - just providing you with some contact info for your email newsletter. i am currently running a community service fellowship program at northeastern university in boston, ma and completing my mba in non-profit management. i can be reached at w.horner@nunet.neu.edu...

Just to let you know, I am just finishing up my M.S. at the University of Cincinnati on K-bentonite correlation and sequence Stratigraphy of Black River and Trenton Group Carbonates from New York and Ontario, Canada. In addition, I have begun work on a PhD (also here at Cincinnati) looking at faunal changes across the Black River and Trenton Boundary from the eastern Midcontinent and northern Appalachian basin, in order to test new models of circulation and upwelling across the eastern margin of Laurentia during middle Ordovician time.

On a more personal note, I married my long-time girlfriend (Angel) last summer in the 1000 Islands (New York). Angel works here in Cincinnati as a Kindergarten Teacher. She has her work cut out for her, but she loves every minute of it.

If anyone from the Deparment from 1994 -1998 gets this message, let me know how things are going, and if you ever want to see some awesome rocks in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana email me and I would be glad to get you out to see some of them, climb some of them, or even walk through some of them! Well take care, and Best Wishes.

Sean Cornell '98
500 Geology/Physics Bldg.
University of Cincinnati
Department of Geology
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0013
(513)556-3732
cornelsl@email.uc.edu

I am Gary L. Kinsland, MS 1971 and PhD 1974. Worked with William Bassett in high pressure diamond cell Earth mantle phases and strengths. Am now Prof. at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Have been here 23 years. Was one year at Arizona State. Was married to Leslie with whom I have a daughter, Cynthia who just got her PhD in Chemistry from Cornell this Spring. Divorce 1985. Now married to Kellie Frey with whom I have another daughter born 2/9/99 and will have another child on or about 9/5/00. If you remember me send e-mail. Would like to communicate. glk9079@louisiana.edu

Greetings from Gene Peters (1987). After 5 years in the Marine Corps, I began work as an environmental consultant, doing hydrogeology. Along the way, I got a Masters in Environmental Engineering at Johns Hopkins and am working on a PhD in Geology at George Washington. I am currently with ENVIRON Corporation in Arlington, VA, just outside Washington DC. Love to hear from any of my 1983 - 1987 classmates or others in the DC area.

Gene Peters, P.G.
Manager
ENVIRON International Corporation
4350 North Fairfax Street, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 516-2487
(703) 516-2345 Fax
gpeters@environcorp.com
http://www.environcorp.com

This is Todd Creamer '93, with an update. After working for the US Geological Survey in Pennsylvania, I enrolled at North Carolina State Univ. in an MS program in physical sedimentology. I finished my thesis on event stratigraphy recorded in fine-grained marine deposits on the northern California shelf in 1998 and immediately went to work for Oryx Energy Company in Dallas, TX as a development petroleum geologist.

One merger and over 3 years later, I work for the US Onshore unit of Kerr-McGee Corporation in Dallas, and I will be transferred this summer to our International Development Team in Houston to serve as geologist for our Kasahkstani, Indonesian, Ecuadorian, and shallow water Australian properties.

We are a very large indepentent oil & gas company with operations all over the US and the world. We are actively hiring and I welcome communication with alums, undergrads & faculty.

I graduated from U of R in 1988 with a BA in Geology. After 4 years in the US Navy, I got my MST in secondary science for Earth Science from SUNY Potsdam. I taught Intro Geology courses at Jefferson Community College in Watertown, NY, for about a year and a half. I currently teach Earth Science at Massena High School in Massena, NY. For the geographically-challenged, I'm waaaaaay up in Northern NY, about 3 hours north of Syracuse. If you go any further north you'll be in Canada, literally! Teaching 9th graders is very challenging but I love it. I've been kicking around the idea of going back to school to study GIS. The jury's still out on that one though. I'd love to hear from any classmates! Contact me at davedoe@northnet.org.

I'm John Schwaller a graduate of the BIG program in 1990. I went to work for Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (CRA) in Niagara Falls until 1993 when I transferred to their Atlanta office. In 1999, I left CRA and formed my own company Environmental Management Associates, LLC serving small-medium sized companies, municipalities, and academic institutions throughout the US. We focus on all aspects of environmental consulting from Phase I ESA's to hazardous waste investigations and regulatory compliance. We are currently serving as New York University's environmental consultant implementing and enforcing compliance programs within the University and associated research hospitals. In 1999, I also formed an environmental remediation and construction company to facilitate my consulting recommendations.

I hope this message finds my fellow classmates and department members in good health and spirits (hopefully Genessee spirits). If anyone ventures into Atlanta let me know. I can be contacted at j.schwaller@worldnet.att.net as of 6/14/01.

John O. Schwaller
Environmental Management Associates, LLC
215 Wickerberry Hollow
Roswell, Georgia 30075

Hi from Lisa Engelman, Environmental Studies '94 grad. After Rochester, I went on to earn my M.S. in Environmental Studies at Ohio University. My thesis, "Geomorphological Analysis of the Hocking River Using ArcCAD," was completed under Dr. Greg Nadon. I used aerial photograph interpretation to populate of a geographic information system to determine the impact of coal mining after 1938 in the Monday Creek Watershed on a section of the Hocking River.

For the last five years, I have been working as an environmental analyst and information technology consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, and am now located in northern Virginia. I am also starting on a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy at George Mason University. I am planning on concentrate in the area of water resources, specifically in utilizing emerging technologies to better help in monitoring and regulating natural resources.

Unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to make it up for Meliora weekend to hear Larry and Udo on the Energy panel discussion. I am a bit swamped with working full-time and taking classes.

I thought I'd send you a quick update to let you know what I'm involved in now, and if anyone would like to fill me in on the news from the department, I'd love to hear it. (USGO field trip yet?)

As you probably know I'm at Portland State University in Oregon in the environmental sciences and resources department. My group consists of 7 up and coming riparian, stream, and urban ecologists who do primarily field based research...in other words, I fit in well. I took a soil geology course last fall, which kept me from missing geology. I'm also picking up botany, GIS, and statistics, which are new and interesting for me.

They have me TAing environmental systems I-III, which is a mix of the 214-216 series and ecology. I'm enjoying that, and more greatly appreciating the time and effort grad TAs put in behind the scenes!

I've come up with a prospective topic for my dissertation: Effects of invasive plants on the chemistry of soil and surface water in Western Oregon. The projects I did in Rochester and Australia certainly got me thinking on these lines, but also provided me some good background (so thanks for your help with that!)

In general, the city and the school are as good I hoped they might be, and I'm enjoying myself and working hard.

I had the good fortune to stumble upon this site during some down time in the field. I hope, as the directory grows, to learn what has happened in the lives of my peers and mentors. Of course, I am interested to learn of other alumni that may be involved in similar or complementary activities to my current work.

First, to recap - I received my B.S. in 1980 (Bio-Geo) and left that May for Louisiana State University where I received my M.S. Next, I was at the University of Cincinnati where I received my Ph.D. This was immediately followed by a post-doc with the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. My post-doc work was sponsored by the U.S.G.S. and I spent 3 years conducting research in the fields of low-temperature geochemistry, stable isotope geochemistry, and sediment-hosted mineral deposits.

In 1990 I joined BHP (now BHP-Billiton) and spent 10 years globe trotting through more than 20 countries and exploring for deposits in more than a dozen commodities. This included 3 1/2 years living in Egypt, and projects in China, Russia, Mozambique, Argentina, Guatemala, India, and Ethiopia. During my last 5 years with BHP I was their worldwide Exploration Manager for industrial minerals. This included iron, manganese, titanium, laterite nickel, clays, chemical feedstocks and more.

Currently (and since 2000) I head a small company named Upstream Resources. The company has three divisions: exploration, technical services, and consulting. It undertakes geologic activities related to mineral and energy exploration, research, environmental matters and education.

My ongoing work has me in S. America, where I'm involved in a country study to assess mineral resource potential; and Botswana, where I am working with the government geologic survey in a basin analysis research study of the Kalahari Basin.

Last but not least, I am married and have a six year old daughter. We live in Arlington, Virginia - just across the Potomac from Washington,D.C.

I was 50% of the B.S. Geology Class of 1961, having studied with Ed Hoffmeister, Bob Sutton, and Larry Lundgren.

Started teaching Earth Science at Wheatland-Chili H.S. Moved to Mamaroneck,NY and eventually worked as a Research Assistant at Queens College (Carbon Dioxide in air and equilibrated sea water) and Columbia Lamont (C-14).

Moved to Alfred, NY and resumed teaching Earth Science (Jasper-Troupsburg High School) until "retiring" June 2002. Am still mentoring and consulting in Earth Science education.

BS Geology, Class 1993 (originally 1992 but joined Take 5 program). I can't believe 10 years have passed, but here is my history since then: Upon graduating, I worked for the USGS in Reston, Va for 8 months (volunteer position). During the night I worked at TGI Fridays to make up for the valuable experience I was attaining with USGS projects. I left for the Southwest afterwards to join New Mexico Tech's graduate geology program where I earned an MS in Geology. My thesis involved a lithogeochemical and oxygen isotope study of the Cerro Maimon deposit (volcanogenic massive sulfide), Dominican Republic. 2.5 years later I started working for Teck Corporation (Jan 1997), based in Denver but most of exploration work in Mexico. 1.5 years later I joined Schlumberger in Denver to work on petroleum reservoirs in Argentina. A year later, and after experiencing a nasty layoff environment, I decided to switch careers and join the hardcore business world. I left for Arizona State, in Tempe, AZ, where I completed an MBA in Supply Chain Management. Upon graduation, I started working for IBM (2001) and have been with the company since.

Until next 10 years! (I'll do my best to check up on this page once in a while). Hi to Professors Mitra & Basu. And Brett, even though you're gone from the program.

This note is to give an update on my recent activities. I am currently a research assistant professor in the Geology Department at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.

In the last several years I have devoted much of my time to working for quality science education in the public schools, and for improved science literacy in the public. I was very active in the fight to preserve quality science standards in Kansas, and have been a board member of Kansas Citizens for Science, an activist organization of scientists, educators and citizens since that time. I have also worked within the religious community to help counter the folk science and folk theology that perpetuate a "warfare" view of science and faith. In keeping with these efforts I have edited a book entitled "Perspectives on an Evolving Creation" that has just been released by Eerdmans Publishing Co. My personal webpage http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~kbmill/index.html has more information on the book as well as links to resources on science/faith issues and science education.

Department of Earth & Environment Sciences

University of Rochester

Alumni News