• MS, Environmental Systems, Humboldt State University, 1999; BA, Geology, Humboldt State University, 1995

I have been a consulting geologist for over 25 years, and my teaching focuses on applied field methods for contemporary practice with strategies and advice for entering the professional world.

I am a licensed professional geologist specializing in fluvial and hillslope geomorphology. My work emphasizes projects that focus on flow and sediment management needs to restore geomorphic processes on regulated rivers, including sediment supply and sediment yield analyses; developing sediment management plans designed to help mitigate physical and biological impacts resulting from streamflow and sediment regulation; and developing and implementing monitoring programs to evaluate sediment mobility, transport, and associated geomorphic changes. My professional background also includes engineering geology (hillslope processes, slope stability, fault trenching, drilling, soils sampling and testing) and environmental geology (soil, surface water, and groundwater sampling; contaminant fate and transport analysis). 

• Ph.D, Geology, University of Washington, Seattle, 1972
• M.S., Geology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1969
• B.A., Geology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1967

• Ph.D. in Geochemistry, California Institute of Technology, 1965
• B.Sc. in Mining Geology, University of the Witwatersrand, 1956

• Ph.D., Earth Sciences, 1992, U.C. Santa Cruz
• B.S., Geology, 1982, Humboldt State University

• Ph.D., Geology, 2005, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
• M.S., Geology, 2001, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
• B.S., Geology, 1998, Oregon State University
• B.S., Environmental Science, 1998, Oregon State University

I teach introductory geology courses, like GEOL 109 - General Geology; upper division geology courses, like GEOL 312 - Earth Materials, GEOL 314 - Petrology, and GEOL 474 - Volcanology; geologic mapping courses like GEOL 435 - Geologic Field Methods and GEOL 475 - Geology Field Camp; and general education geology courses, like GEOL 300 - Geology of California.

GEOL 109/109L: General Geology

GEOL 300/300L: California Geology

GEOL 303: Environmental Geology

GEOL 312: Earth Materials (Mineralogy + Lithology)

GEOL 314: Petrology

GEOL 380: Advanced Petrology

GEOL 474: Volcanology

GEOL 435: Geologic Field Methods II

GEOL 475: Summer Geology Field Camp

GEOL 482: Instrumental Methods in Geology (Scanning Electron Microscopy)

GEOL 486: Geology Senior Seminar

GEOL 554: Advanced Geology Field Methods

I enjoy research that combines field geology, thin section petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, and crystal chemistry to investigate volcanic hazards and better understand what makes volcanoes turn on and off. My favorite kind of research projects blend field work that examines the volume, extent, and manner in which magma was erupted through geologic mapping and stratigraphy, and lab work that characterizes the behavoirs and evolution of magma systems through whole-rock geochemistry (XRF) and in situ analysis of crystals via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron microprobe (EMP). I am also starting to incorporate geochronology techniques like cosmogenic dating of Quaternary volcanic surfaces in my research. My current research projects involving undergraduate and graduate students are based at volcanoes in northern California, like Mount Shasta, the Lassen Volcanic Center, and Medicine Lake Volcano, as well as volcanoes in eastern California, like those near Mono Lake and in the Golden Trout Wilderness of the Sierra Nevada.  

• Ph.D, Geology, University of California, Berkeley, 1982
• A.B., Geology, University of California, Berkeley, 1967

• Ph.D., Geology, University of Kansas, 1961
• M. Sc, Geology, University of Nebraska, 1955
• B. A., Geology, University of Saskatchewan, 1953

• B.S. Oceanography with emphasis in marine geology (HSU ‘10)
• M.S. Environmental Systems - Geology with a focus on tsunami currents and coastal hazards (HSU ‘13)

GEOL 103 The Water Planet

GEOL 106 Earthquake Country (online sections and face-to-face sections)

GEOL 303 - Earth's Resources and Global Environmental Change

GEOL 308/308L Natural Disasters

GEOL 465 Geoscience Capstone

GEOL 486 - Geology Research Methods

GEOL 700 Finding Faults in Humboldt County

Stars to Rocks - Summer Immersion

Current Projects & Research:

• Study tsunamis and the currents they produce in our local harbors using ADCPs (current profilers)
• Work with Harbor District, NOAA, & Chevron on PORTS project
• Outreach with communities to increase earthquake & tsunami education and awareness

• Ph.D., Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of California - Santa Cruz, 2013
• M.S., Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of California - Santa Cruz, 2009
• B.S., Environmental Earth Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006

GEOL 100 - Stars to Rocks

GEOL 106 - Earthquake Country

GEOL 109 - General Geology

GEOL 110 - Geology of the Western US

GEOL 303 - Earth Resources and Environmental Global Change

GEOL 306 - General Geomorphology

GEOL 334 - Structural Geology

GEOL 335 - Field Methods I

GEOL 475 - Summer Field Camp Capstone

GEOL 486 - Research Methods

GEOL 524 - Methods in Geochronology

GEOL 700 - Finding Faults