On Monday, October 25, 1999, the Department of Geology took part in the group alumni gathering at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. Lori Bettison-Varga, Bob Varga, Greg Wiles, and Mark Wilson hosted the event. Alumni and current students in attendance at this gathering as well as at other events at this GSA meeting were:

The 2000 Annual Meeting of GSA will take place in Reno, Nevada, November 13-16. The group alumni gathering will be held on Monday evening, November 13.

During Alumni Weekend 2000, Molly Fritz Miller ('69) was presented with Wooster's Distinguished Alumni Award. A native of Schenectady, New York, Molly graduated with honors in geology from Wooster in 1969. Her fondest memories of Wooster range from listening to Hair 30,000 times (her estimate, not ours), meeting Martin Luther King, Jr., while campaigning for Carl Stokes for Mayor of Cleveland, and the 1966 Seventh Section Formal. She was one of Richard Osgood's Senior I.S. students.

Immediately after graduating from Wooster, Molly served as a Peace Corps trainee in the Ethiopia Secondary Education Program. She earned her Master's degree from George Washington University, after which she taught Earth science at the high school level and worked for the National Park Service in Bryce Canyon before getting her Ph.D. at UCLA. In 1977, Molly accepted a position in the Department of Geology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she has taught since.

At Vanderbilt, Molly has served on various committees, including President of the Faculty Senate. She has received Vanderbilt's Thomas Jefferson Award for service to the university, as well as the Pre-Major Advisor Award. Her research interests include the interaction of burrowing animals with their environment, both now and in the geologic past; the evolution of ecosystems in lakes and streams; and the geologic record of Antarctica.

Molly initially traveled to Antarctica when invited by her colleagues who thought her expertise with sedimentary rocks and true fossils would be helpful. Since 1985, she has visited Antarctica three times, once taking along Steve Smail ('94) when she was his advisor while he was working on his Master's degree at Vanderbilt.

She is widely published in journals such as Geology and the Journal of Paleontology, for which she is also a technical editor, and she is currently the science editor of GSA Today.

Molly has presented lectures throughout the United States and abroad and served as a Sigma XI lecturer from 1996-1998. In 1992, she presented the Eleventh Annual Richard G. Osgood, Jr. Memorial Lecture here at Wooster - a fitting tribute to her Senior I.S. advisor. (She once presented an Alumni Weekend lecture at Wooster a few years later at which she wore ALL the layers of clothing she would normally wear while in Antarctica. Since it was June and quite warm, she proceeded to peel off layers throughout her presentation.)

Active in the Nashville community - she was co-organizer of the School Improvement Plan Monitoring Committee and she worked to defeat a bill in the Tennessee legislature that would have made it a felony for public school teachers to teach evolution as fact - Molly and her husband, Calvin Miller, also a member of Vanderbilt's Department of Geology, have two children Spring and Zach.

While on campus to receive this award, Molly presented "Antarctica: Tales from the Earth's Past, Clues to Its Future."

We congratulate Molly on this prestigious award!

John Ebright ('44) is living in Bay Village, Ohio, where he is retired from the petroleum industry.

Ernie Muller ('44) is Professor Emeritus of Geology in the Earth Sciences Department at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, where he resides with his wife Wanda. During his teaching career, Ernie was involved with geomorphology and glacial geology and has co-authored papers with current Wooster faculty member Greg Wiles. Since retiring, Ernie has continued his research by observing the Bering Glacier in Alaska for the past 12 years. This research project is now called BERG, the Bering Glacier Research Group, and involves more than 30 other geologists and students. To read more about this project, see page 34 of the Winter 2000 issue of WOOSTER.

Nathaniel Sterner ('51) is living in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where he is a retired mathematics teacher from St. Claire High School. During his career, he was a reader of advanced placement calculus tests. He has also served as the director of the Pottsville Bridge Club and is a 50-year member of the F&A Masons Lodge #285.

Bob Hilty ('54) resides in Kerrville, Texas, where he is a geologist/geophysicist and is also working as an expert witness in the petroleum industry.

Don Byerly ('55) was the recipient of GSA's National Association of Geology Teachers (NAGT) Award at the 1999 annual meeting in Denver, Colorado. Don is a professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Doug Lambert ('68) is a Senior Research Oceanographer at the naval research laboratory at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. He is currently working with basic and applied research in marine geology. He resides in Pearl River, Louisiana.

Susan Metcalfe ('69) is the division director for Solid Waste Management Division in Lecanto, Florida. She works with the permitting and environmental compliance aspects of solid waste disposal. She resides in Inverness, Florida.

Jay Boyd ('70) lives and works in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is a CPA who also does quite a bit of oil and gas work as a result of his background in geology. Geology really is everywhere!

Gary Gray ('74) is in his second year of teaching chemistry and coaching lacrosse at Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Patricia Hagelin Kelley ('75) is currently supervising one Ph.D. and three Master's students in addition to her teaching, research, and administrative duties as Professor and Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Her husband, Jonathan Kelley ('76), is the minister of the Southport Presbyterian Church in Southport, North Carolina, where they reside. Patricia is in the middle of a particularly busy year having assumed the responsibility of President of the Paleontological Society last year. Patricia and Jonathan have two children: Timothy, a freshman at Davidson College, and Katherine, a high school freshman.

Just as the family of Kazuhiro Aoki ('77) moved from Kamaishi, Japan, back to Tokyo where Kaz had been transferred, he was transferred again - this time to Tokai, almost two hours away. When last we heard from him, Kaz was working in Tokai during the week and coming home to Tokyo on the weekends. He is the General Manager of the Site Planning Division for Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC). Kaz and his wife, Sachiko, have four daughters: Lisa (15), Yuki (13), Emi (11), and Maki (9).

Due to her husband's transfer, Cathy Coon ('77) has moved from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to Denver, Colorado. In November of 1999, she listed her current occupation as "consultant," but hoped that she would be changing it to something a little more permanent soon.

Kurt Leckler ('78) is a hydrogeologist with the South Florida Water Management District in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he also resides.

Martha Edick's ('78) "four year tropical assignment" with the Shell Oil Company in Nigeria was cut short when her husband, Mike Henderson, accepted a position with Shell in New Plymouth, New Zealand. Although we have not heard from Martha since late last year, it is more than likely that they were already in New Zealand by the time the year 2000 rolled in. Martha and Mike have two grade-school daughters, Caroline and Anna.

Joan Blanchard Mosher ('78) is living in Los Altos, California, where she is a homemaker.

Gloria Miller Wilson ('78) is working for the Cook & Samsa accounting firm in Wooster, Ohio, while taking classes towards her CPA. She and her husband, Mark ('78), have two children: Amy (16), a high school junior, and Ted (13), a seventh grader.

Jeff Spatz ('79) has been living in Aberdeen, Scotland, for four years now, where he is a geologist with BP Amoco. He is working with high pressure-high temperature Triassic fluvial sandstones in the central North Sea. He has the opportunity to travel quite a bit with his work ­ Israel, Tanzania, Nepal, Europe -­ but always returns home to his three daughters, ages 13, 11, and 8.

Ed Andrew ('80) continues to live and work in Orland Park, Illinois, where he is the Facilities Engineer for the Andrew Corporation.

Mike McCormick ('82), living in Fircrest, Washington, is an instructor of geology at Green River Community College in Auburn, Washington.

Tim Miller ('82) works with mine planning and exploration with the East Fairfield Coal Company in Lisbon, Ohio, as a Senior Exploration geologist. In April, he started an under-ground limestone mine. He writes, "It is a challenge as well as exciting to be drilling, planning, and seeing an idea such as this become reality."

Winston Norrish ('82) currently leads the People Services Group at SourceNet Solutions, Inc. in Houston, Texas. Prior to working with SourceNet, Winston worked for ten years with British Petroleum where he was involved in developing team performance processes. Winston holds the distinction of being the first student of Mark Wilson's to earn a Ph.D. (from the University of Cincinnati).

Dave Bickmore ('83) is a pilot for Penske Jet in Waterford, Michigan, where he also resides.

Anne Scales Craft ('83) has moved to Carmel, Indiana, after living near Chicago for the past 12 years. Her husband Greg heads the Indianapolis office of their family business, RSA. Anne and Greg have two children: Trevor (9) and Evan (6).

Jim Ulrich ('84) teaches Earth science at Cortland Junior and Senior High Schools in Cortland, New York. He and his wife, Elaine Norris Ulrich ('84), are the parents of five pre-school children: Nikea, Nathaniel, and the triplets: Molly, Kenian, and Jeffrey.

Fred Siewers ('85) is the newest addition to the faculty in the Department of Geology and Geography at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Fred is a carbonate sedimentologist and stratigrapher with experience in the Paleozoic geology of the southeast and western United States. Prior to teaching at Western Kentucky, Fred taught at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois. Fred is married to Helen Tyson Siewers; they have one daughter, Anna.

Julie Ferguson Haines ('86) has become the first female vice president of the Louis Berger Group, an international engineering firm based in Washington, D.C. She is working with the global environment division doing environmental geology consulting in developing countries throughout the world. She writes that she gets to work with "great rocks ­ the sparkly kind, gems ­ in exotic places!" Julie resides in Burke, Virginia, with her husband, John, and their two children: Nick (10) and Alexandra (6).

Brian Carl ('87) writes to let us know that he has received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina. He and his wife, Karen Roemer Carl ('87), have relocated to Houston, Texas, where Brian is now working with ExxonMobil. Brian and Karen have one daughter, Alena.

John Raker ('87) continues to do well as Director of Tennis at the Spotswood Country Club in Harrisonburg, Virginia. In addition, he also "owns" a USTA International Women's Pro Tennis Tournament. The first tournament was a success with participating players from over 30 countries.

Abe Springer ('87) continues to teach at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, where he is an associate professsor, but he is now on a much deserved sabbatical during the 2000-2001 academic year. During this leave he is guest lecturing around the United States as well as traveling to England and South Africa for research. Abe resides in Flagstaff with his wife, Judy, and their two-year old son, Isaac.

Tim Nicholson ('88), called us in August to let us know that he will be moving later this year. He has accepted a two-year transfer to Indonesia. Tim works with UNOCAL in Sugar Land, Texas, where he resides with his wife, Robyn, and two children: Mallory (almost 3) and Jacob (5 months).
Lisa Park ('88), Assistant Professor of Geology at The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, has been honored by being named a Paleontological Society Distinguished Lecturer for 2001-2003.

Celinda Brandt-Miller ('89) is working part-time at the Center for Mathematics and Science Education, Teaching and Technology located at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, after resigning her position as a teacher at Hawken Middle School where she taught sixth grade science. Celinda is coordinating a program created by BP/Amoco called "Science Across America" which is a science curriculum designed for middle and high school students. She and her husband, Francis Miller ('90), have two children: Adrian (almost four) and Lillian (nine months).

Simon Springett ('90) has completed his work with the Peace Corps and now works with OXFAM, a humanitarian aid foundation, in Oxford, England. He is the project manager for emergency support personnel.

Chris Finton ('91) is now working with Danone International Brands, Inc. in Milesburg, Pennsylvania, just outside of State College. Danone is the nation's largest producer of bottled water using the brand names of Evian, Dannon, Pure American, Great American, and Castle Rock. Chris is a hydrogeologist working in North America evaluating and developing potential spring sources as well as protecting the existing ones. Chris and his wife, Leslie Belgrad Finton ('92), have a two-year old daughter, Hannah.

Anne Lewellen ('92) has spent the past three years as a museum technician with the National Park Service. After terms at Yellowstone and the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, she is presently working at the Southeast Archeological Center in Tallahassee, Florida. Her office handles archeology work and stores objects for most of the southeastern national parks. Anne works in the curation lab, cataloging and analyzing artifacts, including Native American lithics and ceramics, historic ceramics, glass, and other miscellaneous objects.

By way of the Keck Geology Consortium Newsletter, we learned that Andy Gavin ('93) is a hydrogeologist for the Susquehanna River Basin Commission in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Luke Blair ('94) writes, "I am no longer an intern! I've been hired as a member of the Eastern Region Geologic Division of the USGS . . . lots of geology . . . you just had to give me that Moke Prize, didn't you?" Luke's official title is Physical Science Technician. He provides
graphics and GIS support for various team projects within the USGS from his office in Reston, Virginia. He is also moonlighting as a laboratory instructor for various geology courses at George Mason University. He resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

Tara Burgy ('94) is living in the Philadelphia area. She is working with Briar Bush Nature Center where she coordinates on-site programs and field trips.

Heather Catteau ('94) resides in Ridgway, Colorado, where she is working with Partners, a company that pairs at-risk youth with mentors.

Steve Smail ('94) is a busy guy these days. He recently became a homeowner in Nashville, Tennessee, where he is teaching Earth science at the University School of Nashville. He is also developing a GIS system for the school as part of a wetlands project on the Cumberland River. This Summer Steve spent three weeks in Japan as part of his acceptance into the Fulbright Memorial Fund's Teacher Program. Steve is also enrolled in the Watkins Film School in Nashville, taking filmmaking courses.

Laura Campbell ('97) has temporarily left the field of geology and is currently enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America in New York City. She writes that I.S. at Wooster was the most useful preparatory tool for life . . . especially when dealing with stress.

Ro Fernandez ('97) is living and working in downtown Cleveland, where he is a financial advisor for American Express Financial Advisors IDS Life Insurance Company.

Brian Hitchens ('97) has completed his Master's degree in geology and geophysics from the University of Wyoming. He and Helen Rance, who he met while on a Keck project, are engaged.

Craig Petko ('97) is busy finishing his Master's degree at Texas A&M University where he is discerning the effects of water fugacity in the upper mantle.

Suzanne Spring ('97) has moved from rural Vermont to Dorchester, Massachusetts. She has been working in the education department at the Museum of Science in nearby Boston, where she gives presentations to the public as well as to teachers training in physical science.

For the next couple of years, New Zealand will be home to Nate Wilds ('97) and his wife Sarah Burger Wilds ('97). When Sarah was offered a position as a speech pathologist in New Zealand this past January, she and Nate figured that with "no kids, no pets, no house, and no real responsibilities" that at this point in their lives it was an opportunity they could not pass up. We're wondering if Nate will run in to either Martha Edick ('78) or Percy Strong ('64), both of whom also reside in New Zealand.

Chris Bodle ('98) and Heather Ransom are engaged to be married on Saturday, September 30, 2000, in Wooster. Chris is a hydrogeologist with Eagon and Associates in Worthington, Ohio.

Eric Champlin ('98) has opened his own business ­ Gateway Country-Duluth ­ in Duluth, Georgia, doing graphics design, html, and flash and shockwave animation for small businesses (www.geckocreations.com). While this business has been successful, Eric is still looking to find an equally successful career path related to either geology or journalism. Eric lives in Lithia Springs, Georgia.

Meg McLaughlin ('98) worked for the Admissions Office at The College of Wooster for over a year before relocating to the Columbus, Ohio, area during the Summer of 2000. In August, she married Matthew Sparks (Art '98), a middle school art teacher in Hilliard, Ohio. We wish Meg the best and hope that she stays in touch with us.

When Megan Mandernach ('99) visited the department during the Summer of 2000, she reported to us that Brian Monteleone ('98) is teaching high school science in Yuma, Arizona.

Jason Biga ('99) is doing geotechnical engineering in his position as a field geologist with Resource International, Inc., in Westerville, Ohio. He resides in Granville.

Mary Beth Cheversia ('99) has completed her first year of graduate school at Vanderbilt University where she is studying isotopic variations in feldspars in Arizona with Calvin Miller.

Joe Dzuban ('99) has been working as a hydrogeologist for Eagon & Associates, Inc. in Worthington, Ohio. In the Fall of 2000, he hopes to relocate to southern California to begin his studies at USC's School of Cinema-Television.

Robbie King ('99) lists his current occupation as Token Metamorphic Geologist, Instructional Assistant, and/or Indentured Servant. Actually, he's a graduate student at the University of South Carolina, where he just finished his first year.

Megan Mandernach ('99) has finished her first year of graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, where she is studying geophysics. In the past year, she has traveled to Hawaii several times. She visited Wooster in July of 2000 because she said she needed a vacation from Hawaii and her field work. She was recently awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. Congratulations Megan!

Enjoying the warm temperatures and the sunshine, Halle Morrison ('99) has finished her first year of graduate school at San Jose State University in San Jose, California. Her latest news is that she has just been elected President of the Geology Club. (It's great to know that her previous experience as the Treasurer of Wooster's Geology Club has served her well!) During her fieldwork she got to stay in Mark Wilson's beautiful hometown of Barstow, California.

Tom Pilon ('99) paid a visit to the Department on the day of Commencement 2000. He is currently living in Louisville, Kentucky. In nearby Anchorage, Kentucky, Tom is the Assistant Superintendent of Grounds for the John Schnatter estate - he's the guy who makes Papa John's Pizza.

Kenton Trubee ('99) started his geology graduate program at the University of Akron this Fall.

Barry Floyd (former faculty member) wrote to us from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he and his wife, Jean, have moved from England. Jean is working as a resource consultant to the Education Ministry's International Language Centre; Barry is working as the "Minister for Home Affairs," while he is enjoying his hobby of philately (stamp collecting for those of us who had to look it up in the dictionary). Recently, he has been interested in a British series of stamps to celebrate the millennium and to highlight contributions to the arts, sciences, and culture in general by the British. The set for the month of August features a stamp in honor of Charles Darwin. Jean and Barry hope to make it to Wooster for Jean's 50th reunion in 2004; until then, you can contact them by e-mail at bnfloyd@hotmail.com.

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