BA Mount Holyoke College
MS University of Wisconsin-Madison
PhD University of Colorado-Boulder
Academic Focus
glacial geology, geomorphology, records of climate change
I am a geoscientist, and my research focuses on glacial geology, Quaternary history, and climate change. Students have worked with me as research assistants in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Maine, NY, NH, & PA, and also in my laboratory here in the Environmental Studies Department in Gettysburg. I teach classes such as Earth System Science, Climate Change & Disasters, Glacial Geology & Records of Climate Change, Geologic Disasters and Global Change, and a first year seminar about the Geology of National Parks.
Courses Taught
Investigation of natural and human induced climate forcings and scientific principles that cause climate change. Topics include volcanoes, greenhouse gases, glaciers, flooding, ocean acidification, and sea level rise. Climate change mitigation, communication, and sustainable practices are discussed.
Introduction to the natural environment and human interaction with it. Course examines the physical processes of the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. Topics include geological processes and hazards, water resources, waste management, energy and mineral resources, and human impact on global climate change. Lab sessions provide practical exercises on basic earth systems principles and environmental applications. Local field trips to environmental and geological sites are included.
Introduction to glacial geology and records of climate change over the last 2 million years. Course examines basic glaciology, glacial erosion and depositional processes. Analysis of landforms is used to make interpretations of climatic variability. Climate records from ice cores and sediment cores are evaluated. Natural and human induced climate change is discussed. Alternate Years. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 223 or permission of instructor.
Investigation of geologic disasters and their relationship to global change. Course focuses on natural disasters that affect the surface of the Earth, including landslides, floods, El Nino, coastal erosion, sea level rise, droughts and desertification. The interaction between natural surface processes and human modification of landscapes are discussed. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 223 or permission of instructor. Alternate Years
Advanced study of an important national or global environmental issue. Interdisciplinary approach is used to analyze the problem from a variety of viewpoints in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Students are responsible for a major term paper involving independent research. Topics differ each semester. Prerequisite: Senior standing as a minor or major in environmental studies or permission of instructor; and ES 196, 211, 223, 225, and 230.
Independent investigation of an environmental topic of interest to the student. In conjunction with a faculty member, the student writes a research proposal due the tenth week of the spring semester of the junior year for a project to be conducted in the senior year. Student usually defines a research question and collects data to test a hypothesis. Such work may be done in the laboratory or field or with a computer database. A substantial paper is written and presented orally. Studio, performance, and writing projects may also be appropriate individualized study activities. Prerequisite: Senior standing as a major in environmental studies and a departmental GPA of at least 3.50.
From the beaches of Assateague Island to the roaring geysers in Yellowstone, our national parks are pure natural wonders. Why are there volcanoes in Hawaii? How did the Grand Canyon form? Why are there majestic valleys in Yosemite? We will address these questions and many more in this course as we explore several national parks across the United States. You will learn to identify and explain the geological processes that formed our national parks, such as glaciers, volcanoes, caves, sand dunes, and erosion. We will also discuss early explorations of national parks as well as environmental battles to preserve the parks. In addition to virtual tours of the parks online, we will take at least two field trips to nearby national parks.