After leaving Binghamton,I got married and received my MS in Geology from UMASS. My wife Julie and I have three boys; Jascha, age 18; Alex, 12; and Sam, 7. We live in suburban Philadelphia. This summer, we rented a cabin on the Chenango River for a few days and I had the opportunity to bore my kids with a tour of all the places I lived and hung out in Bighamton when I was there -- horribly boring for them, but great memories for me!

If any alumni or students ever manage to pass through Spokane, stop by for a visit.

My own work has focused first on urban hydrology, then ground water/surface water interactions in the Great Lakes and in alpine settings and now om assessing ground-water recharge and how to get the urban planning process to incorporate it. My only contacts with other geoalumni are with Laurie (Sajor) and Dave Thomas and Bob Loucks, so it'd be great to hear from others too.

E&P geologist with Phillips Petroleum Bartleville, Stavanger & London '76-81. Chief geologist with International Energy Development Corp - which was transformed into the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co (KUFPEC)in PERTH West Australia, '81-'86. Chief geologist with Bridge Oil (bought by Parker & Parsley) in Sydney '87-'95. Exploration manager/chief geologist with Santos in Adelaide South Australia 1996-2001. Opted for public service job in Jan 2002, Director of the Petroleum Group in the State's Resource & Energy Group.

Bill Frederick

On the personal side I reside in Danville, CA, 35 km east of San Francisco, 2km from the northern Calaveras fault, and on the footwall of the Mt. Diablo blind thrust (and I do have earthquake insurance). Ronni and I have been married for 29 years. Our daughter Dara teaches first grade locally, and our son Mark is about to set off to LA to become a famous actor and allow us to continue to live in the style we've become accustomed to!

I graduated with an MS in metamorphic geology from UNC Chapel Hill in 2004. I had a short stint working on air quality issues with the EPA before I moved to Houston, TX to take a job as a hydrocarbon geologist with Anadarko Petroleum. Currently I am drilling wells in a large gas field in east Texas, but I am hoping to start a new position in exploration geology focused on either the Rocky or Appalachian Mountains.

I bought my first house about a year ago (9/06) and have since spent much of my time at Home Depot, the nursery (spending too much money on my new found love of gardenting), playing with a local concert band, and travelling.  (updated 10/17/07)

Hi everybody and especially all of you who came to teas from 1978-83!!!!

Defended my Dissertation and obtained my Ph.D. degree (University of Missouri, Columbia) this year. It was about time, because my son David, who has just started kindergarten, was catching up fast! I'll try from now on to keep in touch a little more.

On the personal side, my wife (Barbara Moran '80) and I celebrate our 20th anniversary this year, and our son (the first and only child) celebrates his 5th birthday. We've just bought our first home.

Life is pretty good.

I've been married to my wife Alycia for 20 years and have 3 wonderful children, one of whom is looking at Binghamton University as one of his top five college choices. Since leaving Binghamton, I've been working in the environmental consulting field, and currently work for a firm called First Environment, Inc. I'm in charge of that firms Site Investigation/Remediation Department, and my work primarily involves hydrogeological consulting and expert testimony.

(updated June 1, 2009)
I'm currently managing Brown and Caldwell's Geoservices Department in Allendale, New Jersey under the title of Chief Hydrogeologist.  I'm coming up on 27 years of marriage with my beautiful wife Alycia, and have three great kids.  My two sons are away at school, one of whom is an undergraduate student at Penn State and the other a law-school student at Harvard Law.  My daughter is about to start high school.  All reminders that time has passed by very fast.

Married to Judy, three children: Ben - Vanderbilt graduate; David at University of Kentucky; Jamie in 6th grade. Jamie is the only possible geologist, but hasn't made up her mind yet.

Went to work for cement raw materials supplier ..been there ever since - 18 years...now Sr.VP-Operations. As much into ocean shipping (Charter Parties, stevedoring, nautical law, contracting, inland transport, Miss River Operations, barging.....) as geology - Once the geology of a source is determined, it's static, so operations is the mainstay.

Still, SUNY - B comes into play with :
Bauxite - Dominican Republic
Gypsum - Jamaica, Newfoundland, Spain
High Purity Limestone (Flux for Blast Furnaces) - Dom Rep
Finished and Unfinished (Clinker) Cement - Thailand, China, Korea, Colombia, Venezuela, Greece, Spain...etc...
Anhydrite - Jamaica
Blast furnace and steel making slag - Italy, Argentina, US

Drop a line if you are so inclined...would like to hear from you.

I continue to serve as volunteer for several professional societies: as Associate Editor of AAPG Bulletin and on SPE technical committees. I have served the well logging society, SPWLA, in a variety of elected offices, as editor of their technical journal, "The Log Analyst" (now "Petrophysics") and on various technical committees.

For the benefit of well-logging and petrophysics professions, I maintain a bibliography of well-log related scientific and technical literature that is published annually by SPWLA. I also contribute occasional technical-meeting posters and published review papers on well-logging technology and applications.

I've been pretty busy doing applied hydrogeology and groundwater modeling since graduating. All the projects that I deal with are multi-million dollar budgets and seem to be never ending. I'm actively involved with the Association of Engineering Geologists (AEG) and a member of NYSCPG, CNYAPG, BAPG, NHGS, GSA and IAMG. I plan on applying for the professional geologist license in NY once the bill is passed.Since my last blurb on the alumni webpage, a few things changed.

(Updated 4/15/08)
After three years in New England, I transferred to Haley & Aldrich’s Rochester Office and took on several board and committee positions with NYSCPG and BAPG and volunteered with the NGWA. After three years in Rochester, I was pretty burned out with environmental work and was not doing what I really wanted to do. So I left H&A and headed south to Tampa to revitalize my career at PBS&J. I have been strictly dealing with classical hydrogeology for the water resources industry in Southwest Florida with workloads ranging from population estimates to large scale groundwater modeling and impact modeling to water use permits for municipalities and private clients. Florida is a hydrogeologist’s dream state and work is bountiful. Since moving down here, I picked up another two PG licenses (FL and MS) adding a few more letters to my CV (up to seven states licenses now). Outside of work, I’m chairing the Ground Water Modeling Interest Group and chairing the Deep Ground Water Investigations Interest Group for the NGWA, I’m a contributing author to the NGWA water well standards manual (in progress), and worked as a contributing author, on the behalf of FAPG-AIPG, of the Pasco County, Florida’s geologic hazard (sinkhole) ordinance. I am also volunteering/participating in the NGWA mentoring program.

A few months after returning to the U.S. I started my employment with OSM in the field of mine land (primarily coal mined land) reclamation. Most of what I do are geotechnical investigations, but the assignments have always been pleasantly varied.

Hope all my ex-friends and acquaintances are well.

Personally: Not much new, Playing lots of music in a Jazz Band (Conga/Shekere/Cajon/etc).

Oh, also working on building an internet empire.

Prior to working for the Fund, spent nine years working on Lake Erie issues as supervisor of the Lake Erie Geology Group for the Ohio Geological Survey in Sandusky, Ohio. Research focused on nearshore coastal processes, erosion and sediment transport in riverine and nearshore systems, sand resource management, Great Lakes hydrology and water levels, wetlands hyrdology and restoration, dam removals, and physical controls on aquatic habitat.

I am currently trying to build a Chesapeake Bay stick-up crab skiff; I'll let you know if it sinks or floats.

I have two children, and life is good.

Quite a ways from driving an OCC bus, eh?

My daughter was just born when I started graduate school at SUNY and my twin sons were just born when I finished. Now, she is a Junior in college and they are Sophomores in high school. Linda and I are very happily living in Castro Valley. We occasionally attend Binghamton alumni gatherings in the Bay Area.

Professor of Earth Sciences
Department of Geography and Earth Sciences
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC., 28223
office phone number (704) 687-5994

(updated: May 7, 2009)

I'm married, no kids, but many dogs. My wife (Nancy) & I show and occasionally breed Komondors. We are also both AKC approved dog show Judges.

I worked for Amoco for 13.5 years, and have been an independent geologist (I am officially president of my own company, Coal Creek Resources, Inc.)ever since (1997-present). I work in the oil and gas business, and focus mainly on natural gas exploration in Oklahoma.
(Email address updated 7/25/06)

Each semester for the past five years I have conducted field trips in the Adirondack/Caatskill region for Rowan University geology students. I have been fortunate in being able to combine my interest in geology with my love for teaching.

Upon retirement, I relocated from New Jersey to the Albany, New York area and married Barbara Muller. Barbara and I have enjoyed extensive travel in Europe, Africa, South America and the United States.

Ms. Landon, an independent petroleum geologist affiliated with Thomasson Partner Associates in Denver, Colorado, is actively involved in petroleum exploration and production and teaches industry courses worldwide. She received her Bachelor's degree in geology from Knox College in Illinois and her Master's from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Her career in the petroleum industry began in Denver with Amoco Production Company in 1974. Early experience included exploration throughout the Rocky Mountains, Alaska, and the Midcontinent. In 1987, she was transferred to Houston as Exploration Training Manager for Amoco. Her career as a consultant and independent began in 1990, when she returned to Denver. Currently she consults for several companies and develops exploration ideas in the United States.

Ms. Landon has served two terms on the Board of Earth Sciences and Resources of the National Research Council and currently serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Earth Resources. The Governor of Colorado appointed her to serve on the Advisery Committee of the Colorado Geological Survey from 1991-1998 and, in 1996, she was appointed by Secretary of the Interior Babbitt to the National Cooperative Mapping Advisery Committee. She has also been active in several professional organizations serving as President of the American Institute of Professional Geologists, Treasurer of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and President of the American Geological Institute. During 2001, she was President of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists. In 1999, GSA awarded her the status of Fellow. She has received the Distinguished Service Award and Honorary Membership from the AAPG and the Martin Van Couvering Award and Ben H. Parker Memorial Medal from AIPG.

She has published and presented papers relating to exploration and was editor of Memoir 59: Interior Rift Basins published by AAPG.

I think Bay Area alum should get together and have "tea" sometime!

I went to work for Shell at their Bellaire Research Center in Houston in 1980, before actually finishing the dissertation. I got married in 1984, and was immediately transferred to New Orleans. One Kid, daughter Rachel, in 1985. In 1986, The oil industry fell apart, and our whole province ceased to exist. I took a "package", spent a year getting Ph.D, stuff published and looking for a geology job.

Facing reality, my first wife and I invested everything we had in starting up the first desktop publishing service bureau in New Orleans in 1987. We also taught computer graphics and desktop publishing at Tulane's University College Microcomputer Training Center. Second Kid, Benjamin, 1988. 1991: divorce, business goes under.

In 1992, I was able to land a Research-Assistant Professor position at the University of Miami with Robert Ginsburg, who had been on my Masters Committee. Recognizing that I'd never be able to live in the same city as my children if I stayed in geology, I started taking education courses. (Now begins the part that was published in the alumni newsletter.)

I began teaching high school science in Dade County, Florida in 1994, leaving a post as research faculty at the University of Miami. Once Certified in Florida, I sought a job in New Orleans where my children from my first marriage (Rachel, 16 & Benjamin, 13) live. In 1996, I remarried (Glenny Pipes Warzeski) and began teaching at St. Martin's Episcopal School in the New Orleans area. A year later, I became Science Department Head.

In 1999, we suffered a devastating loss when my youngest step-daughter, Gifford Riess, was murdered by an ex-boyfriend. She was 23, and a rookie New Orleans Police Officer (with 2 college degrees!).

One of the accomplishments of which I am proudest is helping Glenny to address the many ways in which the "system" failed both Gifford and her attacker, in a state which is routinely in the top two for per-capita domestic/dating homicides. Glenny has catalyzed a systemic change which extends from new attitudes and practices on the part of police, to domestic violence actually being included in the curricula of the professional schools (Law, Social Work, Medicine, Nursing, Criminal Justice) whose graduates have to deal with victims and abusers.

We also forced a law through the legislature this year which extends to victims in dating relationships the same protections (e.g. a protection order within 24 hours, vs. the 12 days it took Gifford with a family full of attorneys, and two law firms) that are available to domestic violence victims. The law took effect August 15th, 2001. The chief opposition to the bill was from people who considered it a plot to obtain legal protection for gays and lesbians, or an attempt to broaden the term "family" to include same-sex relationships. We blew these objections out of the water via Glenny's testimony about Gifford's experiences, and through direct lobbying of every state senator and representative. Sometimes the magic works.

Final update: I was (finally) able to pass the department chairmanship onto someone else, so am gleefully just a science teacher again!

After BNY I went on for a PhD in Seismology at Cambridge.  I've been with the DoD for over a decade now, the consistent job theme has been limiting the proliferation of nuclear WMD.  My wife Sally Beerbower (Dick Beerbower's daughter) and I recently celebrated our 15th wedding annversary-- we met at a Geology Tea in 1985 while working on our respective MA's.  We live in DC and find the whole region has a lot to offer. (updated January, 2008)

After 8 years of graduate school (whew!) I found a passion with teaching Earth Science. Currently, I teach Earth Science and Oceanography at SUNY/Westchester Community College and I am loving every minute of it! I also work with the E&O Division of IRIS, assisting with the SCEC E-cubed project (part of the greater Digital Library for Earth Science and Engineering project), writing entries for a web-based Encyclopedia of Earthquakes.

I live in Westchester County, NY with my 2 cats, Kona and Papaya.

And there WAS one other Geology major in my optometry school class!

I vividly recall working in Dave Jenkins' un-air conditioned hydrothermal lab during the summer of '88 - the hottest on record - with all those ovens cooking. I think I passed out once or twice.

I live in Schuylerville ("Old Saratoga"), a small town on the Hudson River, with my wife Martha and our beagle Willie in a 150+ year old house that we have been restoring for the past 10 years. Still a few years to go on that project.

In 1997 I began working for Chevron in Lafayette, LA as a Geophysicist on Gulf of Mexico Shelf projects. Currently, I am working for Chevron Texaco as a Geophysicist in the Nigeria Exploration group.

I am married with two children.

After graduating from Binghamton, I worked briefly (1.5 years) for a Kansas City regional engineering company (Burns and McDonnell) before being sufficiently disallusioned with the environmental industry to jump ship to oil and gas. Together with the help of Amerada Hess Corporation, I completed a PhD (2001) in seismic migration at Rice University under Manik Talwani. After working for Hess for a year in their seismic processing group, I left (2002) for a geophysical advisor role at GX Technology. GXT specialize in time and depth imaging for both Majors and Independents in Houston and abroad.

(Updated 4/30/08)  Since 2005 I have been working as an independent consultant in Houston, Texas. I am a 50% partner in a small consulting company called Agile Seismic LP specializing
in bringing high end 3D seismic processing and imaging to small to mid-sized independents. We have 5 major clients and are actively engaged in projects ranging: seismic acquisition, processing, depth imaging and prospect generation.

Past professional stops include: Veritas DGC, GX Technology, Amerada Hess, Harc/GTRI and Burns and McDonnell. I defended a PhD in geophysics at Rice University under Manik Talwani
(with the financial and technical support of Amerada Hess) in 2001.

On a personal note - I have lived happily in Houston for over 11 years. My wife Rosemarie and I recently celebrated 5 years of marriage and are the proud parents of 3 year old Madeline Frances
and 1 year old John Alexander.

I know there are plenty of alums working in Houston - if any read this note - pls feel free to contact me for a beer or chat.  -Ted.

I am now living just south of the Adirondack Park in New York State and work part time as both a licensed New York State whitewater raft guide and for an outdoor equipment retailer.

I live in Juniata County, at the base of Tuscarora Mountain. A colleague tells me that that the relief at my home (1600 ft) is the greatest in PA.

In 1992, I started as an environmental consultant with CA Rich Consultants, Inc. Sea Cliff, NY. In 1995, I co-founded R & C Formation, Ltd., 30 Broadway, Suite 6, Massapequa, NY.

On a personnal note, I am married to Sandra, whom I met at SUNY-B, and we have two boys - Micheal (6) and Justin (4). I am always happy to receive the Newsletter and read about classmates and professors. I was glad to read up on Jennifer Coates - glad to see your doing well. Also glad to read about Dick Naslund and family in Chile. I remember Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology well (don't quiz me on it), and wish I was more serious student in following up on Skaegaard trip. That was one of the best experiences I ever had.

Congratulations to Jen Monteith on the baby and to Herm Roberson (Tell Matt I said Hello). One last note, we may be very busy this summer and have been kicking around the idea of an intern. If there is any interest, give me a call (516) 797-7330, or email.

Sincerely, Rob Heiss.

I live in Nashua, New Hampshire with my software engineer wife and two kids, ages 10 and 16. Whenever I can spare the time I spend as much time hiking and backpacking in the mountains of New Hampshire and Maine.

Would love to hear from some of the old crowd!

As a sideline, I carve emu and ostrich eggs and turn pieces of shell into jewelry, bowls, nightlights, et al. and sell them at the renaissance faires in AZ and NY.

I have two grown sons and am about to become a grandmother (of course I'm much too young to be in such a position!) Feel free to email me if you want to know anything more!

I think about the "hoot" we had during our 6-week Maine fieldwork experience quite often. Makes me realize what I great program I graduated from. Hope I can get up for a "Tea" on a warm, spring Friday sometime...Ahhhhhhh!

Cindy, Lorraine & Vinnie...last time I saw you was on the Kittery Formation...How've you been?

In my down-time, I have prospected here in GA, and its not much easier for someone with a BS in geology than anyone else. Just some good times and plenty of work. I spend a good deal of time assisting in the rebuild/maintenance of steam locomotives and other railway equipment at the museum in Chattanooga, TN. Another great bunch of people to work and "play" (ie operate what we fix) with. I don't know if geology will ever be a serious part of my future endeavors, but thats just the way things work out. So, keep tracking the polar wobble, engineer for the quakes, contain that pollution, find those mineral deposits, renew the ground water, and all those other things geoscience allows.

From my office in Baltimore I get to see some of the countries foulest air....guess I picked the right place to work if I actually want to "do something".

On the personal side, still single, but happily co-habiting with two cats, and loving being back on the east coast- if I never live in Arizona again, it'll be too soon.
(updated 9/4/03)

Personal: same old
(updated 11/6/03)

I have two kids, Heather who is 8 and Tommy who is 7. They comsume most of my time and energy these days.

Indeed.

Ocean Acoustics is very much like seismology. The only real difference is the absence of S waves. To make up for that, the processing is much more sophisticated. I am really enjoying the change.

My family is doing well. My little girl is now approaching two.
(Updated 11/18/03)

Molnia was awarded a Ph.D. in marine geology from the University of South Carolina in 1972, a M.A. in marine geology from Duke University in 1969, and a B.A. in geology from Harpur College, State University of New York at Binghamton in 1967. Molnia has conducted glacial, marine, remote sensing, and coastal research in equatorial, temperate, sub-polar, and polar regions for nearly 35 years. Molnia's current research interest are glacial processes, impacts of changing climate, shallow marine geology, remote sensing, and glacial-marine sedimentation.

Most of Molnia's studies have focused on Alaska. His interest in Alaskan glaciers began in 1968. For more than a decade, Molnia has led an interdisciplinary research group studying environmental and climate changes at the Bering and Malaspina Glaciers, the two largest glaciers in continental North America. These studies are focused on use of remote-sensing to monitor environmental and climate change, coastal erosion and sedimentation, and glacier processes.

Molnia has authored, coauthored, or edited more than 200 articles, abstracts, and maps, as well as several books. In his capacity as the Forum Editor of GSA TODAY, the newspaper of the Geological Society of America, Molnia wrote more than 100 monthly columns. Molnia is the author of Alaska's Glaciers (1981, 1993), Glaciers of Alaska (2001) and the Alaska chapter of the Satellite Image Atlas of the Glaciers of the World (in press).

Since 1992, Molnia has investigated marine contamination and radioactive waste disposal issues in the Arctic and the Russian Far East. He served as science coordinator for a Japan-Russia-US Study Group on Dumped Nuclear Waste in the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and the North Pacific Ocean. The Group conducted international workshops in 1995 and 1996. Both workshops created a highly productive Japan-Russia-US dialogue for developing cooperation on dealing with liquid and solid nuclear waste disposal problems. From 1992 to 1994, Molnia chaired the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) Arctic Contamination Technical Planning Committee which conducted the international Workshop on Arctic Contamination in May 1993. In 1997, Molnia was appointed to the Advisery Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS) Advisery Board on Pollution Control and Prevention.

Bruce F. Molnia
12718 Laurel Grove Way
Fairfax, VA 22033
bmolnia@cox.net
703-620-3155

I'm married with one wonderfully charming son, Jackson, who will soon turn two (and we hope won't be too terrible).

(update 3/30/04):
Everything's going good in Austin. Drilled discovery wells in two areas last year - Texas and Montana. Both were drilled with opposing lateral horizontal drilling. Fractured carbonates - I'm a regular crackologist. I've been asked to give a talk at the regional AAPG in Denver this August on the field in Montana. Hope to have some fun with that one.

    Since leaving Binghamton in 1989:
PhD, MIT, 1995
Lecturer/Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Papua New Guinea, 1995-2002
Program Director, Division of Earth Sciences, NSF 2002-2004

Name: Bruce A. Leventhal
Email: bleventh@rcn.com
Web URL:
Location: Washington, DC
Job: Northrop Grumman Information Technology, Geospatial Operating Unit: Senior Systems Engineer and Project Manager
Degree(s): MA/MA
Year of graduation: 1975/1978
Adviser: Don Coates and Marie Morisawa

Although I started out as a hydrogeologist very early in my career, my main interest over the years has been in Information Technology. Since graduating, I've worked on various IT and geospatial projects for the DOE, EPA, DOD, and other federal agencies. I llive in Washington DC where I'm a Senior Systems Engineer and Project Manager for  Northrop Grumman's Information Technology Division.

I presently live in the Vancouver, Washington and work as an affordable housing developer/project manager.

In '84 I moved to Seattle and got my first real job investigating USEPA Superfund sites in the Pacific Northwest. My training in glacial deposits and geomorphology was utilized heavily. I also worked at landfills, UST sites, chemical plants, and did site analysis for large facilities. The environmental field slowed down in the 90s, and I learned construction scheduling and project control. By the late 90s I was working on the design and construction of Seattle's first light rail line. In 2006, I took a year off, fixed up and sold my house, and moved to the Portland area (it's warmer). While xc skiing around Mt. Hood, I met a person who put me in touch with a non-profit organization that builds and rehabilitates affordable housing in the state. Now I'm learning about residential multi-family construction and will soon be managing apartment building renovations. Education is a lifetime process.

Thanks to Matt and Joe for some fun years, including the hit song "Klepto", and to Nick Donnelly for a creative Masters Project suggestion.  (updated 3-10-08, adh)

  I still have not finished my MS thesis at the University of Utah, but I hope to this Fall.
(updated 8/31/04)

    This past March I finally passed the ASBOG exam, so now I am an official Registered Geologist (or "certifiable" depending who you talk to).  
(update 9/17/04) (new email address 12/12/05)

Oh yeah, I listed Dr. Montz as my mentor, but I have to give some credit to Dr. Demicco too, he rocks.(no pun intended!)

It feels like it's been way too long... here's the update:
I've been working for a little over a year now at Buck Environmental Labs in Cortland. I test water and soil samples for PCB/Pesticides, Semi volatiles and Volatiles. I really love my job and the commute in all seasons except in the winter. :) I've been married for 2.5 years, no kids yet. My hubby and I bought a home last year. My family comes up from PR often to visit and we try to spend our Christmas vacations down there...

My memories at BU are the best. Thank you Joe for being such and awesome advisor!
Take care and Hugs to all,

Abby
(updated 10/4/04)

Geez it only took me 2 1/2 years but I did it. I am an active member in the Humane Society of Florida and a recent addition as a Professional member to the GSA. I also am a NASA junky and visit Cape Kennedy at least twice a month. Not to mention the oodles of time I spend on their website.
(updated 2/10/05)

  I live with my husband and 2 kids in Cape Elizabeth and when the weather's good I run down to the ocean trails by the lighthouse.  Life is great in Maine - it really is "Vacationland." Look me up if you're in the area.

    In 2004, my wife, Michelle, and I were blessed as we traveled to Anhui province in China to adopt our daughter, May Lan Rose.  May's chinese given name was Lan which means 'blue' as she "was found under a boundless sky."   We just thought it was interesting that China would pick "Blue Dolphin" for us.
(updated 4/6/05)

    Since 1987, I have been working for what used to be known as the Coors Porcelain Company, but now we're known as CoorsTek and are privately held by the same Coors family that brews beer.   In particular, I travel world wide selling our materials into high voltage, microwave and x-ray applications such as swithchgear, radar and medical imaging.  It sounds hdgh tech but all we really do is take expensive dirt and make fancy rocks out of aluminum oxide.  The process is quite interesting and I'd be pleased to show anyone how we do it.  It's amazing how much similarity there is between the mineralogy and crystallography I learned from Hugh Hunter and the secrets the ceramic scientists around here think they have all to themselves.

    Since moving to Colorado, I've been married twice and have 3 children, ages 16, 13, and 3 (yikes!).  My wife, Nancy, is a former insurance defense attorney turned high school art teacher who mostly teaches digital photography.

With respect to school, I am still working through my thesis (petroleum system analysis of the central basin platform) which will be finished and defended in the spring of 2006.
(updated 6/21/05)

I never could decide between going into the oil industry or academia... now I get the best of both worlds!   
(updated 7/29/05)

Well, lets summarize:  After Binghamton, there was Northwestern (I came to like the color purple), then there was a stint at the University of Minnesota Mnpls (Bloody cold if you ask me), then a 5 year stop at Johns Hopkins (following in the footsteps of Harvey Singer) where I piled it higher and deeper, then a Post-Doc at the U. of Michigan (Finally a school with a good football team) and then a SOEST Fellowship at the U. of Hawaii (Not so good football team, much better beaches though and I found out that I had more relatives than I realized), then a two year stint on Wall Street (the coffers had run dry), then after bouts with walking pneumonia I went back to Hawaii with a job at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

    As for other aspects of my person, I'm single (I'll spare you the laughs), I still have my sense of humor (such as it is), and I have found out why there aren't many tall surfers. Something to do with center of gravity. So I just hang out on the beach and pretend I used to surf.

    As you may imagine, in the aftermath of the Sumatra tsunami we were no longer an obscure outpost of the National Weather Service. You know you've attained visibility when people (none of them from the Indian Ocean region) try to sue you for events beyond your control and area of responsibility. The only things that gives me solace after having been on watch the day 250,000 people lost their lives (with nothing I could do to prevent it) is imparting as much knowledge as I possibly can to the representatives of many nations coming to visit us and solicit our ideas for developing a tsunami warning program in the Indian Ocean. I have come to realize just how rewarding and important doing science in the public interest can be. What I thought would not last more than 3-5 years is now in serious danger of becoming a career.

    So fellow rock hounds, if you're ever on Oahu, do stop by. I have Poke and Mai-Tais waiting for you in the fridge.

I am working as a legislative fellow in the office of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). I work on a variety of issues, including federal lands, natural hazards, and NASA. To call my experience so far "educational" does not begin to do it justice.    

I also hold a Research Associate appointment in the Department of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution. I live in Silver Spring, MD.
(updated 1/1/06)

Sofia (my little black chihuahua) and I recently moved into a beautiful historic neighborhood that is biking distance to just about anything important, and of course down here biking is a year-round mode of transportation.

It was great to see so many Binghamton geology folks at AGU last month, see you there next fall.
(updated 1/23/06)

  I found our shortly after I started with Shell that our resident salt tectonics expert (Fred Diegel) spent time at Johns Hopkins with Tim Lowenstein and Bob Demmico!!
(updated 4/16/06)

    After weighing my options I turned down a Post-Doc at MIT to pursue a career as an environmental consultant.  I have been in the Metropolitan New York area ever since conducting site investigations and remediations at contamianted properties.  

    I am currently a Senior Project Manager at GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc. and I am working on the "sexiest" job of my career.  I am manageing the Tritium and Strontium Release Investigations and Remediations at the Indian Point Nuclear Power Station in Peekskill, New York.

    I would love to give a presentation on this work for the Department some time.
(Updated 4/22/06)

    Thanks to F.T. Wu, Steve Dickman, George Zandt, Bill MacDonald, Nick Donnelly, John Bridge, Don Rice, Sorauf, Beerbower and all the rest of you for educating me and supporting my work.

    I hope SUNY/Binghamton Geology/Geophysics continues to grow and prosper.     Later,   Joe P.  

    Now:
--Still married to Susan Templeton
--Engineering strategist, Microsoft Corporation. My job is to help IT Microsoft Office engineers design, develop, test, and service software. It's not geology, but I use many of the insights that I gained at Binghamton in my day-to-day work.
(Updated 9/8/06)

Assistant Professor of Geology, SUNY New Paltz
(Updated 10/16/07)

A slight update:  Since joining this list, I have dropped out of UB.  It's not that the work was too hard or that there was too much of it.  It's more that there was a lot of school work to balance with "keeping myself fed and sheltered" work.  There were no TA/RA positions available for me, so I had to pay my own way and the sheer physical exhaustion of working 40+ hours a week, along with carrying a full course load and thesis research, led me to make the tough decision to leave after 3 semesters.  I am currently looking for a job in the field, so if anyone knows of places looking for a junior geologist....=)
(Updated 9/20/06)

In January 2007 I was hired as a junior geologist with the environmental consulting firm Ecology & Environment. Mostly, we are subcontracted to state or federal agencies to carry out testing and mitigation. I have done a bunch of the indoor air, groundwater and soil vapor testing down in sunny Endicott, as well as worked on some projects in Albany. This seems to be the place for me to be for a while, so feel free to drop me a line at scraig@ene.com.
(Updated 5/20/08)

Our kids are not kids anymore.  Our oldest daughter Danielle is 22 years old and playing the Cello.   Katharine is soon to turn 20 and is a sophomore at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.  Mike,Jr. is a sophomore at Newton South High School and is an accomplished Flutist.

Professionally, I have recently joined EBI Consulting in Burlington, MA, a nationwide environmental consulting firm.  We are growing like crazy and are looking for staff at all levels.  If you are interested email me at the address above.
(updated 11/20/06)

I have recently become an adjunct faculty at Northeastern University in Boston, MA in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies, this fall teaching Environmental Practice and Applications and this winter I will be teaching Water Resources Management.
(updated 11/18/07)

I began my career in the oil industry with Conoco Inc. in Lafayette, LA in 2001. Prior to the merger of Conoco and Phillips, I was transferred to Houston, TX. At Conoco and/or ConocoPhillips, I have worked in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Upstream Technology, West Africa Exploration, and Permian Basin groups. Taking advantage of good times in the oil patch, I recently accepted a position with BP in their Permian Asset group in June, 2006.
(updated 11/5/06)

In late June of 2006, I began work as a geologist/geophysicist for NAEVA Geophysics Inc. in Congers, NY and I am well on my way to becoming project manager.  At NAEVA we employ numerous geophysical techniques for UXO detection, magnetics, GPR and utility location just to name a few.   In only five months, my work has taken me to the Deep South, California and all over the Northeast and Mid-atlantic.  Stephanie Lurie, also class of 2005, and I are planning our future together.   She is currently student teaching and by December of 2006, she will have her Masters from Hofstra University.  After that she will be looking for a job as a Middle or High School Earth Science teacher.

(Updated 9/9/08)  Over two years have passed since I began working at NAEVA Geophysics, Inc. in Congers, New York.  I am now Project Manager and Health and Safety Officer for the company.  On May 3, 2008 Stephanie Lurie, also class of 2005, and I got engaged and our wedding is set for October 2, 2010.  Stephanie just began her second year as the 10th grade earth science teacher at the S.S. Seward School in Florida, New York.

I have worked as an environmental consultant since graduating in 1990, initially in Syracuse, NY and then in Philadelphia. Enjoyed my time in Binghamton and often visit (as my in-laws live there). Married, 2 kids (b. 1992 and 1998).

(Updated 3/25/08)

Prior to becoming an earth science teacher in 1999, I was an environmental consultant for nearly 15 years.  When the writing on the wall became clear regarding the state of environmental affairs, I got the teaching degree as a contingency.  Luckily I had it, so that when I was rightsized, I fell right into teaching.
(Updated 4/25/08) 

I graduated in 1980 and went to UCLA, got my PhD in geophysics in 1987.  Did a post-doc at Arizona State and another at the Carnegie Institution in Washington, and then started working at the National Space Science Data Center at Goddard Space Flight Center, where I've been for the last 16 years.  Still love it here, the NSSDC is NASA's deep archive for most of its data, I'm in charge of the lunar and planetary stuff (The cool stuff, like Apollo, Viking, the Mars Rovers - although the astrophysicists disagree).  I live in Silver Spring, Maryland, right smack on the fall line between the Piedmont and Coastal Plains, with my wife, two sons (one only a year away from college - maybe Binghamton?) a cat and a dog.  I get in some hiking, camping, sailing, and sightseeing here around Washington, DC when I can.
Thanks, Dave  (updated 6-26-09)

Name: James Kirkland
Email:  envpcc@aol.com
Web URL:
Location: Lusby, Maryland
Job:
Degree(s): PhD
Year of graduation: 1973
Adviser: Donald R. Coates

Name: David H. Griffing
Email:  griffingd@hartwick.edu
Location:  Oneonta, NY
Job:  Chair, Geology Department, Hartwick
Degree(s): PhD
Year of graduation:  1994
Adviser: 

I have just started a new job with Fortistar Methane Group, which collects landfill gases and then combusts these gases at the landfill and produces electricity which we send to the grid. We have about 60 plants in the US, and I work out of their corporate headquarters in Lockport NY (near Buffalo). My first 15 years out of University were spent as an environmental consultant, followed by 10 years in the automotive industry where I was initially responsible for the environmental compliance at two factories (circa. 1920's) and then environmental remediation after the two factories were closed.

On the home front, my oldest daughter just got her Master's Degree at Goldsmiths College in London where she currently resides with her husband. My other daughter is still in high school and excels at music (Bassoon) and sports (soccer and lacrosse). We have lots of animals milling about our 13-acre home since my wife is a veterinarian.

As a former "Tea Meister" for the Friday afternoon geology seminars, I still haven't come to grips with seeing Yuengling lager as an expensive microbrew. I used to buy cases of Yuengling at Sam's Beer Store for $3.63/case and we would place a few bottles of Molson Golden on top of the Yuengling in the ice coolers so people would not complain. The dirt-cheap Yuengling and unlimited free ice from the neighboring Chemistry Department made the Geology Club lots and lots of money.

(Updated 5/7/09)