Welcome to the 2022 Department of Geosciences newsletter.
If you walk into Don Fisher’s office on the third floor of the Deike Building you will see the cross-section of the Appalachians on the chalkboard in the photo below. The picture is a geological masterpiece constructed and curated by faculty whose careers spanned more than sixty years, not to be erased only improved.
As I look back on the past year, without stretching the imagination too much, I see parallels between the development and protection of this hand-drawn cross-section and the evolving “masterpiece” that is our department. This year, for example, while we remember “Old Masters” who were lost from science Roger Cuffey (p. 10); Hu Barnes (p. 12) and celebrate retirees Dave Bice and Jim Kasting (p. 16) who contributed significantly to the departmental “masterpiece” for more than thirty years, we welcome several new faculty Ben Cardenas, Antonia Hadjimichael, Tushar Mittal, Anastasia Piliouras, (p. 8) bringing fresh ideas and expertise to the canvas.
The evolving masterpiece also reflects changes in administration. Associate Head of Undergraduate Programs, Maureen Feineman, and Associate Head of Graduate Programs, Mark Patzkowsky, stepped down in June after molding the programs for many years, handing leadership over to new associate heads Chuck Ammon for undergraduate programs, and Don Fisher for graduate programs (p. 11) And new staff members Nicole Cambridge, Suzanne Godissart, Amy Hasan (p. 9) have re-energized the department’s administrative core.
In addition, our “masterpiece” is enriched by alumni and friends worldwide (p. 26), who, through continued generous support enable new opportunities for students, and through maintaining strong relationships with the department nourish the lives of faculty and students alike.
Close inspection of the cross-section reveals that some parts of it have faded. This is true for aspects of the department as well. More than two years of pandemic-induced isolation has impacted and diminished the education of our students and personal interactions in the department and our community. However, this past year we have made progress rebuilding our lost sense of belonging, togetherness, and spirit. Students are back in the classroom, participating in field trips and well-attended social events this fall, like the department picnic, Diodato Alumni reception at GSA, and AWG Pie-Off, reflect progress in reconnecting with colleagues and friends.
In closing, we thank you for your artistry as we build and grow and move forward. Just as the chalkboard drawing shows, we are not static, we are not monochromatic, and we welcome input to grow and improve the masterpiece.
Sincerely yours,
Andrew Nyblade