Finding one’s identity throughout college and beyond can be challenging for many, but through embracing her unique heritage, Esther Muñoz is making her way.
The dusty surface of the moon — immortalized in images of Apollo astronauts’ lunar footprints — formed as the result of asteroid impacts and the harsh environment of space breaking down rock over millions of years. An ancient layer of this material, covered by periodic lava flows and now buried under the lunar surface, could provide new insight into the Moon’s deep past, according to a team of scientists.
What do a tiny nation off the coast of West Africa, a plastics pollution problem in Pittsburgh, and the indigenous Iñupiat people of Alaska all have in common?
Earl “Skip” Lenker is passionate about lifelong learning. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1956 and earning his doctorate in geosciences from Penn State in 1964, the lifelong educational journey continued.
Understanding how climate change will affect the flooding of rivers may become easier with a new framework for assessing flood risk that's been developed by an interdisciplinary team from Penn State.
Susan Brantley
- Recipient of the Dr. Hubert Barnes and Dr. Mary Barnes Professorship in Geosciences
- Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Derek Elsworth
- Selected as the inaugural G. Albert Shoemaker Chair in Mineral Engineering
Brad Foley
- NSF Career Award
Katherine Freeman
- Recipient of the 2021 Arthur L. Day Medal from GSA
Tanya Furman
- Elected president of theEducation Section of the American Geophysical Union
Elizabeth Hajek
- Appointed Associate Department Head for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
- President-elect of the Society for Sedimentary Geology
Kimberly Lau
- Recipient of the 2021 the GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobioloogy Division Award
Jennifer Macalady
- Appointed director of Penn State’s Ecology Institute
Michael Mann
- Long-listed, Wainwright Prize for “The New Climate War”
- Honorary Doctorate of Science, Bard College
- Leo Szilard Lectureship Award from the American Physical Society
Andrew Smye
- NSF Career Award
Christelle Wauthier
- NSF Career Award
Timothy White
- Elected as a Fellow of Geological Society of America
John (Jack) Crook ’81 Crook retired as senior vice president of Diversifed Gas & Oil. He was an Earth Sciences major and is now enjoying retirement, camping and golf.
Daniel Hummer ’10 Hummer is currently a professor of geology at Southern Illinois University. He recently assisted in designing a permanent exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York showing the evolution of minerals from the big bang to the present.
Kent Newsham ’78 Newsham was selected to be in the inaugural class of fellows at Occidental. His new title is Oxy Fellow, Worldwide Chief Petrophysicist. He is also on the Technical Advisory Board and the Technical Reserves Review team.
George Veni ’94 Veni is the executive director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute and president of the International Union of Speleology (UIS), which functions as the United Nations of countries conducting cave exploration and science. He is currently engaged deeply in the biggest cave and karst project ever: the International Year of Caves and Karst. This is a global effort to reach and teach people about the many values of caves and karst that everyone benefits from, and it is being organized by the UIS.
Alumni Passings
- Dr. Paul B. Barton, Jr., ’52
- Mr. Edward H. Boyle, Jr., ’75
- Dr. Robert C. DeVries, ’53
- Karl E. Francis, Ph.D., ’59
- Mr. Charles H. Grenot Jr., ’87
- Dr. Charles A. Landis Jr., ’61
- Mr. Gregory L. Leitzel, ’80
- Dr. Floyd E. Miller, Jr., ’64
- Dr. Robert N. Miller, ’77
- Mr. James G. Palacas, ’57
- Jeffrey R. Parsons, Ph.D., ’61
- Mr. Daniel E. Popovich, ’65
- Dr. Della M. Roy, ’49
- Mr. James A. Schad, ’75
- Dr. Chester M. Smith, Jr., ’59
- Mr. Donald A. Smith, ’56
- Mr. Frederick C. Teti, ’84
- Ms. Kathy West, ’88
- Ms. Mary Jo Alfano
- Dr. and Mrs. Richard B. Alley
- Mr. Lance C. Anderson
- Mr. Charles E. Angerman
- Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Berg
- Dr. Susan Bilek and Dr. Glenn Spinelli
- Mr. Claude E. Bolze and Mrs. Deborah K. Fontana
- Mr. and Mrs William A. Bragonier
- Dr. Timothy J. Bralower and Ms. Mary Lee Kerr
- Mr. Donald Campbell and Ms. Cindy Bosco
- Ms. Karen Rasmussen Campbell
- Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Campisi Jr.
- Dr. Ellen P. Chamberlin
- Mr. Robert M. Cohen and Ms. Karen L. Stierman
- Mr. and Mrs. Bruce G. Crocker
- Dr. and Mrs. Randall T. Cygan
- Dr. and Mrs. W. Brian Dade
- Dr. John M. Darcy, II
- Dr. Anil Deshpande
- Mrs. Ruth Rapp Donaldson
- Mr. and Ms. John N. Dougherty
- Mr. James A. Doutt
- Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Elson
- James A. Ewart Jr. Ph.D.
- Dr. and Mrs. Timothy Folkomer
- Mr. and Mrs. Raymond M. Follador
- Dr. Kevin P. Furlong
- Mr. and Ms. Kevin Gallagher
- Drs. Lawrence and Lisa Garmezy
- Mr. Robert Glazier Jr. and Ms. Azita Farjam
- Ms. Judith Gray
- Dr. Albert L. Guber
- Dr. Weixing Guo and Ms. Yuejih Xue
- Dr. and Mrs. John H.Guswa
- Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Hershey
- Dr. and Mrs. John W. Hess
- Dr. Roberta M. Hotinski
- Drs. Christopher H. and Chloe J. House
- Dr. and Mrs. David W. Houseknecht
- Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Howe
- Dr. Barbara Howell Raphael
- Mr. and Mrs. Gary A. Hummel
- Drs. Jacqueline Huntoon and Chris L. Wojick
- Dr. David M. Jenkins
- Mrs. Janet C. Kappmeyer and Mr. Andrew M. Isaacs
- Dr. and Mrs. John J. Kelley
- Knopf Family Foundation, Inc.
- Mr. Lawrence G. Kodosky
- Mr. and Mrs. Garry M. Kramchak
- Mr. and Mrs. John A. Lease
- Dr. Earle S. Lenker
- Mr. and Mrs. Timothy A. Leon Guerrero
- Mr. James L. McNett
- Mr. and Mrs. Timothy B. Mullen
- Dr. Ralph H. Nafziger
- Mr. Wayne M. Narr
- Mrs. Kimberly A. Neely and Allen P. Neely, Esq.
- Ms. Helen Ngai and Mr. Douglas Oare
- Ms. Nancy L. Niemann
- Mr. Tye J. Numelin
- Dr. and Mrs. Hiroshi Ohmoto
- Dr. and Mrs. Allison R. Palmer
- Dr. and Mrs. Gregory B. Pavlin
- Dr. Robert J. Pottorf and Ms. Christine A. Schmitz
- Mr. William G. Rauschenberger
- Mr. and Mrs. Thomas K. Reeves, Jr.
- Mrs. Linda Turnley Reif
- Dr. Brandt A. and Mrs Rising
- Drs. John H. and Virginia Bramble Vincenti
- Dr. and Mrs. Robert T. Ryder
- Dr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Salyards
- Dr. and Mrs. Martin A. Schoonen
- Dr. and Mrs. Stephen O. Sears
- Mr. and Mrs. Irvin C. Shambaugh, Jr.
- Mrs. Dana Shank
- Mr. and Mrs. James R. Small
- Dr. and Mrs. Robert C. Smith, II
- Mr. and Mrs. Keith R. Sweitzer
- Mr. and Mrs. Matthew R. Swider
- Mr. and Mrs. Roy Taylor
- Mr. Mark R. Ulrich
- Mr. Timothy D. Watson and Ms. Courtney Wade
- Dr. and Mrs. John W. Washington
- Mr. and Mrs. John M. Weaver
- Mr. and Mrs. Barry L. Weinman
- Dr. Matthew L. Werner, III
- Dr. and Mrs. William E. Wertz
- Dr. Timothy S. White
- Dr. Richard T. Wilkin
- Ms. Sally Griffiths Zinke
Note: This list is the compilation of contributiins received between July 1, 2020 thru June 30, 2021
- Alley Family Graduate Scholarship in the Department of Geosciences
- Arthur P. Honess Memorial Award
- Baker Hughes Natural Gas Research Fund
- Barry Voight Volcano Hazards Endowment in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Barton P. Cahir Award Endowment in Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Benjamin F. Howell, Jr. Award in Geosciences
- Bruce Miller Scholarship in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Cannon Family Graduate Symposium Award in Geosciences
- Charles E. Knopf, Sr. Memorial Scholarship
- Chesapeake Energy Corporation Annually Funded Scholarship in Geosciences
- Daniel and Deborah Stephens First-Time Endowed Scholarship
- David M. Demshur Undergraduate Research Endowment in Geosciences
- David M. Diodato Geosciences Fund
- David P. “Duff” Gold Undergraduate Scholarship Fund in Geosciences
- Donald B. and Mary E. Tait Scholarship in Microbial Biogeochemistry
- Dr. David E. W. Vaughan and Mrs. Julianne S. Vaughan
- Field Camp Fund in the Department of Geosciences
- Earle S. Lenker Fund for Field Studies in Geology
- Edwin L. Drake Memorial Scholarship
- Frank and Lillie Mae Dachille Memorial Award in Geochemistry
- Fund for Excellence in Lithospheric Geodynamics in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- General Scholarship Endowment in Geosciences
- George L. Ellis Scholarship
- Geosciences Enrichment Fund
- Geosciences Research Fund In Honor of Hiroshi Ohmoto
- Heller Marcellus Shale Research Initiative Endowment
- Hiroshi and Koya Ohmoto Graduate Fellowship in Geosciences
- James and Nancy Hedberg Scholarship in Geosciences
- Janet C. Kappmeyer and Andrew M. Isaacs Experiential Learning Fund in Marine Sciences in the Department of Geosciences
- Jesse A. Miller Trustee Matching Scholarship in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- John and Elizabeth Holmes Teas Scholarship Fund
- John C. and Nancy Griffiths Scholarship in Geosciences
- Joseph Berg Award for Undergraduate Research in Geosciences
- Julie and Trem Smith Family Undergraduate Scholarship
- Kappmeyer-Isaacs Field Camp Award
- Kent and Helen Newsham Geosciences Endowment in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Lattman Visiting Scholar of Science and Society Endowment
- Maureen and Dennis Maiorino Undergraduate Scholarship in the Department of Geosciences
- Michael G. Loudin Trustee Scholarship in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Michael Loudin Family Graduate Scholarship in Geosciences in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Newsham Family Undergraduate Scholarship
- Open Flow Gas Supply Corporation Endowed Program Fund in Geosciences
- Perez Family Undergraduate Scholarship
- Petroleum Geosystems Enrichment Fund
- Pottorf Endowment for Graduate Excellence in Geosciences
- R.J. Cuffey Fund for Paleontology
- RADS Equipment Fund for Field Studies in Penn State Sedimentary Geology
- Reif Undergraduate Summer Field Camp Endowment
- Richard B. and Cynthia R. Alley Faculty Enhancement Program Fund
- Richard R. Parizek Endowment for Field Study in Geosciences
- Richard R. Parizek Graduate Fellowship
- Richard Standish Good Graduate Scholarship in the Department of Geosciences
- Robert F. Schmalz Award in the Department of Geosciences
- Ronald A. Landon Endowment in Hydrogeology
- Rudy L. Slingerland Early Career Professorship in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Scholten-Williams-Wright Scholarship in Field Geology
- South Jersey Resources Group Endowed Program Fund in Geosciences
- St. Mary Land and Exploration Endowed Program Fund in Geosciences
- The Paul D. Krynine Memorial Fund
- Thomas F. Bates Undergraduate Research Enhancement Fund for Geosciences in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Thomas Kenneth (T.K.) Reeves, Jr. Family Scholarship
- Timothy and Courtney Watson Undergraduate Scholarship in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Timothy B. and Cindy Lynch Mullen Scholarship in Geosciences
- Timothy D. Watson Fund in Geosciences
Carl F. Aquino - EMS Graduate Fellows for Science Advocacy and Diversity (EMS-GFSAD)
Adam Benfield - LacCore Visiting Graduate Student Program • R. J. Cuffey Fund for Paleontology
Julia Carr - George H. K. Schenck Teaching Assistant
Fai Chanchai - On to the Future Award (GSA)
Si Chen - Mineralogical Society of America Grant in Crystallography from the Edward H. Kraus Crystallographic Research Fund
Katie Horisk - Honorable Mention NSF Graduate Research Fellowship • Elsevier Organic Geochemistry Research Scholarship
Kirsty Mckenzie - Outstanding Student Presentation Award (OSPA) at AGU 2021
Sierra Melton - First Place in the Physical Sciences and Mathematics category of the Penn State Graduate Exhibition 2021 • NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowship
Esther Munoz - Nominated for the Sloan Fellowship • president of the Penn State Chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), which received the 2021 Outstanding Marketing award from Penn State’s Student Affairs.
Karen Pham - Fulbright Research Grant (Oslo, Norway)
Garrett Shepherd - Marathon Alumni Centennial Graduate Fellowship • Shell Geosciences Energy Research Facilitation Award • Paleontological Society Stephen Jay Gould Student Research Award
Kirsten Stephens - Penn State ICDS Virtual Symposium 2020, 1st place Virtual Poster, Fall 2020 • vVMSG Annual Meeting 2021, 2nd place Talk presentation, Spring 2021