Alumni News
Burt Amundson (BS - 1949; MS - 1951)
UW Geology has given me the basic tools I have needed to have a successful career in industry and especially education. I am indebted. I would like to do whatever I can to repay the debt. When counseling students as regards to their careers I would like to have you encourage them to consider education. Although the university level is the ideal, community colleges, especially in California which has over 100, do not require doctorates as the "ticket" for positions. The first two years, in my opinion, are the more important in getting a good start in geology basics. I would like to recommend, based on my experiences, that some industrial experience proceed entry into teaching. The Seattle Area requires a year of industry of their community college instructors. Community college salary levels are not too "shabby."
John M. Dennison (PhD - 1960)
I was a student at Madison in 1957-60, receiving my PhD under the direction of Lewis Cline. Bob Dott was the new faculty member during that time, and we developed a mutual interest in geostatistics. For the last year at Madison, I was awarded the Van Hise Fellowship. My career has been totally academic, except for some consulting. I was tenured faculty at University of Illinois (teaching there 1960-65), University of Tennessee (1965-67), and University of North Carolina (1967-present). This year is the first of a three-year phased retirement of half-time teaching duties. My research interests have been mainly Appalachian basin Paleozoic stratigraphy. I did a modest amount of structural geology, in the Van Hise spirit. In 1967 I authored a structural geology problems book Analysis Of Geologic Structures published by W.W. Norton Company, and it is still in print after 33 years. My experiences at Wisconsin gave me just what I needed: a broad range of faculty and graduate student colleagues, a great library, a full minor in a field outside geology (statistics), two foreign languages requirement, adequate financial support to make it through, and a view of America from the craton looking out, which was an important perspective as I studied the Appalachians.
Eugene Domack (BS - 1978)
Eugene was just promoted to Professor at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. His graduate degrees were from Rice University. Domack's research, funded by the NSF, involves undergraduates in the study of Antarctic change and marine geology. Mike Emang (BS - 1985) Since graduation I have been practicing geology in the oil and gas industry, putting in close to 13 years with Shell as a production geologist-geophysicist. I have recently moved and relocated to the Middle East in Qatar. My current job as Senior Production Geologist/Geophysicist with Qatar General Petroleum Corporation involving providing technical quality control and granting technical approval for all aspects of field development, proposed by various multi-national contractors to QGOC. (I am always thankful for the basics that UW provided me. And many thanks to David M. Mickelson and the other professors, including Dr. Gates, Dr. Clay, Dr. Byers, Dr. Anderson, and Dr. Maher, etc. Some have already reached emeritus status, which makes me feel so old!)
Heidi Fassnacht (BS - 1991)
Stopped by for a quick visit on my way through Madison. I am headed to the east coast for a new job - a research assistant at Dartmouth College. I finished up my MS in Geology and Civil Engineering (Fluvial Geomorphology and Water Resources Engineering) about 1.5 years ago. Took some time off to bike tour in New Zealand than went back to work for OSU (Oregon State) till this past April. My thesis project and work this past year have dealt with evaluating the effects of a series of hydroelectric dams on streamflows and sediment transport (context -fish habitat). I have greatly enjoyed the work, but the project came to an end. I hope to head back west eventually but for now am going to explore New England.
Lloyd Furer (PhD - 1966)
Lloyd has retired from the Indiana Survey and teaching at Indiana's famous field station in Montana. At Christmas time, he and his wife, Jackie, moved to a retirement home near Fort Atkinson, only 25 miles southeast of Madison (Jackie is from the area). When weather precludes golf, Lloyd plans to continue doing subsurface geology in the northern Rocky Mountain region, but also to turn his hand to the Wisconsin subsurface Paleozoic rocks.
Andrea Sutherland Kenter (BS - 1985, MS - 1989)
Geology Grad Applies Lessons She Learned: It is late, but the house is now quiet...I'll grab my chance to get a quick note off to you. My brief bio is as follows: BS in Geology and Geophysics, UW-Madison, 1985; in 1986 I was a special student, doing nondegree work, and in 1989, I received my MS in Geology and Geophysics. Seems like a long time ago....Now I'm married, to Almus Kenter, an '89 Physics PhD from UW-Madison who is at the Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We have three wonderful kids (Linas, age nine, Daris, age seven, and Magdalena, now three). We're firmly ensconced in a huge old New England farmhouse on seven acres, with more home improvement projects than are physically possible for us to complete. I'm currently attempting to work outside of the home full time. I think you wanted to know about what I was doing with my L&S education, and how it has shaped my life. First of all, I feel I received a terrific education at UW-Madison. After two semesters a good family friend, Fred Madison helped me get a job at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. Fred is a staff member there, and also a member of the Soil Science Department. I loved the work and enrolled in geology courses soon afterwards. I was able to round out my enthusiasm for geology with courses in civil engineering, soils, geography and other liberal arts. While in the geology department, I was able to travel to the Alps on a field trip to study glaciers with my advisor and his students - talk about the ultimate goal of a glacial geologist! I had wonderful, memorable teachers while at the UW. Among those who come to mind are: my adviser, Dave Mickelson, who was not only very inspiring (Dave was able to communicate his passion for glacial geology and geomorphology to his students) but has a great sense of humor. I first met Bob Dott (sedimentology/earth history) as an undergrad, and was lucky to be retained as a TA for him during grad school. He is nothing short of an icon - a geology demi-god and a wonderful man! Then there are Fred Madison and Kevin McSweeney (soils) and Vance Holliday and Jim Knox (both geography) all of whom helped make the material interesting and fun. Because I was fortunate to have so many wonderful role models - people who loved what they taught - I've tried to emulate this, and pass on my love of the subject to anyone who will listen. My ultimate career goal is to be continually challenged by my field of expertise (i.e., geology). Not only because it's nice to be challenged, but because it allows me to utilize my educational background in my everyday life outside of work. For instance, I love to explain to my children how the mountains were formed, or identify the rocks and minerals they bring home, or grow better vegetables because of my background in soil science. My husband, on the other hand, would probably argue that my knowledge of the geology of our property (sandy outwash plain with a relatively high water table) puts a damper on his hobbies. I am continually reprimanding him for spilling automotive fluids, scraping his boat outside, or pursuing his many other hobbies that utilize grease and oil. Well, it is nearly 11 p.m. and I still have lunches to pack for kids and their swimming shorts to round up for tomorrow before I sleep...Hope this tells the story!
Rodney V. Kirkham (PhD - 1969)
Rod received the Derry Medal - the highest award given by the Mineral Deposits Division of the Geological Survey of Canada. His PhD dissertation (under Gene Cameron) concerned the Glacier Gulch porphyry copper deposit in his native province of British Columbia. He then joined the Geological Survey of Canada, where he had a distinguished career until 1998, when he turned to full-time consulting. Some of his major contributions are noted in the following extract from the medal citation: "[Rod's] keen observations and explanations... with respect to porphyry systems has been incorporated by both industry and the research community into today's accepted models for copper porphyry desposits and environments...[He pioneered] in recognizing deformed and modified porphyry systems in the Precambrian Shield...Rod is also recognized as a world authority on sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits...In his desire to correlate the sediment-hosted copper deposits of the world, Rod decided that there was no acceptable geological map of the world, and so he set about creating one....The World Map Project is now the basis for the publication of maps depicting the distribution of stratiform copper, porphyry copper, gold, ancient and modern seafloor VMS systems...The World Map Series is a testament to Rod's tenacity in pursuing an idea that did not fit into his mandate...Rod is the consummate field man, who through his geological experience has influenced the direction of mineral deposit research and exploration in Canada and around the world." In his acceptance speech, Rod gave the following warm tribute to our department: "Time spent at the University of Wisconsin were the golden years for me. I have never been so motivated in geology before or after. Dr. Eugene Cameron shaped my career and showed us how to apply everything that we had learned in geology and other disciplines to the study of ore deposits and that minerals are absolutely essential for the well being of society...Gene Cameron and others, such as Bull Bailey and Bob Dott, took us to a higher level and set [an] environment for achievement."
Tom Laudon (BS - 1955, MS - 1957, PhD - 1963) (Emeritus Professor, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh)
Tom has found a new and ambitious retirement careerleading Geo-Treks in the Himalaya. This seems right in keeping with the Laudon Tradition. Here is the next trip: Announcing The Geology Of The Roof Of The World, on a Land Cruiser trek from Lhasa to Kathmandu - May 15-June 5, 2000. You can check the web site: http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/geology/Tibet2000.html or write to UW-Oshkosh, Division of Continuing Education and Extension, 800 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh, WI 54901-8623.
Tor Nilsen (MS - 1964, PhD - 1967)
Tor managed to get tickets for the Rose Bowl game for his entire family. He wrote that "...it was the first time the kids had seen such an enormous spectacle, even my daughters, who donąt give a fig for football, got excited and thought it was all wonderful. After having stayed home in 1963 and not getting tickets for 1994, it was a very moving experience for me to close out the century with two in a row; my attachments to Wisconsin are strong, and the years there were extraordinary for me, especially in hindsight, but I have had little connection with UW now for more than 30 years. So many long-forgotten memories were brought back to make the experience more than worth it. Can I live long enough to do it again? Maybe Ron Dayne's son will give a go in 20 years!"
Michael Porter (PhD -1985)
Near Christmas time, Bob and Nancy Dott found Mike wandering in a Madison supermarket. He and one of his cute daughters were waiting for mom, Rebecca Cole, to find a TV dinner or some such. Rebecca grew up in Madison, so the Cole-Porters were in town for the holidays with grandparents. All looked fine and seem to be thriving in Houston, where Mike is still with Exxon Production Research Corp. doing all sorts of interesting projects. Peter Riemersma (PhD - 1997) I taught two classes this year, "Sediments, Strata and the Environment " (Geology 250) in the fall and "The Evolution of the Earth and its Life" (Geology 106) in the spring. Geology 250 involved the description and interpretation of clastic and carbonate sedimentary rocks, a subject that I long ago studied for my Master's thesis in Utah. Students in Geology 250 went on numerous field trips to examine the sedimentology of the many rock outcrops in the area. They saw turbidites near the Mid-Hudson bridge and deltaic channels at the Ashoken reservoir. They scrambled up Bonticou Crag in the Mohonk Mountains and were ordered off the roadside outcrop by golf carters in the Helderberg Mountains. They studied cemetery tombstones and visited a local gravel pit where the students got to wear hard hats. (Note: It would appear that a hard hat makes an exceptionally good gift if your son or daughter is a geologist).
Jamie Robertson (MS - 1972; PhD - 1975)
I continue as exploration vice president for ARCO's international new ventures, but the big news of this year of course is ARCO's pending merger into BP Amoco. That takeover was announced in April, and we expect the deal to close in the near future. I have agreed to do a short transition assignment with BP Amoco, but will be taking ARCO's severance package and retiring in March or so after 25 years with the company. We want to stay in Fort Worth given Stella's career and the children's good school situation with five years to go at Fort Worth Country Day before they head off to university. Will let you know next Christmas about what we decide to do next.
Alan Soicher (BS1992)
It was great hearing from the department Chair about the goings on in Weeks Hall in the recent alumni letter. Especially delightful to hear about the three professors who had a great influence on me during my time in Madison, including Jill. I'm glad others are finally recognizing her genius - something I've known since mineralogy class. I am writing from northwest Washington, where I migrated after getting my Master's in hydrogeology in Hawaii. I'm now working in two places, one a community land trust near Mount Baker and the other a non-profit law firm in Seattle. With the land trust I'm working on a few projects, including an ecoforestry initiative, effectiveness monitoring of forestry regulations, and salmon habitat restoration. With the law firm, the Washington Forest Law Center, I work with a geomorphologist and two lawyers, mostly getting at regulatory reform for forestry on state and private lands. Most of the environmental gains in Northwest forests have been on federal lands, while state and private lands continue to get hit hard. My job is to help bring together the science to highlight the need for reform and sometimes provide alternatives and solutions. Darcy's Law comes in handy. Just kidding, though I feel that the breadth of my academic background serves me well. I thank you for being such inspirations.
Bob Sterret (MS - 1974, 1975, PhD - 1980)
What a year! In April, ten years after starting his consulting firm, Bob sold it. Although the decision-making process was a difficult one, he is now quite pleased. September took Bob to Chile. He taught a hydrogeology class and as he loves to teach, he had a great time. In October he traveled to El Salvador for a Catholic Relief Organization that was in the midst of building an orphanage for 500 kids. Bob went down with all of his field gear, Halloween candy and extra clothes for the kids. Although the antique drill rig kept breaking down, he and the hard working locals were able to get the well started after a couple of weeks. It's still not working quite as it should, so it looks like he'll go back at the end of January to work on it some more.
Tom Wadell (Chemistry BS - 1966) (Guerry Professor of Chemistry, U. of Tennessee at Chattanooga)
In 1963-64, I took a lot of geology classes (23 credits worth). Although I was a chemistry major, I loved geology. The Camerons were neighbors and friends of my family in Madison. I was in Bob Dottąs first year historical geology class and in his marine geology class....I remember a wonderful field trip to the Devonian in Iowa. It sleeted the whole time and I remember drinking beer in a hotel bar before 9 AM!! ...After my BS in Chemistry at the UW, I then got a PhD in organic chemistry from UCLA. I have been in the chemistry department at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for 26 years. I was influenced by UW geology, and a post-doc at Berkeley got me into early life research from the chemical-physiological point of view. So, the origin science that Bob Dott showed me and my organic chemistry have come together in a nice way. I met Jill Banfield at a conference in New York, got an Alumni Newsletter, and then contacted the department. As an undergrad in the department, I was treated to quality teaching from everyone! I never had a poor teacher in geology (I remembers courses with Laudon, Visiting Prof. Williams, and Dott). This experience emphasized to me how important good teaching is and how much I respect your department for its teaching.
Erik Webb (MS - 1989, PhD - 1992)
I recently accepted the responsibility as the manager of the Geohydrology Department at Sandia National Laboratories which includes a group of 12 PhD earth and material scientists, a 10,000 square foot flow and transport visualization laboratory and 10 students, PhD candidates, lab technicians and MS level staff. This has broadened my view and responsibilities to include: Technical management at WIPP, Yucca Mountain, and international programs in High Level Nuclear Waste Management with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, and collaboration with the IAEA, NEA, and so forth. Our department also supports clean up within the DOE complex, basic research for flow and transport in multiphase, non-isotherm coupled systems, DNAPL migration, basis water resources investigations, international water supply problems.
News from:
