Geosciences Advisory Board

Paige Walton

Board Position: Chair
Company: AQS
Bio: Paige is a Senior Scientist and Program Manager at AQS, Inc. in Salt Lake City, UT. Her focus is risk assessments, corrective action, and permitting for sites with specialized wastes. She graduated from Auburn in 1990 with her B.S. in Geology and holds a P.G. license in Utah. Paige is also on the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Outside of work, Paige enjoys anytime spent in the great outdoors and especially skiing in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.

Alex Wood

Board Position: Vice Chair
Company: Precision Geographic Inc.
Bio: Alex Wood is founder and president of Precision Geographic Inc., where he focuses on strategic consulting in geographic information systems (GIS). He has wide-ranging experience applying geospatial technology to solve real-world problems and deliver value for clients in both the private and public sector. Alex earned a Bachelor's degree in Geology from Hanover College in Indiana ('96) and a Master's degree in Geology from Auburn ('99). His work at Auburn focused on mapping and modeling natural systems, which prepared him well for a career in GIS consulting. Alex resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife and two children who enjoy traveling, hiking and hosting Auburn football parties at their home. Alex serves as membership committee chair for the Auburn Geosciences Advisory Board, and on the Conservation committee of the Desert Foothills Land Trust in Arizona.

Wesley Diehl

Board Position: Secretary
Company: Retired ExxonMobil Exploration Company
Bio: Wesley received a BS in Zoology from Auburn University in 1979 and a MS in Geology from the University of Tennessee. Upon graduation in 1982, he went to work for Exxon Company USA in Pensacola, Florida. Throughout a 34 year career at Exxon and ExxonMobil, he also had various production assignments in New Orleans and Houston. In 2007, he joined the Operations Geology Group in ExxonMobil Exploration Company. Until his retirement in 2016, he served as a Operations Geology Senior Technical Advisor for Exxon's +50 Operations Geologists around the world. In addition, he recruited for ExxonMobil at Tennessee. Wesley has also been an active Boy Scout leader for 26 years and he has served on the Alumni Advisory Board for the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Tennessee. Wesley and his wife (Cindy - Auburn '80) live in Kingwood, TX.

Jochen Floesser

Board Position: Treasurer
Company: Houston-Galveston Area Council
Bio: Jochen is the Director of Data Analytics and Research for the Houston-Galveston Area Council, a voluntary association of local governments and elected officials from the 13-county Gulf Coast planning region surrounding the Houston metropolitan area, and covering an area of 12,500 square miles with more than 7 million people. Jochen’s department focuses on developing robust data models and forecasts for economic development, transportation planning, air quality, population growth, housing, jobs, land use, natural resources, and resiliency. Jochen graduated from AU in 1996 with an M.S. in Geology; he also holds an M.S. in Geography from Mannheim University in his home country of Germany. Having worked nearly 25 years in the geospatial industry in capacities of program and operations management, Jochen is experienced in data and analytics in multiple sectors to include environmental, natural resources, energy/infrastructure, geographic information systems, and remote sensing. Jochen is married to Anne Cisneros who is a flight attendant with Delta Airlines. Together they have four adult sons, Donovan, Fabrice, Philipp, and Maximilian.

Joel Abrahams

Board Position: Member
Company: Chesapeake Energy

Joe Beck

Board Position: Member
Company: Energen Resources

Tim Demko

Board Position: Member
Company: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
Bio: Tim is currently a Senior Research Advisor at ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company in Houston, TX, with specialties in the sedimentology and stratigraphy of siliciclastic rocks. He received his BS in Geosciences from Penn State in 1983, his MS in Geology from Auburn in 1990, and a PhD in Geosciences from the University of Arizona in 1995. Tim was a mining geologist for P & N Coal Company from 1984 to 1988. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Colorado State University from 1994 to 1996, before joining Exxon Production Research in Houston, TX in 1996. At Exxon, and then ExxonMobil, Tim worked as a research geologist on fluvial sequence stratigraphy, and applied these concepts during foreign assignments with Imperial Oil in Calgary, Alberta Canada, and then seconded to Shell UK in London, England. After an assignment with ExxonMobil Production Nigeria back in Houston, Tim left the industry to join the faculty of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth, from 2002 to 2006. In 2007, Tim returned to the oil and gas industry, to ExxonMobil Exploration Company back in Houston. He joined ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company in 2009. Tim lives in The Woodlands, TX with his wife Laura and their son, Noah.

Kevin Bogdan

Board Position: Member
Company: Imerys
Bio: Kevin has 10 years of experience as a mining geologist in the aggregate and industrial mineral industry. He has had held various positions ranging from operations to technical lead and is currently a Senior Mining Consultant with Continental Placer Inc.. Kevin specializes in three-dimensional geologic modeling, mine planning, drilling program management, and is interested in developing practical mining solutions with regard to geology (i.e. blasting pattern orientation for increased final highwall stability, selective mining techniques for proper blending, etc.). He received his BS in Geology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (2003) and MS in geology from Auburn University (2009). He is a licensed Professional Geologist in multiple states and is a Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME). Kevin lives in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area with his wife (AU 2010) and two children

Kristen Busse

Board Position: Member
Company: ExxonMobil
Bio: Kristen is a Huntsville, AL native who graduated Auburn University in 2012. While at Auburn, she worked with Dr. Mark Steltenpohl on an Undergraduate Research Fellowship that took her to Norway to study the Scandinavian Caledonides. After Auburn, she moved on to Virginia Tech to continue pursuing tectonic studies in the Himalaya. She received a Master's degree from Virginia Tech in 2014 and then moved to Houston, TX to work for ExxonMobil. Kristen has been at ExxonMobil since then and is currently on a Gulf of Mexico team.

James Clark

Board Position: Member
Company: GeoHydroLogicPro
Bio: James is President and Principal Consultant of his firm that he started in 2016. He has over with forty-seven (47) years of experience in geotechnical, geological, environmental and hydrological with the Georgia Department of Transportation Forest Park, Georgia (4 years), Law Engineering Consultants of Marietta, Georgia (4 years) and DuPont Engineering (35 years) in Beaumont, Texas. He was a member of the first class of Auburn University B.S. Geology graduates in 1972. Due to the small number of students and a single degree program, he was able to study under department head T. J. Carrington in a special problems research course for a year and mapped the Shelby County Cove area. Professor G. F. Sowers was his Georgia Institute of Technology mentor in research where he earned his M.S. degree in Geophysical Sciences (1977) working with Landsat 1 photos of the Georgia Coast along with gravity surveys and determination of the basement volcano rock, age dates and plate tectonics. In the 1970’s he worked on high-level nuclear isolation in salt domes, the building of MARTA city transport in Atlanta and completion of highways in Georgia. The latter part of his career was spent on deep well injection and ground water production along with advocating for environmental protection and risks assessment. He worked on the Land Disposal Flexibility Act that was passed into law in 1996. In 2001 he was part of an expert panel report from US EPA to Congress on the Risks associated with Class I wells. James was President of the Underground Injection Technology Council from 2006 to 2016 and served in the 1980’s on the Research Board for the Ground Water Protection Council. He is a licensed professional geologist/geoscientist in Georgia (1979), Texas (2003) and Louisiana (2014). James is married to Kathleen and visits the Loveliest Village On The Plains, Auburn yearly.

Jonathan Collier

Board Position: Member
Company: Hillcorp
Bio: Jonathan Collier is currently the Chief Petrophysicist at Energen Corporation located in Birmingham, AL. His efforts focus primarily on providing technical support for the exploration and exploitation of oil and natural gas from “Unconventional,” Organic-Rich Shales within the United States. He received both his BS (’96) and MS (’98) in Geology from Auburn University. He attributes his success in the oilfield to the passion for geology that was initiated and fostered by the Faculty and Staff in the Geology Department at Auburn. Jonathan is married to Rounak Collier and they have a son, Julian. Currently, Jonathan is a member of the Auburn Geology and Geography Advisory Board, Auburn University’s College of Science and Math Dean’s Leadership Council, and the Camp Smile-A-Mile Board of Directors (Alabama’s Program for Children with Cancer).

Robert Drake

Board Position: Member
Company: Specialty Vermiculite
Bio: Robert Drake is the Mine and Exploration Geologist for Specialty Vermiculite Corporation in Enoree, SC. In this capacity, he is responsible for identifying and securing new reserves of vermiculite ore in the Upstate region of SC. Additionally, he handles local, state and federal permitting and compliance for the SC vermiculite mining operation. Most recently, Robert assumed the role of Environmental Health and Safety Director for Specialty Vermiculite Corporation's North American facilities. As EH and S director, he will develop, implement and assess environmental permitting and compliance and workplace safety programs in all of Specialty Vermiculite's US and Canadian operations. Robert received his BS in Geology from UNC-Chapel and was enrolled in the Auburn University Geology Masters program, 1996-1998. He is a member of the Auburn Geology and Geography Advisory Board and an upcoming member of the South Carolina State map Advisory Committee. Robert currently lives in Simpsonville, SC.

Richard A. Esposito

Board Position: Member
Company: Southern Company
Bio: Richard works in the R and D Group at Southern Company. His current position is the Program Manager for Geosciences, Carbon Utilization and Storage. He manages the commercial development of generation and environmental technologies related to clean coal, bulk energy storage, CO2-EOR, geologic CO2 sequestration, and serves as the company's technical subject matter expert with conventional and unconventional energy gas and natural resources development. He speaks internationally on new and innovative technologies being developed and deployed at Southern Company. Prior to this role, Richard worked for 15 years in Southern Company’s Environmental Engineering organization working with foundations analysis, groundwater hydrogeology, power plant siting and decommissioning. Prior to working at Southern Company, Richard worked as an environmental regulator in the Water Division at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. Richard has a PhD in Engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, holds a MS and BS degree in geology from Auburn University, and holds a MS degree in Environmental Management from Sanford University. Richard previously served on the Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists and is currently the President of the Alabama Geological Society. Richard is a research professor and faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is an adjunct instructor teaching energy and geology classes at Samford University.

Laura Folse

Board Position: Member
Company: BP Wind Energy North America Inc.
Bio: As the Chief Executive Officer of BP Wind Energy, Laura Folse leads a multidisciplinary team that manages 13 wind farms around the U.S. and oversees interests in 1 additional project that is operated by a partner. BP Wind Energy’s portfolio represents over 2.2GW of installed capacity of which BP’s financial interest is over 1.4GW. With more than 30 years in the energy industry, Laura most recently led the operations, scientific and technological programs within the multi-billion dollar cleanup and restoration effort BP initiated in response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident. She also has served as vice president of Science and Technology for BP’s Exploration and Production segment. Her organization of more than 800 scientists, engineers and technical professionals delivered research and development programs in science and technology, developed BP’s training programs for technical staff, and offered specialized consultation across BP’s global enterprise. Laura has a BS in geology from Auburn University, an MS in geology from the University of Alabama, and an MS in management from Stanford University. Laura’s personal leadership was profiled in D. Michael Abrashoff’s book Get Your Ship Together and featured in Lori Silverman’s book Wake Me Up When the Data is Over. News journalist Auberi Edler developed a French TV documentary of Laura’s business and personal life, entitled Something Has Really Gotta Give.

Robert Fousek

Board Position: Member
Company: FMR, Inc.
Bio: Bob Fousek grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota which provided a great introduction to geology. His first job out of high school was as an underground miner at the Homestake gold mine in Lead, S.D. while majoring in geology at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He was drafted into the US Army in 1966 when he sat out a semester to work full-time. He qualified for the Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Flight School and received his wings in 1967. He served three years in Vietnam as a combat helicopter pilot. In 1970, he received a direct commission from Chief Warrant Officer 2 to 1st Lieutenant, Infantry, and left Vietnam in 1971 as a captain. Bob resigned his commission in 1976 and went to work in the Gulf of Mexico oil patch as a helicopter pilot. Bob returned to the School of Mines in 1989 and received his bachelors degree in geology in 1992. He then did a masters degree in geology at Auburn University. Bob currently owns a consulting company (FMR Inc.) headquartered in Auburn which provides services to the mining and construction industries. Services provided include petrographic examinations of aggregates, concrete and other materials for mining and construction companies as well as for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other government entities. Other services provide by FMR Inc. include the design and implementation of drilling programs, evaluation of properties for conservation easements, due diligence investigations and other geologic services. Bob was a founding member and served as the first Chair of the Auburn University Department of Geosciences Advisory Board.

Christopher Golden

Board Position: Member
Company: ExxonMobil
Bio: Attended Auburn University, graduated 1996 with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. Employed with ExxonMobil for more than 17 years. Currently Asset Manager for ExxonMobil operated oil and gas facilities in Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico. Experience working and living abroad in Luanda, Angola; Doha, Qatar; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Married to Carmen Golden, and two children, Jackson and Carolynn. Other affiliations include Mobile Chamber of Commerce Board of advisors, University of Alabama Geological Sciences Advisory Board, and Alabama State Chamber Business Council of Alabama Board of Directors.

Jennifer Graf

Board Position: Member
Company: NGI

Anne Hall

Board Position: Member
Company: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Bio: Anne Hall is currently a District Appropriations Hydrologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. She is responsible for review and analysis of water appropriation permit applications for the northern 16 counties in the MN DNR’s Region 4 (southwest Minnesota). Job duties include ensuring that appropriation from high capacity wells is sustainable and will not harm the source aquifer. Additionally, she ensures that the appropriation will not impact domestic or municipal water supplies, trout streams, and rare natural features such as calcareous fens. Anne’s interests include groundwater/surface water interaction, wetlands hydrology, and glacial geology. A favorite aspect of her job is conducting field inspections of calcareous fens, which are peat-accumulating wetlands dependent on cold, calcium-rich, nutrient-poor groundwater. Anne, her husband Bruce, and their furry child, Jax, live on Clear Lake, just south of Watkins, MN. They spend their time X-country skiing and shoveling snow in the winter, restoring their lake shoreline and fishing in the spring and summer, and in the fall they hand harvest wild rice.

Jordan Hassler

Board Position: Member
Company: Chevron
Bio: Jordan is an Exploration Geophysicist in Chevron’s Latin America Frontier Exploration group. She graduated from Auburn with a B.S. in Geology in 2011. Undergraduate research for Dr. Uddin on the provenance of the Tuscaloosa Formation, which was sponsored in part by a department grant, provided valuable research experience and resulted in two poster publications and a GSA grant. Jordan received a master’s degree in Geophysics from the University of Houston in 2013 before beginning her career with Chevron in the Southern Africa Business Unit. Other assignments at Chevron include Operations Geology for the Permian Basin, Piceance Basin, and Rangely, CO.

Joe Howle

Board Position: Member
Company: Vulcan Materials
Bio: Joe Howle is a 1982 graduate of Auburn University with a BS degree in Marine Biology and Biological Sciences and is a former varsity athlete (wrestling). He is currently a division Manager of Environmental Affairs at Vulcan Materials Company, the largest producer of construction aggregates in the United States. His career in environmental, community and governmental affairs spans more than 30 years. Although he works in an area of science outside of his major, he attributes his success to the well-rounded education that he received at Auburn University and the guidance from his academic advisor at Auburn, Dr. Ann Williams. Joe is currently an active member of the AU Geosciences Advisory Board in COSAM. He is a former member and chairman of the Alabama Water Resources Commission, an advisory board for the Alabama Office of Water Resources, concerning statewide water policy issues. He also holds various industry committee memberships involving environmental and governmental affairs. Joe is married to the former Fayne Love ('82) of Anniston, Alabama and they have two sons, Payton (2016 AU graduate) and Jackson (currently enrolled at AU).

Britt Johnson

Board Position: Member
Company: City of Auburn
Bio: Britt Johnson is the GIS Business Analyst for the City of Auburn, Alabama. In this position he is the administrator of the City’s enterprise asset/work order management system; along with focusing on the continual optimization of business processes throughout the organization. A 2008 Auburn graduate with a B.A. in Geography, Britt started his career in GIS as an undergraduate teaching assistant. After graduation, he worked for two years as a GIS Analyst for the City of Montgomery, Alabama. Immediately prior to his current position, he worked for six years as the GIS Technician for the City of Auburn; with responsibilities managing numerous areas of the City’s enterprise GIS system. Britt lives in Auburn.

Jill Johnson

Board Position: Member
Company: Dauphin Island Beach Rentals
Bio: Jill Johnson is a professional geologist with Geosyntec Consultants with almost 20 years of experience managing and providing technical expertise on sites with environmental impacts from chlorinated solvents, pesticides, and metals for private and public clients, including environmental site assessment and remediation, groundwater monitoring and remediation system optimization, due diligence and environmental compliance, innovative sampling techniques, and hydrogeological and geochemical site characterization. She opened the Pensacola Geosyntec office in 2007. Ms. Johnson received her B.S. in Geology from Auburn University (class of 1998) and M.S. in Hydrogeology from the University of Kansas. She holds professional geologist (P.G.) licenses in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi and has published and presented on various topics including innovative site assessment techniques, selenium and uranium geochemistry, characterization and remediation of phosphate mining wastes, and passive sampling techniques. Jill was a founding member of the Auburn University Department of Geology and Geography Advisory Board and is proud to continue to be part of it. She is married to Adam Johnson, an Auburn mechanical engineer, and they have four beautiful daughters, Parker, Amelia, Ida, and Tessa.

Andy and Ginger Klein

Board Position: Member
Company: Oxy
Bio: Andy and Ginger met at Auburn in 1995, when Ginger was finishing her degree in Geological Engineering and Andy was starting his MS in Geology. After a summer in Lofoten, Norway, mapping stuff for Mark, Andy came back home with an engagement ring for Ginger. They got married and moved to Houston, where Ginger worked for ATC Associates as an engineer and Andy went back to school. Upon completion of his Ph.D. at Rice University in 2002, Andy joined Anadarko Petroleum in The Woodlands, TX, exploring such varied areas as the US Rockies (coalbed methane), the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, the Appalachian basin, and West Africa. Currently he occupies a Geoscience Systems role, providing asset support via innovative geoscience software solutions. His interests include deep water sedimentation, salt tectonics, hydrocarbon charge, and design thinking. Ginger left ATC in 2002 to raise two amazing children: Morgan (b. 2000), and Adrian (b. 2002).

Robert Locklair

Board Position: Member
Company: Chevron
Bio: Rob is a geologist in the Energy Technology Company of Chevron. His work there focuses on technical consulting for exploration projects, research and development, and teaching internal training courses. Rob graduated with an M.S. from Auburn in 1998 under the research direction of Chuck Savrda. Since graduating from Auburn, he completed a Ph.D and a post-doctoral assignment. He also has worked for Schlumberger, EnCana (USA), and El Paso E and P Company before joining Chevron.

Herb Martin

Board Position: Member
Company: Retired from Devon Energy
Bio: Born in Pottsville, PA and as part of a very mobile family lived in 3 towns in Alabama and one in Illinois growing up. Graduated from Ft Payne AL HS in 1975, BS from AU in 1979, MS from LSU in 1985. Thirty-five years in the oil and gas biz. Retired in 2017. Over 17 years as prospector, working principally U.S. Gulf Coast onshore (largely South Texas), with five (+) years in International (primarily Far East basins) projects. Since 1999, in management roles for Devon, in Western, Gulf Coast and Southern Divisions and Corporate Teams. Beyond finding oil & gas, professional interests include economic and strategic evaluation of exploration opportunities, innovative application of technology for resource delineation and expansion, and cross-disciplinary integration applied to solving the unique challenges in “Unconventional Resource” plays. Outside of professional interests include hiking and outdoors (hunting, fishing, camping), golf, travel, reading, our family (really loving on our grands) and ‘working around the yard’ (including gardening). Lots of time spent on non-profits and volunteer work. Wife Marynm and I have been together a good while (a long time, she would say).

Wallace McCord

Board Position: Member
Company: Bhate Engineering
Bio: For the last 24 years, Wally has worked as a Geologist and Drilling Services Manager for Bhate Geo-Sciences, a consulting engineering firm in Birmingham, Al. After receiving a Bachelors from AU in 1979 he worded for two Geophysical firms in Michigan and transitioned into the civil engineering business at the Consumer's Power Nuclear Plant in Midland, Mi. He returned to Alabama in 1984 He has worked on numerous dams, bridges high rise residential, manufacturing, institutional and commercial projects, groundwater and environmental site evaluations and mineral evaluations in the SE USA and Midwest. His area of expertise is in the methods used in soil and rock excavations and coring, monitoring well and instrumentation installations. He is a long term member of the Transportation Technical Committee for the Regional Planning Commission of Birmingham. He has two sons and he lives in Birmingham.

Art Merkle

Board Position: Member
Company: Pediatric Dentistry, FT. Walton, FL
Bio: Art Merkle is currently a Pediatric Dentist in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. His practice focuses mainly on preventive dental care in infants, children and adolescents by using oral hygiene care, dietary changes, fluoride application and pit and fissure sealants to help strengthen and protect the hydroxyapatite in patient’s teeth. Occasionally he has to repair acid de-calcified apatite in the teeth using various dental materials to restore, replace or preserve tooth form and function. Art earned a B.S. (’79) in Geology from Auburn University and a D.M.D. (’83) from The University of Alabama School of Dentistry. Art’s interest in Geology started early in life as his father studied and later taught Geology at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Art grew up with rocks, minerals and fossils and accompanied his father and his fathers students in the field on teaching field trips. Auburn University’s Geology faculty furthered his interest in Geology by allowing him to teach undergraduate labs and training him to fabricate rock and mineral thin sections. Although he made the jump to Dentistry after studying undergraduate Geology, Art has continued to use a drill and to remain close to Geology through participation in The Auburn Geosciences Advisory Board and The Auburn COSAM Dean’s Leadership Council. Art is married to Carol Beaton Merkle and they have a son Drew Merkle who is an Auburn graduate of the School of Architecture.

Hayes Morrison

Board Position: Member
Company: Massachusetts Port Authority

Josh Poole

Board Position: Member
Company: Wellborn Mining
Bio: Josh Poole is a Professional Geologist, and exploration and field research geologist for Wellborn Mining - working on the Hog Mountain, AL gold deposit. He received his BS in geology from the University of West Georgia in 2012 and his MS from Auburn University in 2015. His previous research work and interests span from mapping and understanding the mylonitic Bartletts Ferry fault zone of the Pine Mountain window, to barrier island migration off the coast of Georgia. His thesis work under Dr. Mark Steltenpohl included the mapping and implications of structures associated with the Brevard fault zone, focusing on the kinematics and timing of faults/shear zones in the Eastern Blue Ridge of Alabama. He also developed a new pedagogical application for stereonets in delineating shear direction. After graduating, he joined the faculty of Columbus State University as a Lecturer of Geology for the 2015-2016 academic year, teaching introductory, major-level, and graduate-level geology courses, and was the Physical Geology Lab coordinator. In fall of 2016, he joined Wellborn Mining, a local start-up gold mining company (still in exploration phase) as their Exploration/Field Research Geologist. Josh holds a professional geologist (PG) license in Alabama. He is also the Director of Educational Programming for AO Discover!, a start-up children’s hands-on science center, the first in East Alabama. He and his wife are still Auburn residents and continue to own/operate the Celtic Traditions School of Irish Dance, while also squeezing in time to travel the world. They still visit the department and are semi-regulars at the football tailgates. War Damn Geology!

Larry Prince

Board Position: Member
Company: Tallapoosa River Electric Coop
Bio: Larry Prince is currently the Distribution Engineering Representative for Opelika Power Services. Since joining the department in 2011, he has transitioned from mapping the electrical distribution system to mapping our fiber to the home deployment, the first in Alabama, and he has now advanced to the title of Distribution Engineer. Larry is responsible for the distribution automation schemes (smart grid), site development and distribution system expansion. He met his wife, Amanda, while at Auburn, and they have been married 7 years and have 2 children, Fischer (4) and Sadie (2). They feel lucky to still reside in the Auburn area and live on some land. Amanda and Larry enjoy serving on the Young Life Committee, serving the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, working outside, and taking the kids to any Auburn sporting event.

Eric Reardon

Board Position: Member
Company: Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Bio: Eric Reardon received a BS in Geology from Auburn University in 2001. In 2002, he went to work with an engineering/environmental company, Gallet and Associates, Inc., in Birmingham, Alabama. Gallet and Associates, Inc. was purchased by Terracon Consultants, Inc. in 2007. Eric has over 17 years of experience as an Environmental Consultant. He obtained his Alabama Professional Geologist license in 2007 and became a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) in 2014. Eric has worked on a wide variety of soil and groundwater contamination investigations that included emergency response, contaminant delineation and remediation, aquifer characterization, human health and natural resource risk assessment, along with litigation support involving above-ground and underground storage tank releases, chlorinated solvent releases, metal contaminated sites, post-closure landfill remediation and compliance, and petroleum pipeline releases.

Ken Reynolds

Board Position: Member
Company: Retired
Bio: Ken is a Selma, Alabama native who received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Auburn in ’79 and ’81. He began his professional career with Texaco in their New Orleans office in 1981, assigned to a variety of projects on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas, focusing on asset development geology. Upon the merger with Chevron in 2001, Ken accepted a job developing the Petronius Field in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico. That assignment led to positions as a development geologist and static modeler for numerous projects in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Ken’s most recent position with Chevron was the Earth Science Advisor for Chevron’s non-operated assets in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Business Unit, headquartered in Covington, Louisiana. In 2018, he retired from Chevron and married Ellen, who retired from Chevron in 2020. Between the two of them, they have seven children and eight grandchildren living nearby in Louisiana and Mississippi. After many years of working, Ken is looking forward to a retirement that is focused on traveling, cycling, football, music, and enjoying his life with Ellen in New Orleans.

Amanda Savrda

Board Position: Member
Company: Auburn City School System
Bio: Amanda Savrda (BS, Geology, ’08) also holds an MS ('11) in Geological Sciences from the University of South Carolina, where she was a USC Partner’s in Inquiry Teaching Fellow. As a team member of the United States Antarctic Program Special Project G-432-E, her MS research focused on the thermotectonic history of rocks of Palmer Land, Antarctic Peninsula. Following graduate school, Amanda spent 5 years in the oil and gas industry as a Senior Geoscientist in ExxonMobil’s Exploration Company in Houston, Texas. In 2016, Amanda returned to Auburn to pursue her MEd in General Science Education as a graduate research assistant in AU College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Teaching, supported by NSF’s NanoBio Math Science Partnership. Following completion of her MEd (’17), Amanda served Auburn University’s Department of Geosciences as an Introductory Geology instructor. Amanda is currently teaching Earth Science and Environmental Science to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students at Auburn High School, where she leverages her passion for STEM and experiences in both research and industry to help students connect their every-day lives to science content in the classroom. Amanda continues to represent and engage the department of Geological Sciences, COSAM, and AU in her teaching and educational outreach activities.

Wes Sandlin

Board Position: Member
Company: Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Bio: Wes is currently an Environmental Scientist for the Utah Department of Environmental Quality in Salt Lake City, UT. His focus is on human health and environmental risk assessments. He is a proud graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. in geology (2018). Following his undergraduate degree, he received an M.S. in geology from the University of Idaho (2020) where he studied mining-impacted environments and treatment systems for acid mine drainage. Prior to moving to Utah, Wes located abandoned mines and mining prospects across the state of Idaho for the Idaho Geological Survey. Outside of work, Wes enjoys backpacking, mountain biking, and playing soccer and pickleball.

Nick Soltis

Board Position: Member
Company: University of Indianapolis
Bio: Nick Soltis (Ph.D. Earth System Science, ’20) currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth-Space Science at the University of Indianapolis. At Auburn, he worked under Karen McNeal in the Geocognition Lab and had the opportunity to be involved in a number of undergraduate courses including Earth and Life through Time, Dynamic Earth, Sedimentary Petrology, Paleobiology, and Field Camp. While at Auburn, Nick was awarded both institutional and national teaching awards. He also had the opportunity to participate in field courses in the Bahamas and Iceland. Prior to starting his Ph.D. at Auburn, Nick was a middle school science teacher for 6 years. He has additional degrees from Mississippi State (M.S. ’15 in Geoscience) and Muskingum University (M.A.Ed. ’13 in Science Education and Talented and Gifted Education). At the University of Indianapolis, Nick has taught and developed a number of courses including Elements of Earth-Space Science; Physical Geology; Physical Geography; Time, Trilobites, & T-Rex; Earth Systems; Paleontology; Hydrogeology, and Inequality in the Environment. He also is active in undergraduate student research, advising students in a variety of projects across a variety of areas including geochemistry, paleobiology, and environmental geology. He serves as a Faculty Fellow in the Strain Honors College at UIndy, engaging students in courses in environmental justice and contributing to program evaluation and development. Nick serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Geoscience Education and is active in the National Association of Geoscience Teachers. A native of Western Pennsylvania, Nick currently lives in Indianapolis, IN.

James Taylor

Board Position: Member
Company: Unit Petroleum

Richard and Jade Urash

Board Position: Member
Company: Chesapeake Energy

Devon Verellon

Board Position: Member
Company: Chevron
Bio: Devon graduated from Auburn in 2015 with a BS in Geology and went on to complete her MS in Geophysics at the University of Georgia in 2017. During her time at Auburn, she worked with Dr. Mark Steltenpohl on an Undergraduate Research Fellowship to study implications of the Scandinavian Caledonides in Norway and she helped generate a portion of the field guide for Chewacla State Park. Her research during her Masters at UGA used global phase seismic interferometry to analyze structure and upper mantle anisotropy underneath the southern Appalachians. After UGA, Devon started full time at Chevron in Houston as a technical geophysicist in the Gulf of Mexico group, focusing on complex subsalt seismic imaging and AVA analysis. She is now working in an interpretation role of the Norphlet trend in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and she is a campus recruiter for UGA. During her undergraduate and graduate studies, Devon actively volunteered at local charities, some focusing on STEM outreach, and she has continued to pursue this passion in Houston.

Daphne D Williams

Board Position: Member
Company: NewFields Government Services LLC
Bio: Daphne Williams attended Auburn University and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Geology. As part of her undergraduate program she participated in a National Science Foundation program with Portland State University mapping the basalts of the high steep deserts of eastern Oregon. She returned to Auburn University and received her graduate degree in 1998 under the supervision of Dr. Ming-Kuo Lee. Upon graduating, Ms. Williams went to work in the Environmental Consulting field as a geologist. Ms. Williams is now co-owner of NewFields Government Services, LLC (NGS), an Economically Disadvantaged, Woman-Owned Small Business, providing environmental services to both federal and private sector clients. With offices in North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Georgia, NGS specializes in the compilation, analyses and communication of Big Data to support efficient decisions. Other services provided by NGS include remedial design, implementation and optimization, dynamic conceptual site model development, wetlands development, and mining services to include design and life-of-mine studies to name a few. Through the education she received at Auburn University and the experienced she has gained over the years, Daphne encourages the coupling of geology with engineering, microbiology, and chemistry, along with a sound understanding of business, to provide efficient decisions while promoting sound science. When she is not working, she, David and their three dogs split their time between Brevard, NC, hiking in the Pisgah National Forest, and Santa Rosa Beach, FL, paddle boarding the emerald waters of the Gulf Coast.

Goodney Hulsey Zapp

Board Position: Member
Company: Cognizant Tech. Solutions
Bio: Goodney Zapp is a proud graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. in Geology, 1980. Goodney began her career with a decade in field geology layered with mine modeling and mapping and statistical analysis with Rio Tinto Group and Chevron’s mining division. The programming experience led her to a career transition to IT starting with Microsoft. Currently, Goodney is an IT strategy and program delivery consultant with Cognizant Technology Solutions, leading large and complex technology integrations and implementations for organizational growth and operational efficiencies. Goodney is keen to support initiatives in Women in STEM (Science Technology Engineering, Mathematics), WIT (Women in Technology) initiatives and participates when possible in Auburn COSAM SWSM (Society of Women in Science and Math).

Ming-Kuo Lee

Board Position: Ex-Officio Member
Company: AU Geosciences Department Chair

Stephanie Rogers

Board Position: Ex-Officio Member
Company: AU Geosciences Department

Nick Tew

Board Position: State Geologist of Alabama/Oil and Gas Supervisor, and Chairman of Alabama State Water Agencies Working Group (AWAWG)
Company: Geological Survey of Alabama and State Oil and Gas Board
Bio: Nick Tew is Alabama’s State Geologist and Oil and Gas Supervisor. In these capacities, he directs the Geological Survey of Alabama and the staff of the State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Alabama. Nick holds Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. degrees in Geology and has been with GSA and OGB for over 30 years, serving in his present capacity since 2002. Dr. Tew has extensive knowledge of Alabama’s surface and subsurface geology and the state’s rich endowment of geologically related natural resources. He is an expert in Gulf Coastal Plain stratigraphy, petroleum geology, and the regulation of oil and gas operations and is a frequent speaker on these and other topics, nationally and internationally. Nick is Past-President of the American Geosciences Institute and has previously served as President of the Association of American State Geologists, Vice-Chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, and Chairman of the U.S. Department of the Interior Outer Continental Shelf Policy Committee. Nick is a Fellow in the Geological Society of America.

Randy West

Board Position: Ex-Officio Member
Company: National Center for Asphalt Technology
Bio: Randy West is the Director of the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University. NCAT is contract funded by state highway departments, FHWA, and businesses involved in road construction and maintenance to conduct research on improving safety, performance, and cost effectiveness of asphalt pavements. Randy’s interest in geology stems from assessing characteristics of local mineral aggregates that affect how pavements perform all over the world. He completed his bachelors and masters degrees in Civil Engineering from Auburn in 1987 and 1989, respectively, and completed his PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida in 1995. Randy is married to Ronda Vaughn (’86) and they have two daughters that are also Auburn graduates. Currently, Randy is a member of the Auburn Geosciences Advisory Board and serves on the Board of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.

Robert Cook

Board Position: Emeritus
Company: Retired Auburn University

Charles Savrda

Board Position: Emeritus
Company: AU Geosciences Department
Bio: Chuck Savrda, as a former chair of the Department of Geosciences (‘05-’10), is an ex-officio member of the Auburn Geosciences Advisory Board. He has served on the department faculty since 1986, after completing his BA at Rutgers University (’80) and MS and PhD degrees at the University of Southern California (’83, ’86). In addition to his regular instructional duties in introductory courses and undergraduate Sedimentary Petrology, he teaches or co-teaches a variety of graduate-level courses that focus on sedimentology, stratigraphy, and ichnology. His research focuses on ichnofossils and their applications in facies and sequence stratigraphic analyses. Among other accomplishments, Chuck has served as a Paleontological Society Distinguished Lecturer, Co-Editor of SEPM’s journal Palaios, and Interim Dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM, ’10-’13), and is now the Paleontology Councilor for SEPM. He and his wife Diane have four daughters, all AU students—Amanda (BS, Geology, ’08; MS Science Education, ‘17), CeeCee (BS, Nursing, ’10), Allison (BS, Human Sciences, ’13) and Cassie (Human Sciences, ’18). Chuck and Diane are long-time contributors to departmental and COSAM programs that support students and faculty in Geosciences.

Mark Steltenpohl

Board Position: Emeritus
Company: AU Geosciences Department
Bio: Professor of the Department of Geosciences and is a registered Professional Geologist (PG) in the State of Alabama. After earning his Ph.D. in Geology at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, he taught Geology at the University of Tromsø, arctic Norway, and then worked for the State Geological Survey in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In 1989 he became an associate professor at Auburn University where he has taught undergraduate and/or graduate classes in physical geology, geological field methods, summer field camp, structural geology, southeastern geology, and plate tectonics. His main areas of research are in plate tectonics, the evolution of continents and mountain systems, utilizing isotopic methods to date the deformation of Earth’s crust, and characterizing the physical properties of construction aggregate stone. He maintains active research programs in the southern Appalachians and the Caledonides of arctic Norway and East Greenland. Steltenpohl has served on proposal review panels for the Geological Society of America and the DOI, and as chair for the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America and for the Alabama Geological Society. He was appointed by Gov. Don Siegleman to serve as the education member of the Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists and as a delegate to the Alabama Geographic Information Council. Outreach efforts include presenting lectures and leading fieldtrips for Continuing Education credit for the International Geological Congress, the Alabama Geological Society, the Geological Society of America, the Alabama Forestry Association Annual Teachers Workshop, the Atlanta Geological Society, and the AU Elderhostle Program. He has written A trail guide to the geology of Chewacla State Park and is writing the book Roadside Geology of Alabama for Mountain Press.