Farewell Message from Dean Giordano

I have dedicated more than four decades in the field of higher education. During that time, I have taught, conducted research, and held many positions, and I have gotten the greatest satisfaction from working with students.

The students that I helped guide and inspire make me incredibly proud. I am grateful that I could help former students become successful professionals.

Inspiring a student to reach his or her full potential is one of the most important responsibilities we have in academia. As I step down as COSAM’s Dean, I encourage everyone to actively act as mentors for the next generation of students.

Many of you know how much I adore my granddaughter Imogen. She reminds me how we need to go beyond the classroom to spark a passion and excitement for lifelong learning. It doesn’t matter if you are a tenured professor, supervisor, lecturer, administrative professional or even a dean. What matters is that you invest your time to a help a current student realize their potential.

Liles wants to help faculty, staff, and students excel and achieve as Acting ADR

“It is an absolute honor and privilege to be selected as COSAM’s Acting Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies,” said Mark R. Liles.

He takes on this position as Edward Thomas Jr. becomes the interim dean for COSAM on August 16, 2021. The current dean, Nicholas J. Giordano, officially steps down as of August 31.

COSAM’s Graduation Marshal Daniel Leaphart makes grandfather proud

“My time as a student at Auburn has been absolutely amazing,” he said. “Being a student in geosciences makes for the most incredible work environment you could ever ask for.”

Leaphart participated in the department’s summer field camp.

“I was able to go to Dinosaur Ridge in Colorado and it was a dream come true,” Leaphart explained.

Dinosaur Ridge was founded in 1989, and is one of the most famous and sought after fossil destinations in the world.  Leaphart is pictured in front of it. The dinosaur footprints are visible in the ridge behind him.

“Seeing the dinosaur fossils in the hill made me feel like I was a little kid again,” he said. “I was so excited to see and touch these pieces of history that are more than 100 million years old.” 

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