Alumni Book
Rosalie (Schubert) Bossler, B.S., 2011
What have you been up to since graduation?
I started my career working for mineral exploration companies in the Alaskan arctic. We were looking for copper sulfides in carbonate rocks. After that I came back to California to work on a Masters degree under Dr. Chris Pluhar at CSU Fresno studying Sierra uplift and tectonic history. I simultaneously worked for the US Bureau of Reclamation on hydrogeology aspects of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. Since graduation I have bounced around various consulting firms working on remediation at contaminated sites. I currently reside in Sasebo, Japan on the US Navy Base with my husband.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
The California geology class field trip to Pinnacles NP. It is what sparked me to change majors to Earth Science.
Stephany Subdiaz, B.S., 2016
What have you been up to since graduation?
Teaching Math and leading backpacking trips! And starting an antiracism training, coaching and consulting practice, GreenWoodandDuff.com
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Field Geology classes!
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Hilde Schwartz and Jeremy Hourigan
George Williams, B.S., 1985
What have you been up to since graduation?
(1985 - 2000) Environmental Program Manager various firms (IT Corp, Boeing, etc.). (2000 - Present) GIS Analyst, Data Program Manager, and BI/SQL database Analyst.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Summer Field Camp with Jerry Weber
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Jerry Weber
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Geomorphology and Hydrology
Sarah Gray, Ph.D., 1991
What have you been up to since graduation?
After completing a post doc at the USGS, I began a full-time teaching career at the University of San Diego in the Environmental and Ocean Sciences Department. I've enjoyed my 34 year career--especially the orientation towards the liberal arts and experiential education and the opportunity to conduct research with bright undergraduate and masters students. I teach courses in geological oceanography, paleoclimatology, coral reefs, and general earth science and have taught on several study abroad programs around the world. I've continued research studying how human impacts and environmental change are recorded in coastal sediments and recently have been engaged in studying the impacts of watershed development on coral reef sedimentation and microplastics in sediments. I'm getting close to retirement but am still having a lot of fun so I'll continue teaching at least a few more years. The next adventure is a teaching gig on the Semester at Sea program in the fall of '24.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
There are so many memories! But probably the memory with the greatest impact was going through the Loma Prieta Earthquake and its aftermath. The grad students at the time organized several fantastic field trips that shaped my understanding of fossil reefs such as a trip to the Guadalupe Mountains in the Permian Basin and White Mountains/Bishop area.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Many faculty, like Leo Laporte, Peggy Delaney, and Bob Garrison and Jim Hein, my mentor at the USGS and of course fellow grad students.
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
New discoveries as mapping of the ocean floor has accelerated; new techniques to reconstruct past climate using corals and foraminifera; microplastics and the anthropocene.
Sarah Griscon, 1990, B.S.
What have you been up to since graduation?
I worked for the USGS (office of Energy and Marine), taught at Sea Education Association, NMF/NOAA. Raised two daughters. I returned to graduate school for a PhD in Coastal Oceanography at Stony Brook, NY. After five years at Harvard School of Public Health, and teaching high school, I finally landed on Cape Cod and developed a marine science and sailing camp on Pleasant Bay. My girls are out of college, I’m happily married and I still love thinking about geologic time….
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
I had the very best time on a week-long field trip with Bob Garrison to SoCal for his Basin Analysis graduate class. Debbie Schwartz, Alan Bol, Tom Clifton, and a host of wonderful characters and friends. I was introduced to both the Talking Heads and the fields and offices of Texaco petroleum scientists. Bob Garrison was so patient with us and was always the gentleman scientist.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Bob Garrison, Leo Laporte Dan Sample, Mitch Colgan, Audrey Wright, and Mary Cameron.
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Sea Level rise, community climate education, coastal resilience
Brian Globerman, Ph.D, 1985
What have you been up to since graduation?
Working in Information Technology (systems and network administration); living in Bozeman, Montana.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Geologic field work in southwestern Alaska.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Earth & Planetary Science Dept (formerly Earth Sciences Board) faculty
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Regional tectonics of Pacific Northwest, Yellowstone hotspot
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Faculty and students circa 1980-85
Ken Ma, B.A., 2006
What have you been up to since graduation?
In 2006, I started working for an industrial hygiene laboratory in Emeryville called Micro Analytical Laboratories Inc. until 2020. In 2007 I started working for the East Bay Municipal Utility District in Oakland as a wastewater operator trainee. I am currently still working there as a wastewater assistant ops supervisor.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
I missed the walks on campus. I also missed summer field geology with Hilde. The field trips in the earth science classes were all very memorable.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
I double majored in Econ too so I had experience with 2 different departments. I never felt connected to the Econ department but I really liked the Earth Science department. Everyone at the earth science department knew each other and were much more connected than the Econ department. If you ask me, I think Andy Fisher and Hilde Schwartz were the people that influenced me the most to succeed. They were sincere and really encouraged a mediocre B- to C average student like me to succeed.
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Water issues in the state of California. I am in the water utility business so I pay attention to our state’s water supply issues and rainfall each year.
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Hilde Schwartz
Geoff Caras, B.S., 1981
What have you been up to since graduation?
Living life, working and being the best me I can be.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Meeting my wife.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Gary Griggs and Leo Laporte
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Getting back into it - its been a LONG time away…
Patrick Hogan, B.S., 1983
What have you been up to since graduation?
Everywhere on planet Earth, and more recently for the past 30 years with NASA as an Earth Scientist
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Redwood forests! Santa Cruz beach!
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
The TA's
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Climate Chaos
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Everybody!!!!!
Curt Storlazzi, Ph.D, 2000'
What have you been up to since graduation?
Working at the US Geological Survey and now also an adjunct professor in Ocean Sciences at UCSC
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Friday afternoon Chips & Salsa (before they started doing late geophysics seminars)
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Gary Griggs
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Coastal geology
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Amigos!
Jon Spencer, B.S.,1977
What have you been up to since graduation?
Ph.D. in geology from MIT, 1981; USGS postdoc 81-82; Arizona Geological Survey Research Geologist 1982-2015. Retired since then. My wife Margaret and I live in Tucson and have two children now in their 30s. My son Keith is currently a graduate student in English Literature at UCSC!
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Field trips led by Steve Rowland, Ken Cameron, and Othmar Tobisch, and geophysics in the field with Eli Silver. And a field trip to Death Valley.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Eli Silver and Othmar Tobisch
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
I have been studying tectonic extension and metamorphic core complexes for over 40 years and am still at it.
Phil Lee, B.S., 2008
What have you been up to since graduation?
Worked outdoor education for a couple years, and as an arborist for a few years. Now am a hardware engineer at Apple doing Failure Analysis. Moved back to Santa Cruz about 5 years ago and am raising 2 kids here.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Summer Field!
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Hilde Schwartz, Pete Lippert
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Folks from my graduation year or from my summer field class
Larry Smith, B.S., 1977
What have you been up to since graduation?
Geologist! Shell Oil, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, and finished at Montana Tech Department of Geological Engineering. I’m now retired and having fun.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Walking through the wet woods to the lab to learn so much geology.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Jim Gill in the first class - Volcanoes and Earthquakes. It was right on the heels of the general acceptance of plate tectonics.
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Quaternary geology and megaflooding. I am still working on the story of Glacial Lake Missoula.
Haley Canales, B.S., 2023
What have you been up to since graduation?
Attending Pepperdine University for my masters.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Taking water samples at Younger Lagoon for Carl Lamborg’s research class.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Coastal geology with Gary Griggs
Frank Perry, B.A., 1977
What have you been up to since graduation?
Worked for over 30 years researching, designing, and building natural sciences and historical exhibits for museums and park visitor centers. Served for 8 years as curator of a municipal museum. In 2024 I finally completed my book "Geology of the Northern Monterey Bay Region," which is available on the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History website.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Field trips
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Leo Laporte
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Recent unusual fossil discoveries in the Monterey Bay area.
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Faculty and students from the 1970s.
Joshua Caulkins, B.S., 1998
What have you been up to since graduation?
Wow... it has been 26 years since I graduated so I've been up to several things. I received a M.S. degree in Hydrogeology from the Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, in 2004, and pursued a Ph.D. in Fluvial Geomorphology for several years before switching fields and going into Educational Development within higher education. I've been working in that field ever since. I was a Science Teaching and Learning Fellow at UBC from 2009-2011, working on the Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative within the earth sciences. After that, I served in several grant funded positions at the Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston (2011-2015), before being hired as an Assistant Director within the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning at URI (2015-2018). I moved to Arizona to be closer to family and worked as an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs within the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, Tempe, where I oversaw the redesign of the entire core curriculum (called the BioSpine project) from 2018 to 2021. Most recently, I was hired in as the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, where I manage all programs related to faculty professional development (2021 to present). On a personal note: my wife Amber teaches high school biology and coaches basketball, we I have three kids ages 12, 18, and 21, two mini donkeys (Kiko and Dusty), two dogs (Luna and Pickles), and two cats (Coraline and Jasper), all on a 1-acre lot in rural northern Arizona. We love the weather and geology up this way! Send me an email if you are ever in this neck of the woods, we love visitors!
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Summer Field Geology Camp, June to August 1998, with Gerry Weber and a group of geology students, was my favorite memory from UCSC. I had a great time and managed to synthesize a lot of information learned from my undergraduate coursework over the years in the mapping projects. Summer Field was a singular experience and I have wonderful memories from that summer.I was heartbroken to hear of Gerry's passing last year. Gerry was one of my favorite teachers and inspired me to become a teacher in many ways and continues to influence my teaching and work. Thinking of you, Gerry! And I'd like to say "hi!" to Greg, Ollie, Josh, Marjan, Bonnie, Janet, Chris, Jules, Scott, Emily, Bob, Rhet, John, Lisa, Bobby, and many others who were there that summer!
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Gerry Weber, by far. He was the first teacher to help me see the power of inductive reasoning in the field. I recall several "aha!" moments when in the field with him and found that I could examine, evaluate and apply earth science principles more explicitly in his courses.
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Living and working in northern Arizona, I am most intrigued by the geology of the area where I live. I have taken multiple backpacking trips in this area and find the geology and landscape evolution fascinating. I remain interested in geoscience education and loved participating in that work earlier in my career.
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
If I can attend, I hope to see friends from the department who were there between 1994 and 1998.
Bruce Jaffe, B.S., 1980 Ph.D., 1993
What have you been up to since graduation?
I worked for the USGS for 41 years-- recently retired. Studied the geologic record of extreme wave events (tsunamis and storms). Also studied the recent evolution of estuaries. Have a family with 2 kids and 2 dogs. Play beach volleyball, table tennis, and poker. I'm a Director on the Soquel Creek Water Board.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Field camp!
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Gary Griggs
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
The geologic record of tsunamis and storms. Climate change.
Bruce Handel, B.S.,1986
What have you been up to since graduation?
I spent 10 years working for an Environmental Engineering Firm in the Bay Area. Decided to look at alternate work scenario as the Environmental cleanup programs were winding down. I began working for the US Army Corps or Engineers as a project manager in the mid 90's. Over the next 25 years I was promoted several time ultimately working as a regional Program Manager overseeing military construction projects in five western states. When I wasn't working, I adventured in the Sierra Nevada's (east and west side) camping, skiing, backpacking, bicycling, basically enjoying the outdoors. Married a wonderful woman in the late 1990's. More adventures. We lived in Martinez, CA until January of 2023 when we sold our home and moved to Twain Harte, CA (near Sonora). The first winter was crazy with the amount of snow piling up. Really enjoying a simpler life here, people are very nice, so many places to hike, etc. I retired December 2019, So nice to leave work behind"
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Beer hour on the loading dock (yes it was a weekly sanctioned event), Any and All Field trips with Gerry Weber, Working for Shirley Driess and Casey Moore. Last but not least all of my fellow geology students!
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Shirley, Casey, and Gerry
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Learning more of the local geology in the central Sierra Nevada
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Anyone who was there when I was there 84-86
Genevieve Fire-Halvorsen, B.S., 1979
What have you been up to since graduation?
*M.S. in Civil Engineering from U.C. Davis in 1982
*Employed by a consulting engineering company in San Jose 1982-1984
*Employed by several public agencies in the S.F. Bay Area 1984-2022
*Owner of sole proprietor civil/environmental engineering consulting company 1993-2023
*Married with two young adult children (all three also engineers)
*Still bicycling after many decades
*Still playing viola in amateur orchestras and chamber groups
*Enjoying gardening and traveling
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Walking in the woods on campus
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Professors Gary Griggs and Leo LaPorte
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Coastal erosion
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Anyone from those way-back days
Judith (Judy) Totman Parrish, Ph.D, 1979
What have you been up to since graduation?
After a long postdoc at the University of Chicago, I moved to the USGS in Denver. From there I went to the University of Arizona, where I spent most of my career, before moving to the University of Idaho to be dean of the new College of Science. I retired from teaching in 2011 but am still very active in research. I've also served in a number of capacities at GSA (President, interim Executive Director), the GSA Foundation (Board of Trustees), and the SEPM Foundation (President). My research has taken me all over the world, but my current projects are focused in the US. I also learned to fly and have landed an airplane in every state except Louisiana, in a few Canadian provinces, and in a couple of other countries.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
I actually did my undergrad and a year's worth of grad school in biology at UCSC before switching to earth sciences. So I have many years' worth of memories and it's hard to pick a favorite.
The Geology of California field class, which used to be required of all new grad students, was definitely a highlight. I also loved Bob Garrison's sedimentary petrology classes.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Bob Garrison and Léo Laporte (who was my advisor)
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
I'm still very interested in paleoclimate and how it interacted with basins and sedimentary processes to produce the sedimentary and paleontological records.
Chad Taylor, B.S., 1999
What have you been up to since graduation?
Working in the groundwater industry in California for public agencies, water districts, cities, and counties. In the last 10 years, most of this work has been focused on groundwater sustainability.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Andy Fisher
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Hydrogeology
Ani Chaudhary, B.S., 2022
What have you been up to since graduation?
PhD Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. Currently using a multi-proxy approach to reconstruct a finer resolution narrative of early archosaur pulmonary anatomy, with the goal of better understanding the transition from reptile to avian-style respiration, and how it affects biodiversity trends observed in the Mesozoic.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Field geology. Spending time with friends on campus.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Hilde Schwartz
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Paleontology hell yeah
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Hilde
Rich Gunderson, B.S., 1981, M.S., 1983
What have you been up to since graduation?
I got a job with Unocal doing exploration and development of large geothermal resources right out of grad school. I worked for Unocal until it was bought out by Chevron in 2006, and then alternately as an employee and consultant for Chevron until I semi-retired to a consulting practice in 2016. I've fully retired this year, 2024. Over my career I had assignments in Mexico, Bolivia, Alaska, New Zealand, Kenya, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, and Turkey, as well as the western US. I lived with my family in Indonesia for a total of 9 years, first in the 1990s and again in the 2010s. During that time I helped to develop two large geothermal fields and helped discover and evaluate several more.
Aside from when we were in Indonesia, I've lived with my wife Karen (Stevenson '84) in Santa Rosa, CA. We hatched and raised three great kids, one of whom has also found a career in geology. Karen and I recently completed hiking the John Muir Trail (in sections) and continue to find fun and challenging places to backpack in the Sierras. When Karen retires (soon?) we plan to do some international non-geology traveling.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
I think my favorite times at UCSC had to be the long afternoon hours playing basketball at the east fieldhouse during open gym. I did get low-bridged one time as I was rebounding and ended up landing head-first. Maybe that explains some things... A close second favorite time would be the Friday afternoon geoscience beer hours with endless chips and bottomless beers. Three field seasons doing volcanic mapping in Chihuahua, Mexico were pretty spectacular too!
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Ken Cameron
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Alan Allwardt, Chris Nye, Mark Reagan, Ken Cameron, Jim Gill, Dan Sampson
Mark Murphy, B.S., 1977
What have you been up to since graduation?
Lots of stuff. Ph.D. in igneous petrology from Johns Hopkins in 1990. A brief research career in the emplacement of large lava flows then back to my first love, geology of stream ecosystems. I am partly retired now but have returned to New Mexico.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
I feel privileged to have been taught by the first generation of plate tectonics researchers.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
The late Maryellen Cameron and Jim Gill
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
The role of water, flowing or otherwise, in planetary science.
Nicole Flores-Yerena, B.S., 2021
What have you been up to since graduation?
I work as the Lead Recycling Specialist on behalf of the San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority.
I recently got married to my longtime partner Mel Flores in June of this year💕
I joined the Santa Lucia Rockhounds and now serve as their Junior Director, merchandise chair, and help with the kids programs we put on.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
I loved my internship through GEOpaths, I learned so much and met so many fantastic people.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Gary Griggs, whose class convinced me to switch majors my freshman year.
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Mineralogy! I joined a rockhounding group and teach a lot about mineralogy to our kids as the Junior Director 😊
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Everyone! Advisors, professors, and classmates. I can't wait to see what everyone's been up to!
Jill Perry, M.S., 1982
What have you been up to since graduation?
It's been over 40 years. I'm retired and still in Santa Cruz
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Othmar Tobisch
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Structural Geologic history of California
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Anyone I can still recognize
Lilah Guerra, B.S., 2023
What have you been up to since graduation?
I stayed in Santa Cruz for an extra year and continued working at the radio station, KZSC, hosting my own show and training new deejays. I have also worked a number of odd jobs since graduation. I had a brief stint working in the kitchen at Whole Foods – perks included snacking on fruit while listening to podcasts. After a month working there, I started working as a seasonal employee at Bay Photo where I picked up film photography as a new hobby. Once this position ended, I worked at MetaBIM, a company that conducts space surveys of facilities. Here, I digitized construction documents and inputted the metadata for California State University Monterey Bay. I’m starting a new job in September in Ventura, CA. The title of the project is “County of Ventura - Planning Division - Implementing an Award Winning General Plan: Equity, Climate Action, and Housing (Housing and State Mandates) Project.”
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
My favorite memory was going to Pinnacles National Park as a field trip for EART 5. It was amazing getting to see spectacular rock formations both high above ground and the caves filled with streams.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Tamara Pico, Andy Fisher, and Gary Griggs all had an enormous impact on me.
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
I’m most excited about water management and earthquake safety preparation. I’m also very interested in fire ecology especially living in such a fire-prone state.
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
I’m hoping to see my old classmates and professors such as Tamara Pico, Andy Fisher, and Gary Griggs.
Robert Jones, B.S., 2015
Marie D. Jackson, B.S., 1976
What have you been up to since graduation?
Mineralogical studies of myriad volcanic rocks and ancient concretes, explorations in structural geology and rock mechanics, now as a Research Professor at University of Utah
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Walking through meadows and redwoods to the Applied Sciences building
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Mineralogy with Jim Gill
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Scientific drilling at Surtsey Volcano, Iceland; Mineral cements in ancient Roman concretes with volcanic aggregates
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Old friends
Bryce Hoppie, PH.D., 1996
What have you been up to since graduation?
Professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Walking to work through towering redwoods
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Bob Garrison
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Environmental and engineering applications within geosciences
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
The incoming members of the graduate program, circa 1991
Andrew Kruger, B.S., 2016
What have you been up to since graduation?
Working on the Science Operations team for the Perseverance Mars rover!
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Learning about Sedimentology at the San Benito gravels
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Surely my professors, whose world class depth of knowledge was eagerly provided to us. Along with a smaller class size, this created the ideal environment for a student.
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Martian Geochronology, Lacustrine & Deltaic Sedimentation, Exploration of surface geology
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Old and new friends!
Brian Globerman, Ph.D., 1985
What have you been up to since graduation?
Currently Network Administrator at Tommy Bahama Group
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Whole Earth Seminars
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Rob Coe (Advisor)
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Tectonics/Paleomagnetism
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Faculty and colleagues from 1980-85
James R Hein, Ph.D., 1973
What have you been up to since graduation?
After teaching summer and fall quarters at UCSC, I started at USGS and retired 45 years later. Research in marine geology and geochemistry, mostly deep ocean but some continental margin research in sedimentation and sediment transport, and land-based studies in mineral deposits as analogs for marine deposits; worked in 75 countries and produced over 670 published papers, book chapters, USGS pubs, and abstracts. Did the usual, lectured around the world, headed international research programs, and all the activities that go along with being a marine research scientist, such as long months on research ships throughout the global ocean, and diving in the Alvin submersible. Raised two daughters mostly as a single dad, which was a joy and they are both my best friends, along with my partner. Decades of Vedic meditation and yoga, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and taught beginning and intermediate classes, surfing, tennis, Art, a worldwide network of friends, and too much more to say here.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
Great professors and very small university in a beautiful setting, and freedom to pursue whatever scientific interests I had.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Gary Griggs and Bob Garrison
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Marine geochemistry/biogeochemistry
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Everyone who is still in contact from 1969-19733
Alice Baldridge, B.S., 1998
What have you been up to since graduation?
I completed a MS and PhD in Geological Sciences from Arizona State University. I was awarded a NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I taught intro geology at Glendale Community College and worked as for the Planetary Science Institute before moving back to Northern California to accept a tenure track position at Saint Mary’s College of CA. I’ve been at SMC since 2012 and currently serve as the Associate Dean of the School of Science. I participate in fieldwork in collaboration with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Instrument Field Team -we worked in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes this summer. I’m looking forward to leading a geology rafting trip through the Grand Canyon next summer.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
I lived in this cute little bungalow overlooking the yacht harbor with 3 other girls the spring after El Niño. They lifted the bonfire ban on the beach because there was so much drift wood. We would walk down the harbor to the beach and build the biggest fires.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Quentin Williams. He gave me an opportunity to do real research as an undergraduate which had the biggest impact on my career and the way that I teach.
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
Salts and clays and what we can tell about a planetary surface based on their presence and composition.
Who are you hoping to see at the reunion?
Would be really cool to see some of my TAs (looking at you Henry)
Kathryn Anderson, B.S., 2022
What have you been up to since graduation?
I'm currently attending CSU Chico as a member of the Wildland Management MS program.
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCSC?
My favorite memory was learning Matlab and debugging my code alongside Katerina Giamalaki in the Ocean and Climate Data Science computer lab. I made very few connections at UCSC given the mostly remote environment (early pandemic), and I was grateful for her companionship.
Who had the biggest impact on you during your time at UCSC?
Professor Claudie Beaulieu had the biggest impact on me.
What topics in Earth & planetary science excite you most currently?
I am currently most excited about climate change mitigation and prescribed fire as a land management tool.
