"For the past ten years, I have worked broadly as a geologist in various settings, earning certification as a professional (AIPG #11961) in 2018. After completing my education (B.S., M.Sc. in Geology; Ph.D. in Oceanography), I worked as an academic, publishing my palaeoceanographic results and reviewing the work of others in scientific journals, preparing research proposals, and teaching undergraduate students. I was then hired by Massachusetts Geological Survey, where I managed applied research projects, developed appropriate methods, and trained and mentored students. Focused around natural hazards and resources, these projects led me to develop a better understanding of rivers, beaches, groundwater, geothermal energy, and regional geology. I also served a number of federal, state, and local government agencies, industries, professional institutions, and the public. Since 2017 I have been self-employed as a geology consultant with clients in industry, the federal government, and a private environmental group.

Over the past year, heartfelt connections with students invite me to return to a university setting l where I can share my professional insight. I worked regularly as a substitute teacher at an elementary school this past spring. Our young students, disrupted by the pandemic, needed increased attention and support, and I felt touched to earn their trust and interest. Over the summer I worked with an organization that brought outstanding students and scholars to our country from all over the world. In July we hosted twenty indigenous college students from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. For my kindness and experience, these students saw me as both a friend and mentor, and I recognized that it was time to revisit teaching in my field. I also met a remarkable woman that month, we got engaged, and I moved here to southern California where we now live. As I start my new life in this place, I'm hoping to draw from my own experience so that I can help young professionals launch their own careers." less...