Past Alumni Profiles

How did you become interested in geology?

Geology is so broad that it is difficult to recall when I first appreciated the field as a whole. I’ve always been interested in Earth’s history of life and catastrophic death which is often referenced -- sometimes inaccurately -- in books and media. Ironically, my fascination came full circle. I recall one childhood experience from the early 1990s -- around the same time as the Buffalo Bills Super Bowl run. Acting on a tip from a coworker, my dad took me to an abandoned quarry south of Buffalo -- the former Penn Dixie Cement quarry. We were told by the coworker to look for fossils from animals called trilobites and brachiopods. “Brachiopods -- what the hell are those?” we asked ourselves as we looked through piles of crumbly shale. We were inexperienced, but enthusiastic. Armed with a card featuring common marine fossils and a shovel, the adventure began.

What is your current job and how does your geology background influence it?

My current job is to oversee a small nonprofit, the Hamburg Natural History Society, and supervise day-to-day operations of the Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve in Hamburg. I think it would be hard to do my job without a basic understanding of the scientific process and general geology concepts. Our business includes a challenging combination of science education, hospitality, and traditional nonprofit roles like advocacy and community relations. Our programming is wrapped in philosophical questions that are central to geology but often overlooked in an age where no one seems to understand the origins of drinking water and other natural resources.

What academic degrees do you have, and from what institutions?

I received B.S. (2004) and M.S. (2007) degrees in Geological Sciences from SUNY Buffalo and a PhD (2016) in Geosciences with a minor in Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies from the University of Arizona.

How did your education at UB influence your career, and what was the most memorable aspect of your time at UB?

Working with expect UB Geology faculty always felt like a privilege. How fortunate was I to hike around Utah while learning the finer points of punctuated equilibrium from Chuck Mitchell? Back at camp, I looked forward to campfire chats with Tracy Gregg: Planetary Geologist Extraordinaire -- and polka wizard. Or, coaxing Marcus Bursik -- volcanology phenom -- to sing along to Jailbird Rock on the ukulele. I wondered: what were other people doing with their summers? Could it be this cool? And, how did this gem of a program stay so well hidden?

What advice do you have for people considering a degree and career in geology?

Consider the fragile, temporary nature of life and seek a path that will keep you interested and engaged through highs and lows. Success and happiness are not guaranteed. But, you can make life a little easier by choosing a major or career that speaks to your passions and drives you to work hard towards your goals every day.

How did you become interested in geology?

I’ve always had a love for the outdoors and exploring.  In my adolescent years, I spent a lot of my time either camping, canoeing or hiking, either with my family or the Boy Scouts.  During my high school years, I developed a passion for physics/astronomy and planetary science.  After I received my associate degree, I then commenced with my studies in geological sciences at UB.   I was really fortunate to learn from some great UB professors including Drs. King, Cazeau, Jacobi, Ebert and Mitchell. Field camp really fueled my passion to learn more and brought all the classroom/textbook information into real life; that’s where geology all came together for me.  My real passion and career foundation is engineering geology, although I’ve worked as a hydrogeologist for many years, and now as a practice leader in geohazards.  Ironically, my favorite places to vacation/visit with my wife are Arizona and Utah which are not far from some of our geology field camp areas.  

What is your current job and how does your geology background influence it?

My official title is Sr. Geohazard Practice Leader; however, I cover a lot of different technical and management roles (wear many hats as they say).  On the technical side, I oversee the Appalachian region which includes geohazards and geotechnical investigations…. we perform geohazard assessments and identify and delineate landslides and subsidence areas mostly for the natural gas sector.  I’m also a global account manager for a company in Madrid, Spain, which includes travel to both Europe and South America.  Additionally, I provide senior leadership and business development to our personnel/offices in Pittsburgh, PA and Horseheads, NY as well as for our geophysics team in Buffalo.

I’m immersed in geology every day, mostly around geohazards identification, geotechnical investigations and geophysical surveys, and for me, that’s the real fun part of my job. I’m very thankful for my educational background, and for the professors who put their heart and soul into providing a great learning experience.

What academic degrees do you have, and from what institutions?

I received my first degree in Civil Engineering Technology (AAS), then transferred to UB and received my bachelors in Geological Sciences.  After graduation I started working as an engineering geologist in NYC and took evening classes and received my masters in Geosciences from Montclair State University.  It was always my dream to teach geology classes at the college/university level and to conduct research. So, in 2017 I decided to go back to school/UB and started my PhD in the geohazards program.  My current research focuses on a comparative analysis of in-situ instruments and groundbased remote sensing for landslide monitoring.

How did your education at UB influence your career, and what was the most memorable aspect of your time at UB?

Anyone who loves the outdoors, and learning new things about our earth, and is concerned about our resources and sustainability should consider the field of geology. My career in geology has been extremely rewarding……it has fulfilled a lifelong journey of exploring and learning new things about our planet.

The best advice I can give is to follow your passion or the subject that interests you most.  That passion or drive will get you through the difficult times and will make you appreciate the good times which builds a successful career and life.

How did you become interested in geology?

A childhood spent wandering the halls of the Smithsonian! I grew up close to Washington, DC, and my parents would take me to the Natural History Museum a lot. I loved the exhibits about volcanoes, as well as the gems and minerals on display. I also collected rocks everywhere I went, and my mom let me have 'fossil digs' in the back yard (mostly when she wanted a new garden bed dug).

What is your current job and how does your geology background influence it?

I'm a volcanic hazards and communication specialist at the USGS California Volcano Observatory. My background in physical volcanology and numerical modeling has made it easy to slip into the volcanic hazard modeling realm, but my experience as a blogger and social media science communicator gave me the skills I need to be the public information officer for my observatory. I also spent time in Washington DC doing a science policy fellowship, so I can translate between scientists and policymakers - an important group when it comes to funding! I really believe that part of being a successful scientist is knowing how to communicate well, no matter who your audience is.

What academic degrees do you have, and from what institutions?

I have a BS in Geology from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and a PhD from the University at Buffalo. I also have a minor in Archaeology from W&M, but I don't use that one very much anymore!

How did your education at UB influence your career, and what was the most memorable aspect of your time at UB?

UB was really the first place that I got to dig into volcanology as a field. My undergraduate department gave me a good foundation in mapping and igneous petrology, but I didn't get to really observe processes and deposits until I got to UB - and of course I was hooked right away! I still do the kind of hazard modeling that I worked on at UB, and many of the the people I connected with as a graduate student are my colleagues at the USGS today.

One of my most memorable experiences during graduate school was the first trip I took to Guatemala to my field area at Santiaguito Volcano. It was the first time I'd been to a developing country, the first time I'd seen lava domes up close, and the first time I'd worked with people who didn't have the advantage of the kinds of technology and funding we have access to in the US. It was humbling to see how the volcano observatory there had done so much work with so little in the way of resources, and how closely they partnered with the communities around their volcanoes to try and keep people safe.  

What advice do you have for people considering a degree and career in geology?

Be adaptable! During your degree it will help you get past obstacles in your research and to come up with new ideas. It took me a long time to get used to the idea that I was never going to have the perfect answer to a research question, or that I might have to give up on a line of thinking even though I'd put a lot of effort into it. Science takes time and it doesn't always work out the way you expect it to. Even now, not everything I work on pans out, and that's okay. Because it's geology and it incorporates so many different disciplines, my research almost always produces something useful, even if it's not for me!

Dr. Shannon Kobs Nawotniak graduated from UB with her Ph.D. in Geology in 2009 and is now an Associate professor in the Department of Geosciences and the Director of the University Honors Program at Idaho State University. She is a physical volcanologist interested in the connection between processes and products. While her heart remains with studying explosive volcanic eruption columns, she has lately found herself increasingly fascinated by basaltic lavas and planetary geology. Career highlights include riding a horse up a volcano through the rainforest (with a machete, of course), serving as a Mars mission simulation astronaut for NASA, and co-discovering a hydrothermal field in the Pacific Ocean. She believes in the importance of outreach, and her work has been featured in IFLScience and NPR's Science Friday. 

How did you become interested in geology?

I was a rock nerd as a kid -- my parents used to give me poundage restrictions on how many rocks I could collect while we were on vacation. The Tulip City Gem and Mineral Club from my hometown of Holland, Michigan, gave me wonderful opportunities to rockhound growing up and ensured that I saw geology as a long-term possibility rather than a passing childhood hobby.

What is your current job and how does your geology background influence it?

I am currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Idaho State University and the Director of the University Honors Program. It's easy enough to see how my geology background is critical for my job as a geology professor specializing in volcanology, but I don't think people realize how valuable it has also been for my role as the Honors Director for the university. Geology is very much a nexus science, pulling on a wide array of subjects, which has been critical to helping me work with Honors students from across the entire university. How I mentor students now is deeply informed by how I was mentored at UB, particularly by Dr. Bursik and Dr. Gregg.

What academic degrees do you have, and from what institutions?

I graduated with a BS in Geology from Michigan Technological University in 2003, and followed that up with my Ph.D. in Geology from UB in 2009. Go Buffalo!

How did your education at UB influence your career, and what was the most memorable aspect of your time at UB?

My education at UB has been absolutely central to my career and has allowed me to chase my dreams. UB taught me not only about my content areas of volcanology and high-performance computing, but also how to work with others, to mentor and teach, to be creative and solution-oriented when things go sideways in the field or lab (it isn't a true field experience if everything goes perfectly as planned!), and more. I worked hard, laughed hard, and made some of the best friends of my life at UB. There are so many memorable aspects of my time there, but what really stands out are the people and how wonderful they were. 

What advice do you have for people considering a degree and career in geology?

Pack more socks and underwear than you think you'll need in the field, say yes to as many new adventures as you can, and learn from everyone you can! Some of the most transformative moments in my scientific life have come from getting off of the beaten path and listening to people tell me about how their lives have been shaped by geology (mostly volcanic activity, given my specialty). There is so much to learn and do out there, and so many opportunities to contribute to a better world.

Mr. Dino Zack, PG, STS, is continuing in his 23^rd year employed at AECOM Technical Services, Inc. in Buffalo, NY as a senior project manager and geologist.  He graduated from the University of Buffalo in 1998 with degrees in geology studying stratigraphy, sedimentology, and structural geology.

Mr. Zack worked as a petroleum geologist for several years before switching to environmental geology.  Some of his current responsibilities encompass managing hazardous waste remediation projects, including coordination of staff and project budgets; performing geological and hydrogeological investigations; technical writing and review of documents; remediation, geotechnical, and construction oversight; sediment dredging and capping projects; solid waste and hazardous waste landfill construction; and providing interface with community organizations and governmental agencies.

Mr. Zack is a Professional Geologist for the state of Alaska and was one of the first to receive his professional license to practice Geology in the state of New York. Mr. Zack is an active member of several local and national professional affiliations and was selected for the Society of American Military Engineers Volunteer Service Award for his time spent outside of working hours to provide STEM/STEAM related support to the community.

Mr. Zack is in his 10^th year sitting on the SUNY Buffalo Geology Alumni Advisory Board focusing on student outreach activities.  He also volunteers his time at SUNY Buffalo Career Center mentoring students, as well as mentoring students at SUNY Geneseo on behalf of the American Institute of Professional Geologists.   In addition, he has provided countless hours of STEM/STEAM-based youth training working with elementary school through high school-age students on behalf of WNY STEM Hub.

When not at work or mentoring, he spends his free time prospecting for and presenting on fluorescent minerals and enjoying the great outdoors with his wife Amy, and two children, Colton, and Carly.

How did you become interested in geology?

I have been interested in “rocks” since I was very young.  I can remember countless family camping trips to Allegany State Park where I would climb on Thunder Rocks and spend hours walking up and down the small creeks looking for interesting rocks and fossils (and salamanders).  I can also remember my father taking me, at a very young age, to Spring Creek in Alden, New York to hunt for pyritized fossils.  I always felt I would find a career in something outdoorsy and related to the environment.  As I started my college journey with a focus in veterinary science (I worked as a veterinary assistant throughout my early college years), it wasn’t until I took a class offered through SUNY Fredonia (Geology of the National Parks) that I turned my full attention to geology.  At SUNY Buffalo, Dr. King and Dr. Clemency had much influence in captivating my attention to geology while taking some of my early geology classes.  

What is your current job and how does your geology background influence it?

As I wrapped up my Master of Arts at SUNY Buffalo in geology, I worked for a very small oil and gas company interpreting borehole logs and scouting for prospects.   Following graduation, I accepted an entry-level environmental geology position at TAMS Consultants, Inc. who, coincidentally enough, had a satellite office located at Ridge Lea where I had spent a fair amount of my time working on research projects and taking geology labs while at SUNY Buffalo.  My love for being outdoors and my academic background in geology sparked my passion for a career in geology.  I currently work at AECOM Technical Services, Inc., an American multinational engineering firm, in the environmental group as a senior project manager and professional geologist.  My experience at SUNY Buffalo and the many years of “boots-on-the-ground” field work early in my career greatly influenced the work I do today.  

What academic degrees do you have, and from what institutions?

I earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in geology at SUNY Buffalo.   During my graduate studies, I worked under Dr. Jacobi, with grants from USGS and NYSGS, mapping the stratigraphy, structural geology, and sedimentary rocks in Allegany and Cattaraugus County’s in New York.  While wrapping up my Master’s thesis, I completed all the course worked required for a PhD, but as I approached 30 years of age, I decided to enter the “real world” and start my career in geology.  

How did your education at UB influence your career, and what was the most memorable aspect of your time at UB? My graduate work at SUNY Buffalo had a very large influence on my career. I learned to take a project from start to finish while working in a team environment; each of us collaborating and exchanging geological data and ideas each time we returned from the field.

Throughout my studies at SUNY Buffalo, I have acquired a conglomerate of life-time memories including traveling to Mexico to study volcanoes with Dr. Sheridan; attending field camp with  Dr. Mitchell, Dr. King; participating multiple trips to the Appalachians with Drs. Jacobi, Fountain, and Smith; camping trips through the geology clubs to the Adirondacks; and all the life-long friendships I made along the way! All these experiences combined helped to build the foundation and passion for geology I have today.  I often reflect on these exciting experiences when mentoring students or new staff.

What advice do you have for people considering a degree and career in geology?

There many career paths that can be taken with a geology degree and it is very important to keep an open mind when searching for a job.  While mentoring, I often explain to my mentees to take advantage of all the opportunities that come their way, even if it doesn’t seem important at the time.  As an example, I can recall during my first professional job interview; I was able to talk about all the experiences I had at the University as I had no professional experience yet (after multiple interviews, I was offered the job and I’m still working at it today!).  The interviewer does not want to hear themselves talk; they want to hear what you have to say as you could be the future member of their team.