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Justin Tuminello - 2025 BA, Environmental Studies
It is with great happiness that we announce that Justin will be attending Pitt Law, seeking to focus on Environmental Law and Policy! Congratulations!
Sophie Meyer - 2025 BS, Environmental Studies
This recent grad has taken a position as a Hydrologist at the USGS PA Water Science Center!
Thomas Berkheimer - 2025 BS, Environmental Studies
This recent grad has a position with the National Parks Service as a Tour Guide at Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota!
Pip Mostern - 2025, BA, Environmental Studies and Anthropology
This recent grad will be a Community Outreach Intern for MCSI!
Arthur Tarr - 1968 PhD, Geophysics
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Arthur Tarr on February 20, 2025. Art's professional career spanned more than 37 years and was marked by a deep dedication to scientific discovery and innovation. He served as a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center from 1974 to 2006, following his earlier work with NOAA from 1969 to 1974. Throughout his career, Art remained at the forefront of applying emerging technologies to earthquake research. He was an early pioneer in leveraging geographic information systems (GIS) to visualize and analyze data regarding strong earthquakes (magnitude 5.5-9.5) on a global scale, opening new ways to understand seismic activity and earthquake hazards.
Avery J Haubrik - 2023 B.S., Environmental Science Graduate
It is with great sadness to we announce the passing of Avery J. Haubrick on December 25, 2024. Avery was employed in geographic information services and as a drone operator by Civic Mapper LLC in Pittsburgh.
Jessica DePaolis - 2015 BS, Geology
Postdoctoral Associate at Virginia Tech. Will be relocating to Fairbanks, Alaska spring 2025 to start a Postdoctoral Fellow position at UAF. Best of luck!
John Anderson - 1986, PhD Geology and Environmental Science
Retired Professor of Geology and Geography
Adjunct Professor at Perimeter College of Georgia State University
Emma Stearsman - 2023, BS Environmental Science
Environmental Staff Scientist with Langan Engineering and Environmental Services
Troy Ferland - 2017 MS Geology and Environmental Science
ORISE postdoctoral fellow at EPA in the Research Triangle, NC
Ellie Cadden - 2020, BA, Environmental Studies
PA DEP - Solid Waste Specialist
Alison Graettinger - 2012 PhD, Geology and Environmental Science
Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Science - University of Missouri-Kansas City
Luke Fritz - 2017, BS Geology
A Geologist working on consulting projects related to carbon sequestration and oil and gas for Advanced Resources International.
Anthony Stewart - 2011, BA Environmental Studies
Anthony is serving as Director of Operations for Worm Return, a Pittsburgh-based compost company, and is a brand new dad!!! Congratulations!
Stuart Hirsch - 1972, BS Earth and Planetary Sciences
Retired Petroleum and Engineering Geologist
Cameron Chase - 2023, BA Environmental Studies
Project Developer at Orsted and avid cyclist
Jay Hlavay - 1983, BS Geology; 1989 MBA
Retired from a varied career. Worked as petroleum geologist for 5 years before returning to Pitt for my MBA in 1989. Worked an additional 10 years in corporate finance for an energy company in Fort Worth, TX. Transitioned to retail finance and retired as CFO of a small grocery chain in northern Florida in May 2023
Ian Flynn - 2022, PhD Geology & Environmental Science Graduate
Congratulations to Ian Flynn’s research on Mars’ lava buildup was highlighted by the journal Icarus! Pitt researchers have, for the first time, identified a pattern of lava buildup on Mars that mirrors those found on some Earth volcanoes. These findings landed them the cover story of the December 2024 issue of the journal Icarus. The lava patterns found on Mars, known as spatter cones, are the result of lava that was ejected in an eruption, then landed on the ground and cooled. As more lava is ejected, it continues to pile up in the telltale shape. Read about lead author Ian Flynn (A&S ’22G), a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology and Environmental Science. PittWire 10/9/24
[Read more about Flynn’s volcanic research.]
Amelia Johnson - 2010 Environmental Science Graduate
Amelia just received her MS at Portland State University
Noah Jemison - 2013 Environmental Geology Graduate
Mark Holsing - 1985 Geology Graduate
Mark is associated with NGWA-Association of Groundwater Scientists and Engineers, Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists, and SongSpace at First Unitarian
Alexander Dragon - 2012 Environmental Geology Graduate
Alexander is middle school science teacher at Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory Middle School
Memphis Hill - 2023 PhD, Geology & Environmental Science Graduate
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Memphis Hill has been selected as a Postdoctoral Fellow funded through the University of Alaska’s new Arctic Leadership Initiative. The Arctic Leadership Initiative has the following objectives: elevate Alaskans as creators of our future in the global Arctic; strengthen external partnerships; amplify Alaska Native voices in Arctic policy development; and establish UA’s universities as centers of Arctic expertise. We look forward to seeing how you help this initiative build momentum!
Albert Kollar- 1997 M.S. in Geology and Invertebrate Paleontology
It is with great sadness to we announce the passing of passing of our alumnus, Albert Kollar, on April 9, 2024. He was the Section Head and Collection Manager for the Section of Invertebrate Paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Oakland. Albert had served as the President of the Pittsburgh Geological Society from 2011-2014 and has been a Board Member since 2015. He was a member of the Geological Society of America and other professional associations. Albert was the recipient of the Walt Skinner Award in 2020 from the Pittsburgh Geological Society, the GSIS Award for the Best Professional Guidebook from the Geological Society of America in 2019, and the George V. Cohee Public Service Award in 2017 from the Eastern Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
Eric Hirschfeld (Environmental Geology Spring 2018) and Brittany Furlong (Environmental Science Fall 2017)
Both are featured in PA Geology Vol. 47, No. 3, Pages 13-16.
Andrew Brock - Environmental Studies Spring 2018 is District Executive in the State College area for the Boy Scouts!
Noah won the American Geophysical Union's Horton Award! This award promotes excellence through encouragement of the next generation of professionals in the hydrological sciences.
Erin Stacy - 2008 Environmental Studies Graduate
Erin is shown in this New York Times article!
Jessica J. Stutzman - 2010 Environmental Studies Graduate
Jessica is one the 2014 Christine Yurkovic Environmental Excellence Award and is currently involved in the Millcreek GovernmentChannel, Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, and Solid Waste Association of North America.
Anthony Stewart - 2011 Environmental Studies Graduate
Anthony, in front, with the Launch Hilltop group of social entrepreneurs working in Pittsburgh's Hilltop neighborhoods.
Anthony started an environmental consulting and green design firm called DECO Resources in 2013 and created a team of scientists, engineers, designers, artists, and urban planners. Together, they have worked on dozens of projects around the region supporting sustainable development. He is also serving a second term as Officer for the Solar Unified Network of Western PA.
Jay Hlava - 1983 Geology Graduate
Worked as a petroleum geologist for 7 years after graduation, and then went back to Pitt for my MBA degree. Currently Director of Finance for Ahold-Delhaize in North Carolina.
Jay worked as a petroleum geologist for 7 years after graduation, and then went back to Pitt for his MBA degree. Currently Director of Finance for Ahold-Delhaize in North Carolina.
Enjoying time at Hurricane Ridge in Washington with my wife (and fellow PITT Alum) and son.
Working with the EPA, and various State organizations on CERCLA and RCRA remediation sites using various remedial technologies to meet cleanup goals.
Rachel Bukowitz Environmental Studies Alumni - April 2017 - This Neighborhood Without a Grocery Store for 40 Years Is Changing How It Gets Good Food.
Welcome Baby! Congratulations to Proud New Dad Anthony Stewart (A&S 2011, Environmental Studies)!
Congratulations to alumna Dr. Victoria Buford-Parks on welcoming her new baby, Emmett James Parks on 6/8/21!
Broxton Bird, Ph.D., associate professor of earth sciences in the Purdue School of Science at IUPUI is one of the recipients of the 2021 Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award.
In June 2020, Kevin Reath, PhD, started a position as the Deputy Program Scientist for the Earth Surface and Interior focus area at NASA HQ.
It's hard to believe that for the past 7 years I've been retired from the Pennsylvania Geological Survey where I spent my entire professional career. During retirement, I have spent two days a week volunteering at the Pittsburgh office of the Survey and two days volunteering and doing research on Paleozoic gastropods at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 2020 was something of a bust -- I haven't been able to do any volunteer work since March 16, but I've kept my hand in the game by researching and writing articles on western Pennsylvania geology, paleontology, and oil history.
Adel El-Emam (1983 MS Graduate) is a consultant geophysicist with more than 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, of which he served Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) for 25 years. He is responsible for the integrity and technical excellence of the geophysical methods in Kuwait. He pioneered the introduction of single-sensor seismic acquisition technology to Kuwait, which has become a standard way of acquiring seismic data worldwide. El-Emam is a technology adopter, promotes science, and shares knowledge through collaboration with academia and industry. He designed and led a three-year research collaboration project for multiple attenuation, which resulted in developing algorithms and workflows that are routinely used by the KOC in-house data processing center. He has a BS in geology from Cairo University (1975) and an MS in geophysics on “Attenuation of seismic waves” from the University of Pittsburgh (1983).
El-Emam has presented and published more than 40 papers for local and international conferences. He was awarded Best Poster Presentation at SEG’s 2005 Annual Meeting. He also serves as a technical reviewer for several international societies. In collaboration with SEG, El-Emam has organized and chaired several successful workshops in the Middle East region addressing different geophysical subjects and challenges. These world-class workshops were attended by renowned professors and industry experts. He is an active member of several international societies such as SEG, the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and is an active member of the SEG Middle East Advisory Committee. He has served as chair of the SEG Distinguished Instructor Short Course (DISC) Committee since 2017.
Alumna, Janine Krippner in the news! - The first update to government rankings since 2005 uses multiple factors to reveal the potential severity of impacts from future eruptions. Read the full story.
Congratulations to 2017 MS Alumna Emily Glick on her 3rd baby boy, Simon 9lb. 7 oz., January 10, 2018!
Congratulations to 2017 MS Alumna Damara Strong on her new bundle of joy, Odessa Adelaide, April 1, 2018.
University of Pittsburgh undergraduate and graduate alumni, Dr. Alan Mur and Dr. Chris Purcell, with Bill Harbert at the International Exposition and 87th Annual meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists held in Houston, Texas. Dr. Mur is a geophysicist working for Ikon Science, and Dr. Purcell is a geophysicist working for Nexen CNOOC Ltd. Both are extremely busy in advanced applied geophysical exploration and production activities and were attending this meeting held in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Kristy Hopkins - 2014 Ph.D. Graduate - Research Scientist at the US Geological Survey
Dr. Suzanne Metlay - 1993 Ph.D. Graduate
Suzanne T. Metlay is full-time faculty at Western Governors University, Teachers College, preparing pre-service and of-record teachers to become middle school and high school Earth science educators with subject matter expertise in geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. Suzanne leads the Geosciences Education program, teaches graduate students as well as undergraduates, and assists students getting ready for their Praxis and state content exams nationwide. Prior to joining WGU, Suzanne was full-time astronomy faculty at Front Range Community College, Colorado; Operations Director at Secure World Foundation (private non-profit for space sustainability); Education Programs Manager at Fiske Planetarium, University of Colorado at Boulder; and a member of the Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET). Current passions include annual talks at local astronomy clubs about Pluto and other dwarf planets, active engagement in professional organizations (NAGT, GSA, NSTA), and anything Orphan Black or Doctor Who.
Dr. Kevin Reath - 2011 MS Graduate - 2016 Ph.D. Graduate - Fellow at the USGS Powell Center and Postdoctoral Associate at Cornell University
Christopher Hortert - 2016 MS Graduate - Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Sarah Lavin - 2015 MS Graduate - Rhea Engineers & Consultants
Ashley Ace - 2016 MS Graduate - US Census Bureau
Justin Coughlin - 2016 MS Graduate - Physical Scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency in Region 5 at the Chicago, IL headquarters
Matthew Dieterich - 2015 MS Graduate
His photo from Mt. Rainer was used in the US Postal Services celebration of National Park Service's Centennial
Paul R. Coyle - 2003 MS Graduate
I am the team leader of the National Mine Map Repository, Office of Surface Mining, Regulation and Enforcement. We collect hard rock and coal mine maps from all over the country. We presently have 180,000 digital maps in our archives. I just want my classmates to know that I am still alive and kicking.
Barry J. Rava - 1980 MS Graduate
- Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists - National Director founded
- Icarus Oil and Gas, Inc. 1996 - awaiting pipeline connection for large discovery & marketing prospects; Formed BR E&P, LLC 2015; Icarus as part owner. BREP is seeking producing assets for acquisition.
Michael Price - 1970 MS Graduate
Retired from HESS Corp in 2009. Last position was Geological Operations Manager for Offshore Gulf of Mexico. After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in April, 2010, he was called out of retirement for several months to help apply the new Federal regulations imposed for drilling in the the Gulf of Mexico. He has recently relocated from Seattle, WA to Melbourne, FL. He is into wildlife photography, particularly at a protected wetland near our home.
Darryl Bishop - 2016 Pro-MS Graduate - Adecco Engineering/contracting for Uber ATC as a Mapping Specialist
Francesco Corona - 1980 MS Graduate
Franco enjoying a fine cappuccino in his favorite Roman hangout Tazza D'Oro.
Francesco Corona retired after 34+ years in the petroleum industry with Exxon, Unocal, and ExxonMobil working throughout the upstream in research, exploration, development, and production with assignments in Houston, London, and Hannover (Germany). Franco's career ended at ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company in March 2015 as a Senior Technical Advisor in Structural Analysis. He now lives in a country home in Albemarle County, northwest of Charlottesville, with his artist wife Victoria and two cats, Donizetti & Bellini
Matt Dieterich just finished receiving his teaching certificate in Texas and will be starting a lab management position at a company that makes oil/gas water treatment units in Houston. He was also just accepted for an expedition for Chile to visit the astronomy observatories.
Congratulations to Dr. Rob Rossi (PhD ’16) who was recently awarded a NatureNet Science Post-Doctoral Fellowship by the Nature Conservancy. Rob will research soil carbon cycling and the enhanced sequestration of soil carbon through land management in the Environmental Earth System Science Department at Stanford University.
Dr. Kutchko is a 2004 MS Alumni of the department and was recently invited to serve as the Society of Petroleum Engineers Distinguished Lecturer for the 2018-2019 lecture!
Alumni, Dr. Chris Purcell and Daniel Delaney at a Geophysical Field Site.
Alumnus Adam Rak *M.S, 2015 just had his masters thesis work published in the AGU journal Tectonics!
- Professorships:
- Dr. Matthew Finkenbinder - 2015 Ph.D. Graduate - Assistant Professor in the Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences Department at Wilkes University
- Dr. Aubrey Hillman - 2015 Ph.D. Graduate - Assistant Professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of Louisiana Lafayette
- Dr. Christopher Hughes - 2011 Ph.D. Graduate - Assistant Professor at the Eastern Kentucky University
- Dr. Alison H. Graettinger - 2012 Ph.D. Graduate - Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Missouri - Kansas City