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Alumni Updates

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Erin Stacy - 2008 Environmental Studies Graduate

Erin is shown in this New York Times article!


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


Amelia Johnson - 2010 Environmental Science Graduate

Amelia just received her MS at Portland State University


Noah Jemison - 2013 Environmental Geology Graduate


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.


Jessica J. Stutzman

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.


Group of people standing in front of a spraypainted wall.

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

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.


Family of three stands in front of Hurricane Ridge mountain range.

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.


Table with a variety of vegetables on it.

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)! 


Victoria Parks Buford baby

 

Congratulations to alumna Dr. Victoria Buford-Parks on welcoming her new baby, Emmett James Parks on 6/8/21!


Broxton Bird, PhD 2009

 

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.


Kevin Reath, PhD. 2016, BS 2006

 

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.


John Harper, Ph.D. 1977 with grandson Jonathan Russell at Kennywood, summer of 2019.

 

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

 

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

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.


Newborn baby laying on a blanket.

Congratulations to 2017 MS Alumna Emily Glick on her 3rd baby boy, Simon 9lb. 7 oz., January 10, 2018!


Newborn baby sleeping.

Congratulations to 2017 MS Alumna Damara Strong on her new bundle of joy, Odessa Adelaide, April 1, 2018.


Three men stand side by side smiling.

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 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

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


A mail stamp picturing a long exposure picture of stars swirling Mt. Rainer.

Matthew Dieterich - 2015 MS Graduate

His photo from Mt. Rainer was used in the US Postal Services celebration of National Park Service's Centennial


Four people pose in front of the Statue of Liberty.

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.


Large construction tower with flags mounted on the top.

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.

Two swans sit in a nest with their baby swan.

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

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 Dietrich stands at a podium.

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.


Dr. Rob Rossi kneels on leaf-covered ground.

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. Barb Kutchko

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!


Dr. Chris Purcell and Daniel Delaney

Alumni, Dr. Chris Purcell and Daniel Delaney at a Geophysical Field Site.


Adam Rak

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