Dr. Cheryl J. Hapke visited the department on Thursday, March 16th to give a special seminar and receive the 2023 Geology & Environmental Science Distinguished Alumni award.

Dr. Cheryl Hapke is a coastal geologist with more than 25 years of experience studying coastal evolution and coastal change processes in a variety of geomorphic settings. Dr. Hapke worked for several decades with the U.S. Geological Survey as a research scientist, and now is a senior consultant in coastal resiliency with Integral Consulting. She also has an appointment as a research professor at the University of South Florida, College of Marine Science. Her current research focuses on coastal vulnerability and sea-level rise adaptation, developing new tools and approaches to evolve the science of coastal hazards and risk. She has authored over 80 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and technical reports, and served as a subject matter expert on coastal change hazards to local, state, and federal agencies, and international groups. She was selected as the 2020-21 Jahn’s Distinguished Lecturer by the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists and also received a Presidential Citation from the Association in 2021.