Geosciences Advisory Board Awards Faculty and Alumni During GeoDaze Reception

May 1, 2020
 
The 2020 GeoDaze Symposium that took place in April included a virtual award reception in which Geosciences Advisory Board Chair, Larry Archibald, awarded faculty and alumni for outstanding achievements. Among those awarded were Diane Thompson, Assistant Professor of Geosciences, Ji Yeon Shin, Senior Lecturer of Geosciences, Ellen Wohl, Geosciences Alumna, and Leslie McFadden, Geosciences Alumnus. Read more about each awardee below.
 

Diane Thompson, Assitant Professor of Geosciences - Outstanding Faculty Award

Diane Thompson was awarded the 2020 Outstanding Faculty Award presented by the Geosciences Advisory Board. The Outstanding Faculty Award recognizes professors who have made an outstanding contribution to the Department of Geosciences in teaching, research, service, outreach, and/or administration. Undergraduate and graduate students are asked to nominate faculty who have shown a passion for teaching, mentorship, innovation, and leadership.

 

 

 

Ji Yeon Shin, Senior Lecturer of Geosciences - Excellence in Teaching Award

Ji Yeon Shin received the 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the Geosciences Advisory Board. The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes both Tenure Track and Non-Tenure Track faculty who have demonstrated excellence in classroom instruction and have inspired students through teaching and mentorship. In addition, this award honors faculty that have proven to be innovative in their teaching methodology. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ellen E. Wohl, PhD '88 - Distinguished Alumni Award

Ellen E. Wohl received the Distinguished Alumni Award presented by the Geosciences Advisory Board. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to an alumnus of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arizona in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their field. This individual has made meaningful contributions to Geosciences through public policy, business contributions, or community service, and helps to uphold the reputation of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arizona.

Ellen, a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Colorado State University, was presented with the Distinguished Career Award of the GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division at the November 2018, GSA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. One month later Ellen received the G.K Gilbert Award in Surface Processes at the AGU Annual Meeting.

Leslie McFadden, PhD '82 - Distinguished Alumni Award

Leslie McFadden received the Distinguished Alumni Award presented by the Geosciences Advisory Board. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to an alumnus of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arizona in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their field. This individual has made meaningful contributions to Geosciences through public policy, business contributions, or community service, and helps to uphold the reputation of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arizona.

Les received his PhD from the University of Arizona Department of Geosciences working with Bill Bull. He then spent his career at the University of New Mexico on the faculty of the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences. He established himself as a leading arid-lands geomorphologist specializing in soils and weathering processes. He published landmark papers on desert soil genesis, soil carbonates, rock weathering, and the role of dust in soil genesis. The Geological Society of America recognized his work with the 2017 Kirk Bryan Award. Les also served two terms as chair of his department.