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Past Graduate Students

Former M.S. Students and Where They Are Today

The titles of theses and dissertations provide some indication of the nature of research projects. Some 14 of 51 M.S. students (28%) and 4 of 17 Ph.D. students (24%) have been women.

  • Scruggs, P. Levader, 2016, Tectonics of part of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee: Data from detailed geologic mapping and subsurface wells. University of Tennessee. (B.S. UT–Knoxville) (to contract geologic mapping project with the National Park Service)
  • Biswal, Mary S., 2015, Late Tertiary tectonic uplift in the southern and central Appalachians. University of Tennessee. (B.S. St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India)
  • Smith, G. Brianne, 2014, Metamorphic evolution of calc-silicate rocks in southwestern North Carolina, northeastern Georgia, and northwestern South Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of West Georgia)
  • Rehrer, J. R., 2014, Characterizing the relationship of part of the Inner Piedmont and Pine Mountain window, Georgia, from detailed geologic mapping, geochemistry, geochronology, and structural analysis at the southwestern end of the Cat Square terrane. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Bloomsburg University) (to internship at ExxonMobil, Houston; to Tennessee Army National Guard, Nashville)
  • Walker, Anne E., 2014, Structural analysis of the Tablerock thrust sheet, Grandfather Mountain window, northwestern North Carolina: Emplacement kinematics of a large horse in a major thrust system. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Le Moyne College, Syracuse, New York) (to Ion Geoventures, Houston)
  • Warrell, Kathleen F., 2013, Detailed geologic studies of paleoseismic features exposed at sites in the East Tennessee seismic zone: Evidence for large, prehistoric earthquakes. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Georgia Tech) (to Ph.D. at Rutgers University)
  • Howard, Christopher W., 2012, Investigating the Evolution of Two Southern Appalachian Terrane Boundaries and a Plutonic Complex: Tectonic Implications of Structural, Geochemical, and Geochronologic Studies in the Central Georgia Inner Piedmont. University of Tennessee. (B.S. UT–Chattanooga) (to internship and subsequent permanent position at Exxon Mobil, Houston)
  • Derryberry, Phillip, M., 2010, Structural and Stratigraphic Relationships near the Southern Terminus of the Pulaski Thrust Fault, Northeastern Tennessee. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Tennessee Tech) (to Planet Energy, Knoxville, TN)
  • Gilliam, William G., 2010, Structural and Metamorphic Evolution of the west-central Newton window eastern Inner Piedmont, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Morehead State Univ) (to oil industry service company in KY)
    Davis, Brittany A., 2010, Tectonic evolution of the southern Appalachian Inner Piedmont: Identification and interpretation of crustal features from aeromagnetic data and detailed geologic mapping in central Georgia. University of Tennessee. (B.S. UT–Knoxville) (to Occidental Petroleum, Houston)
  • Byars, Heather E., 2010, Relationships between the Cat Square and Tugaloo terranes from structural and geochronologic studies at the west end of the Newton window, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Depauw University) (to Southwest Energy, Houston)
  • Varnell-Jubb, Mary G., 2010, Paradoxes in the deformational and metamorphic history of the eastern Blue Ridge: Evidence from the Lake Toxaway and eastern Big Ridge quadrangles, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. UT–Chattanooga) (to Instructor UT–Martin)
  • Cyphers, Shawna R., 2009, Detailed mapping of a terrane boundary, and structure and origin of block-in-matrix structures, central and eastern Blue Ridge, Jackson County, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. UT–Knoxville) (to environmental company, Knoxville)
  • Tu, Ching, 2009, Mean kinematic vorticity of retrograde mylonite in the Brevard fault zone, South Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. UT–Knoxville) (to CCG–Veritas, Houston)
  • Stahr, Donald W, III, 2007, Tectonometamorphic evolution of the eastern Blue Ridge: Differentiating multiple Paleozoic orogenic pulses in the Glenville and Big Ridge quadrangles, southwestern North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Ft. Lewis College) (to Ph.D. at Virginia Tech)
  • Gatewood, Matthew P., 2007, Tectonics of the northeastern Inner Piedmont from detailed geologic mapping, geochronologic, geochemical, and petrologic studies with macro- and mesostructural analyses of ductile fault zone[M.S. thesis]: Knoxville, University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of South Alabama) (to Ph.D. at University of Alabama.)
  • Wilson, Crystal G., 2006, Origin and tectonic evolution of the southern Appalachian Neoacadian crystalline core: Evidence from the geology of the Gilreath 7.5-minute quadrangle, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of West Georgia) (to Instructor Appalachian State University)
  • Whitmer, Neil E., 2005, Structural and stratigraphic investigations of the Bays Mountain synclinorium, Parrottsville and portion of the Cedar Creek 7.5-Minute quadrangles, East Tennessee. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Indiana University) (to Michigan State University Law School)
  • Bultman, John G., 2005, Structure, stratigraphy, and tectonics of the northwestern Bays Mountain synclinorium, Green and Hawkins Counties, Tennessee. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of Southern Mississippi) (to teaching position at Asheville–Biltmore Tech)
  • Thigpen, J. Ryan, 2005, Stratigraphic and structural relationships of the Ocoee Supergroup, southern Appalachians: Implications for Neoproterozoic rift basin architecture and Paleozoic collisional orogenesis. University of Tennessee. (B.S. UT–Knoxville) (to Ph.D. at Virginia Tech; to BP, Houston; to tenure-track faculty position at University of Kentucky)
  • Merschat, Arthur J., 2003, Inner Piedmont tectonics in the Southwestern Brushy Mountains, North Carolina: Field and laboratory data revealing 3D crustal flow and sillimanite I and II metamorphism. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Appalachian State University) (to Ph.D. completed with RDH in 2009; to USGS–Reston,VA)
  • Heath, Milan A., II, 2003, Structural and stratigraphic Investigations at the southwest end of the Tellico-Sevier syncline, Southeast Tennessee. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Franklin and Marshall College) (to engineering company in Baltimore)
  • Kalbas, Joseph L., 2002, Geology of part of the southwestern Brushy Mountains, Inner Piedmont, North Carolina, and the geochemistry of western Inner Piedmont migmatite. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Furman University) (to Ph.D. at Purdue University; to ExxonMobil, Houston)
  • Settles, David J., 2002, Defining the Hayesville-Soque River and Allatoona faults, and an Ordovician arc assemblage, within the central Blue Ridge northwest of Dahlonega, Georgia. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of West Georgia) (to Florida Rock; to Vulcan Materials; to Rayonier Pulp Company)
  • Lamb, Dwight D., 2001, Geology of the Scaly Mountain quadrangle, emphasizing the structures, timing, and emplacement mechanisms for the Rabun Granodiorite, eastern Blue Ridge, southwestern North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. UT–Martin) (to Bechtel Environmental)
  • Bier, Sara E., 2001, Geology of the southeastern South Mountains, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Juniata College) (to Ph.D. at Penn State; to faculty at Emory and Henry College)
  • Williams, Scott T., 2000, Structure, stratigraphy, and migmatization in the southwestern South Mountains, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Appalachian State University) (to NC Survey; to VA Survey)
  • Giorgis, Scott D., 1999, Geology of the northwestern South Mountains near Morganton, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. College of William and Mary) (to Ph.D. at University of Wisconsin; to faculty at SUNY College at Geneseo)
  • Bream, Brendan R., 1999, Structural and stratigraphic relationships of ortho- and paragneisses southwest of Marion, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of California–Santa Barbara) (to Ph.D. completed with RDH in 2003; to ExxonMobil; to instructor at Vanderbilt University; to oil industry work in Australia [ExxonMobil])
  • Hill, Joseph C., 1999, Stratigraphy, structure, and tectonics of the Southern Appalachian Inner Piedmont near Marion, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. UT–Knoxville) (to Ph.D. at University of Missouri; to Bloomsburg State University; to Sam Houston State University)
  • Curl, Douglas C., 1998, Stratigraphy and structure of Wellford and Reidville Quadrangles in part of the eastern Inner Piedmont, South Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Guilford College) (to KY Geological Survey)
  • Montes, Camilo, 1997, The Greenbrier and Hayesville faults in western North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of Bogotá, Colombia)
  • Martin, Steven L., 1997, Stratigraphy and structure of part of the western Blue Ridge foothills near Tellico Plains, southeastern Tennessee. University of Tennessee. (B.S. UT–Knoxville) (to KY Geological Survey)
  • Geddes, D. J., 1995, Stratigraphy, structure, and environmental site assessment of a portion of the western Blue Ridge, Monroe County, Tennessee. University of Tennessee. (B.S. SUNY College at Geneseo) (to hydrologist, NC Water Resources Dept.)
  • Carter, Mark W., 1994, Stratigraphy and structure of part of the Blue Ridge Foothills, Polk and Monroe Counties, Tennessee. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Old Dominion University) (to NC Geological Survey; to VA Geological Survey; to USGS-Reston)
  • Yanagihara, Gregory M., 1993, Structure, stratigraphy, and metamorphism of a part of the Columbus Promontory, western Inner Piedmont, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of California–Santa Barbara) (to environmental company in CA)
  • Quinn, M. J., 1991, Two lithotectonic boundaries in western North Carolina: Geologic interpretation of a region surrounding Sylva, Jackson County. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of New Hampshire) (to Ph.D. at Rice University; to ExxonMobil)
  • Fischer, Mark P., 1989, Structural geometry of the Rocky Valley thrust system in the vicinity of New Market, Tennessee. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of Illinois) (to Ph.D. Penn State; to ExxonMobil; to Northern Illinois University department head)
  • McClellan, Elizabeth A., 1988, Geologic history of a portion of the eastern Blue Ridge, southern Appalachians: Tray Mountain and Macedonia 7 1/2 minute quadrangles, Georgia. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of Alabama–Birmingham) (to Ph.D. completed with RDH 1993)
  • Farrell, David W., 1986, The geology of portions of the Helen and Tray Mountain quadrangles, northeastern Georgia. University of South Carolina. (B.S. University of South Carolina) (to law school)
  • Willis, John D., 1984, Geology of the Cross Anchor area—The boundary between the Carolina terrane and the Inner Piedmont in northwestern South Carolina. University of South Carolina. (B.S. Florida State University) (to engineering geology career in Tallahassee)
  • Horkowitz, John P., 1984, Geology of the Philson Crossroads 7 1/2 minute quadrangle, South Carolina—The nature of the boundary separating the Inner Piedmont from the Carolina/Avalon terrane in central–northwestern South Carolina. University of South Carolina. (B.S. Washington and Jefferson College) (to Ph.D. at USC; to petroleum industry)
  • Hopson, Janet L., 1984, Stratigraphy and structure of the Alto allochthon, Ayersville quadrangle, Georgia. University of South Carolina. (B.S. University of Tennessee) (to Ph.D. completed with RDH at UT–Knoxville 1994)
  • Heyn, Teunis, 1984, Stratigraphic and structural relationships along the southwestern flank of the Sauratown Mountains anticlinorium. University of South Carolina. (B.S. University of South Carolina) (to Ph.D. at Cornell; to BPAmoco)
  • Costello, John O., 1984, Relationships between the Cartersville fault and Great Smoky fault in the southern Appalachians: A reinterpretation. University of South Carolina. (B.S. Georgia State University) (to Ph.D. completed with RDH at USC 1993; to Chief Geologist, Georgia Marble Company; to environmental and engineering consultant; to research geologist, Georgia Geologic Survey)
  • Eckert, John O., Jr., 1984, Stratigraphy, structure, and metamorphism in the east half of the Wayah Bald quadrangle, North Carolina: Key to Paleozoic granulite facies metamorphism in the southern Appalachians. University of South Carolina. (B.S. Florida State University) (to Ph.D. at Texas A&M; to several postdocs; to electron microprobe lab director at Yale)
  • Eggers, Margaret B., 1983, Petrology, structure and geochemistry of the Kimsey Bald mafic complex, North Carolina. University of South Carolina. (B.S. Florida State University) (to Ph.D. at South Carolina; to President of Eggers Environmental, San Diego, CA)
  • Ausburn, Mark P., 1983, Stratigraphy, structure and petrology of the northern half of the Topton quadrangle, North Carolina. Florida State University. (B.S. Florida State University) (to Chevron; to private consulting)
  • Petty, Steven M., 1982, The geology of the Laurel Creek mafic–ultramafic complex in northeast Georgia: Intrusive complex or ophiolite? Florida State University. (B.S. Florida State University) (to Exxon [10 years]; to NJ and environmental consulting)
  • Hooper, Robert J., 1982, Formation mechanisms of mylonites: Towaliga fault zone, central Georgia. University of South Carolina. (to Ph.D. completed with RDH at USC 1986) (to University Honours Degree, Cambridgeshire Tech, Cambridge, England)
  • Stowell, Harold H., 1981, Geology of Sweetheart Ridge and adjacent areas, southeast Alaska. University of South Carolina. (B.S. Florida State University) (to Ph.D. at Princeton; to the University of Alabama, past department head)

Former Ph.D. Students and Where They Are Today

  • Huebner, Matthew T., 2013, Geologic investigations in the central Georgia Inner Piedmont and the western flank of the Carolina superterrane: Implications regarding Acadian and Alleghanian collisional orogenesis, fault reactivation, and the Mesozoic breakup of Pangea. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Bloomsburg University, PA) (to Lettis Consultants International, Walnut Creek, CA)
  • Whisner, Jennifer K., 2010, Analysis of 3–D foreland fold-thrust belt structure around the Tennessee salient and the problem of curved thrust belts, northern Georgia, Tennessee, southwestern Virginia. University of Tennessee. (to a tenure-track position at Bloomsburg University, PA)
  • Merschat, Arthur J., 2009, Assembling the Blue Ridge and Inner Piedmont: Insights into the nature and timing of terrane accretion in the southern Appalachian orogen from geologic mapping, stratigraphy, kinematic analysis, petrology, geochemistry, and modern geochronology. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Appalachian State University. M.S. UT–Knoxville with RDH 2003) (to USGS–Reston, VA)
  • Evenick, Jonathan C., 2006, Potential subsurface structures and hydrocarbon reservoirs in the southern Appalachian basin beneath the Cumberland Plateau and eastern Highland Rim, Tennessee, Kentucky, and southwestern Virginia. University of Tennessee. (1-year postdoc with RDH; to BP–Houston)
  • Whisner, S. Christopher, 2004, The Middle Ordovician Tellico–Sevier Syncline: A Stratigraphic, Structural, and Paleoseismic investigation. University of Tennessee. (B.S. & M.S. Western Michigan University) (2-year postdoc in planetary geology at UT-Knoxville; to faculty at Bloomsburg University, PA)
  • Bream, Brendan R., 2003, Tectonic implications of geochronology and geochemistry of para- and orthogneisses from the southern Appalachian crystalline core. University of Tennessee.  (B.S. University of California–Santa Barbara. M.S. with RDH UT–Knoxville 1999) (to geologist and senior geologist, ExxonMobil Exploration, Houston; to Instructor, Vanderbilt University; to ExxonMobil, Houston)
  • Montes, Camilo, 2001, Three-dimensional structure and kinematics of the Piedras-Girardot foldbelt in the northern Andes of Colombia. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of Bogotá. M.S. with RDH UT–Knoxville 1997) (to 1-year postdoc with YPF in France; to structural geologist and Chief Geologist with a coal company in Colombia; to U.S. National Museum of Natural History in Panamá; to the Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia)
  • Hopson, Janet L., 1994, Structure of part of the Blue Ridge, northeastern Georgia and North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of Tennessee. M.S. with RDH at University of South Carolina 1984) (to postdoc at Oak Ridge National Laboratory; to University of Tennessee Transportation Research Center [UT research faculty])
  • Costello, John O., 1993, Studies in Appalachian foreland–to–hinterland transition zone geology, Georgia and Tennessee. University of South Carolina. (B.S. Georgia State University. M.S. with RDH University of South Carolina 1984) (to Chief Geologist, Georgia Marble Company; to environmental and engineering consultant; to research geologist, Georgia Geologic Survey)
  • McClellan, Elizabeth A., 1993, Tectonic evolution of the Einunnfjellet–Savalen area, Hedmark Fylke, Central–southern Norwegian Caledonides. University of Tennessee. (B.S. University of Alabama–Birmingham. M.S. with RDH UT–Knoxville 1988) (to Western Kentucky University; to University of Kansas; to UT–Martin faculty [structural geology, petrology])
  • Davis, Timothy L., 1993, Stratigraphy, structure, and metamorphism of a crystalline thrust terrane, western Inner Piedmont, North Carolina. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Depauw University. M.S. Bowling Green State University) (to NC Geological Survey, to ExxonMobil Research, Houston; to Occidental Petroleum, Houston)
  • Connelly, Jeffrey B., 1993, Structural development, strain history, and timing of deformation in the eastern Great Smoky Mountains. University of Tennessee. (B.A. College of Wooster. M.S. Bowling Green State University) (to geology faculty and Department Chair, University of Arkansas–Little Rock)
  • Lemiszki, Peter J., 1992, Geology of the Bethel Valley quadrangle—part of the Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation—in the southern Appalachian foreland fold–thrust belt and fracture mechanics modeling of extension fracture growth during basin subsidence and buckle folding. University of Tennessee. (B.S. Allegheny College. M.S. Cornell University [geophysics]) (to 2-year postdoc at Oak Ridge National Laboratory; to 6-month postdoc with RDH; to Chief Geologist, Tennessee Division of Geology–Knoxville)
  • Liu, Angang, 1991, Structural and deformation history of the Brevard fault zone, Chauga belt, and Inner Piedmont, northwestern South Carolina and adjacent areas. University of Tennessee. (B.S. & M.S. Beijing University) (to 1-year postdoc with RDH; to SAIC Company, San Antonio)
  • Stieve, Alice L., 1989, The structural evolution and metamorphism of the southern portion of the Tallulah Falls Dome, northeast Georgia. University of South Carolina. (B.S. SUNY–Buffalo [biology]. M.S. Emory University) (to Savannah River Site Geologist; to Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Bethesda, MD)
  • McConnell, Keith I., 1989, Geology and geochronology of the Sauratown Mountains anticlinorium, northwestern North Carolina. University of South Carolina. (B.S. Clemson University. M.S. Virginia Tech) (to Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Bethesda, MD; currently Senior Scientist)
  • Hooper, Robert J., 1986, Geologic studies at the east end of the Pine Mountain window and adjacent Piedmont, central Georgia. University of South Carolina. (B.S. Cambridgeshire Tech. M.S. with RDH University of South Carolina 1982) (to ConocoPhillips; to BHP-Billiton Exploration, Houston [consultant in structural and regional geology throughout the company])

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