Alumni Updates
Alumni updates are arranged in chronological order beginning with the most recent.
Oct 20th, 2004 EAS Alumni Update 2004 Jennifer Mayhew Carlson
Attached photo is of me and Alan in Maine this October. Jennifer Carlson
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Oct 11th, 2004 Syed E. Hasan (Ph.D., 1978) I am serving as interim chair of the Department of Geosciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) for the fall 2004 term. I will be proceeding on leave for the winter 2005 semester to work on my second college textbook titled Introduction to Waste Management. Initial query has indicated interest on part of some publishers and I hope to sign a contract with one of them before December. (My first textbook Geology and Hazardous Waste Management, Prentice Hall, 1996) received the Association of Engineering Geologists’ Claire P. Holdredge Award in 1998). I was in Italy during August 2004 to do some travel and attend the 32nd International Geological Congress, held in Florence, where I gave a talk on Waste Management in the Gulf Cooperation Countries. Earlier, in December 2003, I had traveled to Kuwait at the invitation of the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research to give a presentation titled Biosolids: A Promising Option for Sewage Sludge Utilization at the “First Regional Conference on Sewage Sludge Technology and Management,” held December, 15-17. I am serving as convener of a Pardee Symposium on Medical Geology to be held at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Denver, CO; November 7, 2004. The half-day symposium includes talks by researchers who will discuss health issues related to toxic metals (arsenic and lead) and organic chemicals; pathogen transport by intercontinental dust, endemic nephropathy in the Balkan Region associated with coal; asbestos mining and mesothelioma; geochemistry of body fluids and its bioavailability; and therapeutic aspects of the Dead Sea mud. In my opening talk titled “Medical Geology Comes of Age” I will discuss the history and evolution of the new specialty, its current status, and future trend. My wife, Farrukh, continues working at the Avila University in Kansas City as a research librarian. She says “the best thing about my job is that I get paid for reading anything I want to.” Our third and youngest child, Zeba, graduated from high school in May, maintaining her number one rank among 500 students and being named a National Merit Scholar. She is enrolled in the combined 6-year BA/MD program at UMKC. Her elder sister is in the 4th year of the same program. With two potential physicians in the family, I don’t think we need to worry about health care after we retire.
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Oct 4th ,2004 My wife and I moved to Silver City, New Mexico about 3.5 years ago from central Florida. I changed employers after nearly 18 years with BCI Engineers & Scientists, Inc., to join a New Mexico based civil engineering firm, Engineers Inc. Last November we formed our own home based geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering firm, but I am still working extensively with Engineers Inc. primarily on mining related environmental and dam opertional projects in New Mexico and Idaho. We built an adobe style home on about 70 acres in early 2002 about 15 miles NW of Silver City. The commute to town includes 11 miles of dirt road, most of it through the Gila National Forest. We are beyond the power lines and hard phone lines, so we live with solar and LP generator backup power, cell phones, satellite dish computer service and occasional snowed in days. We have fantastic views of the Mogollon and White Mountains of west central New Mexico and eastern Arizona and enjoy being outside a lot in the SW climate. My wife, Phronsie, started an interior decorating business in the area in late 2003 and is very busy with residential and commercial clients. It is great to be back in New Mexico. email: waeeemci@starband.net Wayne A. Ericson, PE, PG
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Oct 3rd, 2004 Dear Colleagues from the Paleo-80’s at EAS! First, please accept my regrets for disappearing underground (no geo-pun intended) for the last decade and my hopes that I can reconnect with many of you. Most of us have probably quoted the Grateful Dead’s Truckin’ to describe our wandering path with geology degrees in a highly volatile job market, and my story has some relative strangeness of its own. After finishing my master’s under Zinny, Melhorn and Tharp, with nary an offer in sight, I spent a year volunteering at a homeless shelter in Chicago. After that, I hitched onto the final days of a Superfund contract at Ecology and Environment. But that ended after a mere 5 months and, with no other geojob forthcoming, I started doing computer graphics and attempted (key word) some acting in the local improvisational comedy scene. Toward the mid-90’s I was able to maintain steady freelance work at ad agencies laying out junk mail credit card offers (a fine use of my excellent training in optical petrography and invertebrate taxonomy…) and performing a comedy show we called Modern Problems in Science – which did allow me to use my education to put a few pennies in my pocket. In August of ‘94, we took the show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and got signed by a producer in London who booked us at comedy festivals in England, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland and Canada. Those travels kept me busy through mid ’98 when I broke camp in Chicago and moved to Los Angeles. Bizarre happenstance dictates that one of the women interviewing me for a job at a children’s software company in Torrance got a phone call from Neal Irish – her husband – while I was in her office. The company hired me to design online educational games (you or your kids may enjoy the Bone Shop game at: http://www.jpinstitute.com/dinolab/dino_academy/build_dino.jsp) which I did until I saw the Internet Bubble start to thin around the edges. Knowing that I’d stumbled into yet another Economic Twilight Zone, I resolved to set my career rudder to something that would satisfy my interest in science and non-imminently result in the annoyingly familiar massive layoffs to which I had become accustomed. Now, a few Penske truck rentals down the road from LA, I’m in the middle of third year clinical rotations at the WVU School of Medicine (Eastern Division campus) in Martinsburg, WV, just an hour from DC. My wife of two-plus years, Melissa (my best find in California), is finishing a long-awaited degree in psychology at Shepherd University and we have no real idea where we’re going once we graduate. Your suggestions are welcome. Being back East has allowed us to spend holiday time with Bill and Virginia Zinsmeister – who have remained valued friends and mentors over the years – and we hope to have the opportunity to visit with other EAS-ians whenever possible. Give us a call, write or e-mail! Hope all’s well and hope to see some of you soon. Phil Granchi
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Oct. 1st, 2004 Name: Maureen Turman Update: This is my first response to the Alumni Update – So, I should be able to come up with some interesting gossip from the 16 years since my graduation. Ever since I left Purdue with a degree in Geology I have been working in the environmental field. I spent 6-years in private consulting before moving over to the owner side of the business. I have moved from petroleum to steel to banking. I am currently a Vice President at JPMorgan Chase and Manager of the Environmental, Health and Safety Department for Corporate Real Estate. Work requires some travel but my greatest joy, my daughter Josie, keeps me close to home as much as possible. My husband John and I became parents on June 3, 2003 and she’s been the light of our lives ever since. I’m glad that I went back to school for my MBA (I’m a 2-time Purdue alumni) before she came or I never would have had the time (or inclination) to finish. Life is good here in Chicago; we enjoy biking along the lake, hiking trails in the parks and all the good food and music that the city has to offer. I work downtown Chicago and would love to talk to other EAS alumni over a cold beer (Are there any Buttheads still out there?). (312) 325-3363
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Sept. 30th, 2004 Here is my latest update:
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Sept. 30th, 2004 Ron Wilkins Ron was awarded the Champion of Excellence award from the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers in 2004. Here is a picture of the family (which I’m taking) at a baseball game this summer.
Note the change in my work email address below. Best regards; Ron Wilkins, CHMM NOTE: My email address will be changing sometime in Oct. to: ronald.wilkins@baesystems.com
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Sept. 29th, 2004 Hi there, I finished both my master and Ph.D. with Arvid Johnson in 1991 and 1994 respectively. I have lots of memory with Purdue, the department, Arvid and the staffs. The best thing was that I met Catherine,my wife, at Purdue, eventhough our offices in Jakarta is only 2 miles apart and we never met before. We have 2 children, Putri - 6th grade- and Narendra - 4th grade. Putri is one of the best piano player I've ever seen. She also plays baseball. Attached is the picture of us taken last year when we visited Mt. Bromo, one of the most active volcanoes in Eastern Java - Indonesia. It erupted several months after our visit. Thanks God ! My best regards to all of you. Everybody is welcome to reach me at ymartosudarmo@yahoo.com or ymartosudarmo@ceo.bppt.go.id Cheers, Yanto Martosudarmo
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Sept. 29th, 2004 Jim Hurrell, MS 1986, PhD 1990 Update: Greetings from Denver, Colorado! Jim and I have not officially corresponded in a while. Since we last wrote, we have been blessed with two wonderful daughters. Our eldest, Hurricane Rachel, (trust me on this) was born in December, 1997. Our second daughter was born in November, 2002, and is developing into a Tropical Storm Sarah. (Note that she is nearly two!) The girls are a constant reminder of the joy of youth, learning, and just being! Professionally, Jim achieved the rank of senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) last year. He even decided to push himself a little harder and acts in the capacity of Division Director for the Climate and Global Dynamics Division of NCAR. His North Atlantic Oscillation research has taken the entire family to some fascinating destinations and afforded us dear friends in other countries. It’s a great fringe benefit for all of us. As for me, I left full-time environmental consulting in April, 1998, for active duty as a mom. WOW! I thought that consulting demanded long hours! I have been very fortunate to remain a variable status employee for that same company. I can bring home site restoration work to do to keep my hand in the technical world and to converse with a few adults. My background in atmospheric sciences and chemistry has given me options so that I can do the most important job in the world and still apply my college training. Thanks Purdue! Since Rachel started preschool, Jim and I have given tag team weather talks to inspire young scientists. Each time we come away more enriched than the little ones we hoped to influence. In all, not a bad life for a couple of scientists who met in a third floor hallway while studying weather maps! Hope this finds all of you well. Sincerely,
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Sept. 28th, 2004 Name: Dave Stettner Amy and I were married the week after graduation in August, 1994. Amy and I both work for the University of Wisconsin. I'm employed at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies in the Space Science Engineering Center. Our research group focuses on development of satellite products for tropical cyclone analysis and satellite derived wind information. Take a look at: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/tropic.html
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Sept. 27, 2004 I am always excited to read about new changes in Purdue in general and I have been pretty busy lately holding new positions in my university. I The family is doing well.The kids are grown.The two we had in the USA The younger of the two in the USA is serving in the US Airforce. I am Up Purdue! Up EAS! Celestine O Okagbue
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Sept. 26, 2004 Basilio Lopez, Jr. Hi, gang! It's been a few years since I've sent an update, and this will not be a winded one (I hear sighs of relief), but just to let you know... Over the past 6 years I've done my stint in broadcasting, which I will say I reluctantly enjoyed at times. Still do, although it's hectic, especially this hurricane season. I started in Dallas in '98, moved to Abilene and was Ch. Meteorologist for KTAB-TV (CBS) from 1999 through 2001. I moved back to Lafayette and was the morning/noon meteorologist for WLFI-TV (CBS) from Jan 2002 until May 2004. I left to work for a broadcast/graphics company, WSI, just outside of Boston. We offer support to many stations, cable outlets and networks. Although I was hoping to get out of the broadcasting side, you will still find me on occasion doing weather for FOX News Channel. New England is nice, the people gradually warm up to you, and so far, life is good. If you're ever up this way, get in touch, we can do some 'chowdah'. I haven't lost my "R's" yet, but a fellow graduate, Tom Reutebach, has been here at WSI for about 10 yrs, and I can hear his Midwest dialect slipping away! A quick shout to the "Drew-points", Dave, Christa, Doug, Dan, Mark, Kevin, and the rest of the gang - be good, and best wishes! buzz
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Sept. 21, 2004 Name: David A. Leary Current Assignment: I can be reached at:
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Sept. 19th, 2004 Here is my update:
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Sept. 17th, 2004 Name: Allison (Wozniak) Schauer
Update: I relocated to Ohio after spending seven years working in Virginia. My new job is as a Staff Meteorologist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. I have the good fortune to be working with another Purdue graduate, Maj Fred Meyer. Marc and I have two great kids. Abigail is three and Wesley is a year and a half. I'll have to make sure they grow up Boilermakers despite living in Buckeye country! Allison Schauer COMM Tel: 937 904 8191
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Sept. 13th, 2004 Greetings,
Take Care and Go Boilers!!!!!!! Keith Kompoltowicz
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Name: Brentley Lothamer I work for the National Weather Service at the Northern Indiana office in Syracuse, IN. |
2004 was a momentous year for my husband and me, beginning with the arrival of our son Alan during a January blizzard! He's a real honey and I'm enjoying being a stay-at-home Mom. Chad and I also celebrated our 10th anniversary in May. We're still in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, on a beautiful ridge called Bear Mountain. (After living in Denver, I have a hard time calling it a mountain!) I went to the Purdue vs. Penn State football game and was the only gold jersey in a sea of blue! Luckily my husband (a Penn State graduate) is a big guy and he discouraged the Nittany Lion fans from beating me up. Thank goodness we won! Go Boilers!
I received my Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in Atmospheric Science at Purdue in August of 2000 and August of 2003, respectively.
I am currently in my second year as a graduate student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, pursuing my doctoral degree in Atmospheric Science under the supervision of Dr. Patrick Market. Our research project, Research on Convective Snows (ROCS), is currently in its second year as well and we will start to do field work during the latter part of this winter. This means that we will have the exciting opportunity to actually chase snowstorms with lightning and thunder and take a wide array of observations (e.g., surface, in-situ rawinsonde,
profiler, snow crystal collection.....). The main goal is to sample
the environments of thundersnow events directly and attempt to determine some fundamental characteristics of the vertical motion, stability, and moisture profiles as well as the associated cloud microphysics. For additional information on the project, you can check out our website at:
Purdue is always in mind everyday ! Especially after we won our first 3 football games ! Wow.....!!! That was never happened during my time at Purdue from 1989 to 1994.
I took a position as a meteorologist with the Detroit District of the US Army Corps of Engineers in January of 2002. My main task is Great Lakes water level forecasting, which needs quite a bit of meteorological input. I provide forecasting and analysis for the entire Great Lakes region on a daily basis. I also act as a meteorological consultant to the rest of the Detroit District. I had the opportunity to work in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan at the famous Soo Locks in Dec '03 and Jan '04. The Corps operates and maintains the locks 24 hours a day for most of the year. While I was there I worked on a lightning detection system and weather safety plan for the laborers who work out on the locks. I also spent a fair amount of time outside in the harshest winter weather I have ever seen. The attached picture is of the Detroit District Dive team after a early morning dive into the Locks. The air temperature was a balmy 12 degrees with a wind-chill of minus 30 something. We are standing on the dive barge in the middle of the Poe Lock. I am the second from the right. 
Sept. 8th, 2004
