After spending six years in the NAVY, I started college intending to study engineering. My love for and intrigue with the outdoors and the earth brought me to the geosciences. Spending this last summer in New Mexico at the SAGE program has encouraged me to pursue geophysics in graduate school.
Josh has done extremely well here at San Diego State and with the SAGE program this summer and I hope we have a lot more students like him. Josh is one of those people when you say there is something to do, the next day he shows up, and it is done. There is a lot more to his story and I really applaud him and look forward to hearing about his accomplishments in graduate school.
-George Jiracek
Josh orally presented a professional paper on geophysical findings from his 2007 SAGE experience at the American Geophysical Union Meeting in San Francisco on December 12, 2007. He represented nine SAGE students and faculty.
Thesis Hydrological investigations of the Santo Domingo Basin, New Mexico using electromagnetic soundings
Honors and Awards SAGE Program - A four-week-long, field-based program in New Mexico and one-week follow-up at San Diego State University featuring “hands-on” geophysics.
October 2007
Jennifer Piper
Senior
I have always liked science, but it wasn’t until I took my first Geology class at Grossmont College that I decided to major in Geology. I love Geology because it is an evolving science and there is always something exciting to learn.
Thesis Possible Column Matrix Effect in the MC-ICP-MS for Lead Isotope Analyses
Research Interests Petrology, Geochemistry, Volcanology and Seismology
Personal Interests My passion has always been competitive dance/Winterguard but I haven’t done that for a while. I also enjoy hiking, exploring, collecting rocks, camping and hanging out with friends.
Honors and Awards Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Dean’s List for Fall 2006 and Spring 2007, Independent World Class Gold Medalist for Winterguard in 2003
May 2007
Aulia "Andy" Arifandy
Senior
“Oh, Andy loved Geology, I guess it appealed to his meticulous nature. An ice age here, million years of mountain building there. Geology is the study of pressure and time. That's all it takes really, pressure, and time” (Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding)
Thesis Utilizing Remote Sensing to Estimate Seismic Hazards within the Panama Region
Research Interests Remote Sensing, Natural Disaster Mitigation Works
Personal Interests Thinking about matters that probably aren’t very crucial but it does give that comfortably blissful feeling when it is thoroughly thought out...yeah...that’s what I like to do.
Honors and Awards Voted President for the Indonesian Youth Society of Sunway University College (2004), Participated in Non-Aligned Movement Summit (2003)
March 2007
Kyle Welchans
Senior
I really enjoy science and geology allows me to get out of the class room and into a lab or the field.
Thesis (pending) Major, Minor, Trace Element, and Isotope Analysis of Uwekahuna Ash, Hawaii.
Research Interests Petrology
Personal Interests Snowboarding, Strength Training, Camping, Rolling Giant Boulders, puppies.
Honors and Awards Dean's List for Spring 2006
February 2007
John Abeid
Senior
Some of the most exciting things for me to do as a kid growing up here in San Diego was to collect beach rocks and observing our natural realm. Wondering aimlessly, it wasn't until I took the introductory geology course that I realized that I wanted to be a Geologist.
Thesis Provenance of quartzite clasts in Late Cretaceous and Eocene strata, San Diego County, California.
Research Interests Sedimentology, stratigraphy, structure and crushing rocks.
Personal Interests Collecting rocks, gardening and landscape, observing living animals, hiking and camping, fishing, netting lobster, digging for clams, jigging for humboldt squid, working on or improving the design of engines and classic vehicles, boats, omnivore.
Honors and Awards Dean's List for Spring 2005, 1994 Pog Champion.
January 2007
Aaron Hebeler
Senior
I have always enjoyed being able to work outdoors. Geology entails just that as well as being intellectually stimulating.
Thesis Physical and chemical characteristics of Saprolite in a Mediterranean climate & implications for the isovolumetric assumptions of saprolite development.
Research Interests Sedimentology, Igneous Assemblages, Brittle Structures
Personal Interests Ocean Lifeguard & Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the City of Solana Beach, Surfing, Desert Camping, Backpacking, SCUBA diving, Vegetarian. I am an Triplet with my brother and sister also attending SDSU.
Honors and Awards Deans List Spring 06, 3rd place Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Field of Mathematics
December 2006
Brandon Koons
Senior
I have always been interested in the earth sciences so I took a geology class for fun when I transfered to SDSU. After meeting the students and faculty in the geology department I quickly decided to switch my major.
AdvisorGary Girty Thesis Geochemical, petrological, and grain size analysis of the Santa Margarita River sand bar deposits. Interests - Research Structural Geology Interests - Personal I enjoy backpacking, playing soccer, snowboarding, fly fishing, and breaking things just so I can try to fix them.
August 2006
Shayne Boney
Senior
I am earning a Geological Sciences degree in preparation for a single
subject teaching credential. I have a passion for earth science and my goal
is to teach in a middle or high school science classroom where I can
hopefully instill in young people some enthusiasm and accountability for
caring for our planet.
AdvisorLindsey Leighton Thesis Brachiopod assemblages of the Birdspring Formation: Use of Cluster
Analysis to determine what is structuring the community Interests - Research Paleontology, World Environmental History Interests - Personal Hiking, Camping, playing the piano, reading
June 2006
Jessica Rinehart
Senior/Alumni
I have always loved science so I picked geology on my application to SDSU and decided to go with it for a while. After my first class I was hooked and applied for an internship at GeoSyntec Consultants, which lead me to the hydrological aspects of geology.
AdvisorDr. Gary Girty and Sam Williams Thesis The Significance of Geochemical Signatures in the Interpretation of Groundwater Quality of a Landfill Interests - Research Contaminant Hydrogeology Interests - Personal Spending as much time as possible outdoors in the mountains or at the beach. Honors/Awards Outstanding Senior Thesis Presentation
May 2006
Melanie Lindsey
Senior
I had no idea what to pick for a major in college until I had my first geology class in my fourth semester here. I have loved it ever since; I’ve meet great people, made great friends and there is always something new and interesting to learn.
AdvisorDr. Stephen Schellenberg Thesis Comparing a Local reconstruction of the CCD in the South Atlantic to Global conditions in the Cenozoic Interests - Research Hydrogeology, water quality and chemistry, paleontology, marine geology Interests - Personal Sports, music and shows, movies and laughing with friends Honors/Awards Golden Key Honor Society member, undergraduate representative for the Scripps research cruise for 2004
April 2006
Jared Warner
Senior
Switched over to geology from civil engineering after a year. I took a few entry level courses in geology and found this is where I wanted to be. I have always enjoyed being outdoors and have been intrigued by the earth's natural processes.
AdvisorDr. Stephen Schellenberg Thesis Currently working on Donax samples and core samples from the Ocean Drilling Program as possible projects Interests - Research Marine Geology, Paleoclimatology, Isotope Chemistry, Geochemistry Interests - Personal Athletics, river rafting, camping, traveling, fishing Honors/Awards Accepted into International Student Volunteer summer program
March 2006
Chad Bearor
Senior
Geology was not actually a choice but a realization. After spending years slinging pipe puling levers behind a drill rig, I began to understand the benefit of a bachelors degree. That and it would be a lot easier too! Originally from Glens Falls, New York (Adirondacks)
AdvisorGary Girty Thesis Distinguishing the physical and chemical properties of soils developed on Gabbro\Amphibolite and Granodiorite in a Mediterranean micro-climate Interests - Research Environmental Geology: Soil and groundwater evaluation, human health risk assessment, and contaminant remediation. Interests - Personal Getting lost in the desert with the Jeep, SCUBA diving, the yearly Tuna Boat, freshwater fishing (east coast). Other Degrees Associates Liberal Arts, Math Science
December 2005
Department Volunteers - Fall 2005
The difference between 'ordinary' and 'extraordinary' is just that little 'extra'
Thank you to all our student volunteers for making us a stronger department for the University and the Community.
November 2005
Melissa Sabga
Senior
I chose geology as a major because when I was in high school I was fascinated by plate tectonics. Nothing in college interested me more than geology. So, I decided to become a Geology major.
AdvisorAaron Pietruszka Thesis Petrology of young lavas in eastern Oregon Interests - Research Igneous Petrology, Volcanology, and Geochemistry. Interests - Personal Hockey, indie and horror films, photography.
October 2005
Chris Martinez
Senior'ish
I think geology is great because it requires lateral thinking and creativity in addition to knowledge of physics, chemistry, and other interesting sciences.
Advisor Eventually a computer savvy professor who finds this t-shirt funny: C:\DOS C:\DOS\RUN RUN\DOS\RUN Interests - Research I’ve been working with computers since the days of the XT and the mechanisms that drive our earth have always interested me, so I find combining the two very exciting. As processing speed and storage capacity of computers increase, so does our ability to investigate and understand geologic phenomena, like the geodynamo, and I look forward to being a part of that research.
I’m about to set off for a 5 day trip conducting multibeam surveying, rock dredging, and hopefully sediment gravity coring in the Baja California borderland. Incidentally this is also where hurricane Otis is heading. Interests - Personal PC gaming, resistance training, practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and traveling around the world with my family. I also love my Mom’s cooking and constructing homes and re-building muscle cars with my Dad. Awards and Honors Dean's list for spring 2005
Nominated as the undergraduate representative for the Scripps research cruise for 2005
August 2005
Leah Feigelson
Senior
I started as an Astronomy major, then changed to Physics, and now I'm a Geophysics major. I didn't know what I was getting into, only had camped once in my life, but I really enjoy it.
ThesisPuente Hills Fault Ground Motion Advisor Dr Steve Day Interests - Research Seismology, Volcano Seismology, Magnetic Field, Planetary Geology Interests - Personal Modern/Surrealist art, music, foreign films, and languages Awards and Honors Deans list for Spring 2005 Semester. Summer internship Currently I am working with Dr. Steve Day on a ground motion project. My focus is on the Puente Hills Fault, where I am making Response Spectra for varying parameters along the fault. This information is given to engineers for the analysis and design of structures.
June 2005
Doug Baumwirt - Structural geometry of tertiary gravels with the Taylor Lake fault zone: Implications for the timing of Miocene distributed shear.
Flavio Castaneda - Origin of E-W trending faults, Picacho State Recreation Area: Implications for tertiary evolution of Sea Cliff.
Robert Schumacher
Geoscience Education
Single Subject Teaching Credential
Senior
I decided to enter the geology program because I have always been interested in earth sciences and would like to teach high school or middle school earth/life science.
ThesisField Patterns of 1st Year Geology Students Advisor Dr. Eric Riggs Goals I hope to start my Senior thesis this summer with plans of graduating and entering the teacher credential program spring 2006.
April 2005
Loren Wimmer
Senior
Living in California all my life, earthquakes have always fascinated me. With all of the wonderful landscape we are blessed with in California geology was a natural draw.
ThesisInnovative Uses of OpenSHA for Historical Earthquake Intensity Magnitudes. Advisor Dr. Rob Mellors Interests - Research and Personal Geological interests include geophysics & the use of computers in geology. My main interest is my family. Son #1 is going off to college in the fall & son #2 is in high school. Most of my personal hours are spent volunteering with the Boy Scouts & watching soccer matches! Goals Hope to be awarded an opportunity to attend SAGE this summer &/or a SCEC internship working with Dr. Ned Field. Other Degrees AA from the San Diego Community College District
March 2005
Maureen Moses
Senior
AGS President
Summer Research Fractionation of platinum group elements from molten iron. AdvisorDr. Vic Campthesis in prep.
Interests Associated Geology Students, petrology, volcanology, and seismology.Like to travel, music, hanging out with friends.
Honors and Awards Awarded a summer internship in Geosciences with the Carnegie Institution of Washington D.C. working with Dr. Yingwei Fei (Carnegie Institution) and Andy Campbell (University of Chicago)
February 2005
Russell Balliet
Senior
Ever since I was a little kid I was fascinated by volcanoes and earthquakes, so now that I'm older, Geochemistry, Volcanology, and Seismology are my fields of interests.
Thesis Testing correlations of the Ignimbrite of Ferguson Wash across the Taylor Lake fault, Picacho State Recreation Area, using chemical data and the bootstrap technique. Advisor Dr. Gary Girty Interests In my spare time i like to do painting, graphic design, camping, hiking and read a lot of science fiction books. I also enjoy taking pictures, hence my position of AGS historian. I do a lot of portrait, landscape,macro (close up), and sports photography. I'm also into muscle cars and classic cars and ,hopefully, soon I'll start restoring my 1963 Chevy Nova SS.
January 2005
Bev Carson
Senior
R.P. Oceans Lab Assistant
I am currently a double major in English and Geology. I Worked on the 3-Mile Island nuclear incident to determine hazards and contamination while employed by the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute on Kirkland AFB.
Thesis Compositional Variations In Maui, Hawaii Beach Sands and Their Comparison to California Beach Sand Components. Advisor Dr. Clive Dorman Interests For fun I like to watch clouds and weather, take photographs and field trips, give "famous" backrubs to folks in the Geology Dept, travel, edit,
and I love to read and write short stories & poetry. Honors and Awards Graduated with honors from Grossmont College. AA & BS degree in Business. Certification in office management, and have both Series 6 and & SEC/NASD traders licenses. Broker and financial planner for over a decade. Golden Key International Honor Society since 2000
December 2004
Robert Moniz
Senior
Rob Moniz is investigating potential sources of gem-bearing pegmatites in eastern San Diego County. His study area is the Carrizo Gorge area at Sacatone Springs where pegmatites occur at the northern extent of the spectacular Jacumba dike swarm widely exposed across the eastern flank of Tule Mountain. The Peninsular Ranges batholith is famous all over the world for the occurrence of gem pegmatites first discovered over 100 years ago. Despite this attention however, major uncertainites remain about the origin and circumstances of emplacement of the pegmatites. Rob's study involves field work as well as whole rock major and trace element analyses to try and identify the source of the Jacumba swarm.
Thesis Correlation between Sacatone springs pegmatite dikes and surrounding wall rocks including the La Posta Pluton. Advisor Dr. Dave Kimbrough Interests Outdoors: Hiking, camping, rock climbing, photography, long walks on beach... Honors and Awards Nominated for the ECO/USGS Earth Science Intern Program for the summer of 2005
November 2004
Mike Higgins
Senior
Mike has worked on several projects along the path to his Senior year. From building a Peninsular Ranges Batholith teaching suite with Dr. Dave Kimbrough to developing better desalinization techniques with Dr. Eric Frost, and now his Senior Thesis project with Dr. Aaron Pietruszka.
Thesis Petrogenesis and Emplacment of the Los Pinos Pluton Advisor Aaron Pietruszka Interests Skate Boarding Current Research GSA Abstract - Peninsular Ranges batholith teaching suite: a petrology laboratory case study of continental margin magmatism.
October 2004
Afton VanZandt
Senior
Afton has made outstanding contributions to the department as a student and contributes in the everyday operations as a work study.
Current Research Surface deformation on the Western Salton Sea through as observed by InSAR Interests Applying computer sciences toward a greater understanding of Earth Sciences. Awards and Honors Summer Internship with SCEC (Southern California Earthquake Center) and Awarded the California Federation of Mineralogists Scholarship.
5500 Campanile Dr • 237 Geology Mathematics and Computer Science Building • San Diego • CA 92182-1020 • (619) 594-5586
SAGE Program - A four-week-long, field-based program in New Mexico and one-week follow-up at San Diego State University featuring “hands-on” geophysics. 
