Geology Faculty + Staff
The difference is the people
When our graduates talk about their experiences at UW-Eau Claire, they have lots to say about their studies—the classes, the unparalleled field-based curriculum, the collaborative research. But what every Blugold comes back to as the single most significant factor on their education here is the people, the expert faculty who guided them through the program, supporting not only their studies but their entire student experience.
The Department of Geology faculty members are all experts in their fields and go above and beyond in their fostering of undergraduate research. With a diversity of specialties from structural geology to geochemistry, or hydrogeology to mineralogy, Blugold students have simply the best instructors and research mentors in the business.

I owe a lot to the geology department. They not only stand behind their teaching and research, but they stand behind their students. After completing a master's degree and five years in the oil industry, I can confidently say that UWEC's field geology program and experience is second to none.
Students-faculty research in Andes Mts
Dr. J. Brian Mahoney, professor of geology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, recently received a grant from the National Science Foundation to continue a faculty-student collaborative research in the South Central Andes Mountains.
International research-
Scott K. Clark
Geology | Liberal Studies
Department Chair | Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 154, Eau Claire | Directions
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Md Iftekhar Alam
Geology
Lecturer
- Phillips Science Hall 153, Eau Claire | Directions
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Robert Hooper
Geology
Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 158, Eau Claire | Directions
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Phillip D. Ihinger
Geology | Public Health and Environmental Studies | Blugold Supercomputing Cluster
Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 161, Eau Claire | Directions
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Robert Lodge
Geology
Associate Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 151, Eau Claire | Directions
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J. Brian Mahoney
Geology | Public Health and Environmental Studies
Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 149, Eau Claire | Directions
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Vince Matthews
Geology
Visiting Assistant Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 114, Eau Claire | Directions
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Lorilie Steinke
Geology
Academic Department Associate of Geology
- Phillips Science Hall 157, Eau Claire | Directions
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Kent Syverson
Geology | Foundation
Professor | Development Officer
- Phillips Science Hall 145, Eau Claire | Directions
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Jessica Till
Geology
Lecturer
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Dr. Sarah A Vitale, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Geology
Assistant Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 157, Eau Claire | Directions
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Emeriti faculty
- Karen Havholm
- Paul Myers
- Lori Snyder
- John Tinker, Jr.