ALUMNI NEWS NOTES
Class of 1981
Ed Cazier: I have spent the last four years working for TNK-BP, and living with my family in Moscow, Russia. Most of the projects have been in western Siberia, but for the past five months, I have been leading a team working on a heavy oil project in the Faja del Orinoco, in Venezuela. The prospects of either continued long trips away from home in Moscow to Caracas, Venezuela, or a return to weekly trips to western Siberia on 40-year old Soviet jets, convinced me that it was time to make a change, however. As a result, as of the beginning of June 2008, I will be working for Maersk Oil and Gas, and living in Copenhagen, Denmark. It seems a bit scary to be leaving BP, after almost 24 years with the same company, but I'm looking forward to joining a much smaller company, and to doing more with less. All the best to class of 1981, and Geology Field Camp 1980 - wherever you are. (submitted May 2008)
Summer of 1995 finds us in the middle of exciting times while living and working in Bogota, Colombia: lying low while the guerrillas and the government battle each other throughout the country and decide whether or not to talk about peace, senior politicians dropping like cord wood in drug scandals, my daughter graduating from kindergarten, my son mastering modeling with Play-doh, and my wife finishing her M.S. in environmental engineering. But then, we have lived here for three years now, and life has never been dull. We had a successful time exploring this year, having found over 1/2 billion barrels of oil and lots of gas for BP Exploration and the Colombian government with the Florena and Pauto discoveries. The geology of the area is fascinating: complex structures located in the thrust stack of the Eastern Cordillera foothills, abundant and punctuated molasse, and massive incised valley fill sandstone reservoirs. But enough of the technical jargon; here's hoping 1996 is the year Chief finally gets the Adirondacks figured out, and the year Roger Wiggin gets a job in Denver! (submitted '96)
Pam Tiezzi Darwin: My 5 year old daughter says she wants to be a geologist/ballet teacher/mother and that she intends to live with us forever. My 2 year old son's only interest in rocks is how far he can throw them. I continue to work at Exxon exploring for oil and gas. We enjoy living in Houston and see quite a bit of Leff ('80) and Robin ('82) Palmer and their kids. (submitted '96)
Brian Dutt: Geology Major proved inavulable in my career (submitted May 2008)
Amy Baldwin Gonzales: In 2002 I started an environmental consulting business with a friend. AK Environmental, LLC (A is for Amy, K is for Kelly) has grown significantly over the past 6 years including the addition of a subsidiary, AK Energy Services, managed by my husband, Edward. We are looking forward to continued success. In late December, my ex-husband, Joel Gove lost his life in a tragic accident. He was lost in a sulfer mine on the island of Saba. His body was not discovered until 11 months later. The entire story is one for the movies....Then in January 2007, we lost Charlie McClelland. Charlie and his family were (and are) very special to me. My daughter(Georgia Gove) turned 16 this year. She has handled the loss of her father amazingly well. She will be a famous actress someday, or so she says. Still living in New Jersey in a beautiful log home overlooking the Delaware River. (submitted May 2008)
Listening for rare species of frogs at midnight in S. Jersey. Counting trees in western PA. [Environmental consultants have to learn to do it all! Even if it has nothing to do with geology!] Visiting Pam and Barnes Darwin in Houston. Managing a group of ecologists, geologists, planners. Trying to make the business grow and keep the accountant off my back! Building up frequent flyer miles. Teaching my daughter to swim and to always check the water depth before diving! Becoming certified as a Wetland Scientist/Delineator. (submitted '96)
Michele Hluchy: Teaching geology and environmental science at Alfred University. (submitted '96)
Jon Kim: Defended my PhD on September 8 and expect to retire shortly. (submitted '96)
Drew Phillips: Illinois is not as flat as you think. At least in the subsurface. Dave Grimley and I have been mapping Quaternary deposits under the asphalt of East St. Louis and up its more hinterlands. Fun? Maybe. Keeps the family fed. At least as interesting are GIS analyses of stream dynamics across Illinois. Look for it in a journal near you.

The family has reached a plateau of 5, grownups included. The usual cacaphony. When the Vanagon is running we manage to get to distant points of the compass, including Newfoundland (OK, we flew that time) and the Gulf Coast, as well as more local habitats. (submitted July 2003)