Advisory Board
The department's Advisory Board is composed of geoscience professionals in the private sector, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. The Board provides critical input to help the department provide and anticipate the skills that undergraduate and graduate students need to optimize their opportunities for a wide range of non-academic careers.
Board member terms are three years (renewable). Current members are located in the upper Midwest and most are in the Twin Cities metro area. If you are a geoscience professional in the region -- or outside the region but willing to volunteer time and travel -- the department welcomes expressions of interest. Please contact the department head (via [email protected]) if you are potentially interested in joining the Advisory Board.
Current Advisory Board Members

Judy Andrews, PG
WSP, Inc.
Term: 2022-2024

Sandeep Burman, PhD
Minnesota Department of Health
Term: 2023-2025

Jon Carlson, PG, MS
Braun Intertec
Term: 2023-2025

Tim Cowdery, MS
U.S. Geological Survey
Term: 2023-2025

Megan Kelly, PhD
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Term: 2022-2024

Michelle LaGarde, MS
Braun Intertec
Term: 2022-2024

Chuck Mosher, PhD
ConocoPhillips (retired)
Term: 2023-2025

Shanna Schmitt, PG, CPG
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Term: 2023-2025

Ben Sheets, PhD
Barr Engineering
Term: 2024-2027

Hong Spores, MBA
HDR, Inc.
Term: 2022-2024

Jon Tortomasi, BS
Advisory Board Chair
Jacobs
Term: 2022-2024

Laura Triplett, PhD
Gustavus Adolphus College
Term: 2023-2025

Kathryn Vall, MS
Mineralogic LLC
Term: 2023-2025