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

Judy Andrews, PG

WSP, Inc.

Term: 2022-2024

Burman

Sandeep Burman, PhD

Minnesota Department of Health

Term: 2023-2025

John Carlson

Jon Carlson, PG, MS

Braun Intertec

Term: 2023-2025

Tim Cowdery- Advisory Board Member

Tim Cowdery, MS

U.S. Geological Survey

Term: 2023-2025

Megan Kelly

Megan Kelly, PhD

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Term: 2022-2024

Michelle LaGarde

Michelle LaGarde, MS

Braun Intertec

Term: 2022-2024

Chuck Mosher- Advisory Board Member

Chuck Mosher, PhD

ConocoPhillips (retired)

Term: 2023-2025

Shanna Schmitt

Shanna Schmitt, PG, CPG

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Term: 2023-2025

Ben Sheets Headshot

Ben Sheets, PhD

Barr Engineering

Term: 2024-2027

Hong Spores

Hong Spores, MBA

HDR, Inc.

Term: 2022-2024

Jon Tortomasi, Advisory Board Member

Jon Tortomasi, BS

Advisory Board Chair

Jacobs

Term: 2022-2024

Triplett headshot

Laura Triplett, PhD

Gustavus Adolphus College

Term: 2023-2025

Vall headshot

Kathryn Vall, MS

Mineralogic LLC

Term: 2023-2025