Meet some of our geology majors.
Jessie Salinas
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Major: geology
What was your motivation to major in geology?
My primary motivation for majoring in geology is my interest in sustainability and geology. I have grown up surrounded by natural wonders and can’t imagine a world in the future without them. I feel called to work on finding solutions to the environmental crisis that our society faces so that future generations may also have the same privilege of experiencing the natural world.
Can you describe your working relationships with geology professors?
Geology professors are outstanding researchers in their respective fields and are passionate about what they do. They are very personable and listen to feedback from students to make sure that they are teaching their classes to the best of their ability. Professors are also happy to do research and talk during office hours!
I feel called to work on finding solutions to the environmental crisis that our society faces so that future generations may also have the same privilege of experiencing the natural world.
What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to shape these ambitions?
I have always had my mind set on obtaining a master's degree after I graduate from Oxy. My primary motivator was my mother, who always instilled in me the importance of pursuing a specialized degree. The liberal arts experience at Oxy has shaped my ambitions by enabling me to conduct research with professors and explore my academic interests further. This research experience will hopefully prepare me for graduate school and make me a more competitive applicant.
The liberal arts experience at Oxy has shaped my ambitions by enabling me to conduct research with professors and explore my academic interests further. This research experience will hopefully prepare me for graduate school and make me a more competitive applicant.
What is the “vibe” of the geology department?
The geology department is a very tight-knit community. The majors and professors are all familiar with one another. This allows students to learn directly from professors through small class settings and facilitates developing relationships with professors who share similar interests.
Mira Hart
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Major: geology Minor: religious studies
What was your motivation to major in geology?
I came to Oxy having no idea what I wanted to major in. After trying a number of classes in different departments, I decided to take introductory geology and loved it. The following semester, I enrolled in Earth: A Field Perspective and Evolution of Earth. These classes showed me how my passions for science and the outdoors could be combined into a single major, and I declared halfway through the semester. Every time I learn something new about our planet or build relationships with my peers in the department, I am thrilled I chose to major in geology.
Can you describe your working relationships with geology professors?
The geology professors are very accessible and want to connect with students. It is easy to meet with them to talk about geology or get advice in other areas. It is clear they are all passionate about teaching, and they bring that energy to class every day. My favorite class so far has been Earth: A Field Perspective with Assistant Professor of Geology Evan Dethier. I loved the tight-knit community we formed in this class and enjoyed getting out into the field and learning some super useful technical geology skills.
It is clear [the geology professors] are all passionate about teaching, and they bring that energy to class every day.
What do you find most compelling about studying geology?
I love the scale at which geology plays out—both physical size and timescale—and the innate familiarity we already have with the subject. When we talk about rivers or mountains in class, I can picture the rivers or mountains I have visited. For me, this makes geology feel so much more tangible. I am able to see the features we discuss in the real world, allowing me to understand them on a deeper level. Geology is such a visual science, and I appreciate the beautiful maps and landscapes I get to look at every day!
What is the “vibe” of the geology department?
The vibe of the geology department is very collaborative and enthusiastic. We learn a lot and are pushed to work hard, but we have tons of fun along the way. Everyone is super welcoming and friendly, so it is easy to make friends within and across class years.
Maya Porcelli
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Major: geology with a concentration in environmental science
What was your motivation to major in geology?
Before I came to college, I always thought I would be a humanities major. However, as I progressed through my college career, I found that geology is my true passion. Studying Earth history makes me feel like a little kid again; I am so excited to learn and discover new things when I am in a geology class.
Have you taken part in any student research opportunities at Oxy?
I work in Professor Darren Larsen’s Sedimentology and Paleoclimate Laboratory. I am so grateful to have recently been accepted into Occidental’s Science Scholars Program, where my research will be supported by the Undergraduate Research Center during the rest of my undergraduate career. My research focuses on how the Teton Glacier in Wyoming responded to a period of rapid climate change called the Younger Dryas. In this lab, I analyze sediment cores—specifically sediment grain size—from Delta Lake, which is situated downstream from the Teton Glacier, to understand changes in glacial extent.
What do you find most compelling about studying geology?
What makes me love geology is that there is so much rich Earth history hidden in seemingly mundane objects. There are incredible stories written in the landscape around us; we just need the right tools to figure them out.
My classmates and I tend to really bond when we go on field trips, especially during long hikes and dinners around the campfire.
What is the “vibe” of the geology department?
I am so grateful to be a part of Occidental’s geology department. We are a small, close-knit community that is very down-to-earth. I love that in every geology class I take, I already know everyone in that class; I am always surrounded by people that genuinely care for each other. My classmates and I tend to really bond when we go on field trips, especially during long hikes and dinners around the campfire. While most STEM fields seem very intimidating, I find that geology is very accessible. I never feel uncomfortable asking my professors for help during office hours or in front of the class.
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