Meet Josh
Teaching
I first decided that I wanted to be a geologist during a Brown University departmental field trip to the White Mountains, New Hampshire. It was my second week in Physical Geology, and although I was utterly lost and confused, I was captivated by the enthusiasm of the professor and his seemingly amazing ability to “read” the rocks in the field. Now as a professor myself, I try to convey that same enthusiasm and geologic curiosity to my students both in the classroom and on the outcrop. In the classroom, I strive to bring geology to life through hands-on activities and group discussions that encourage students to ask questions of me and each other. I believe that integrating these teaching styles with a standard lecture format creates an environment where students feel engaged and comfortable asking questions. Outside the classroom, I lead field trips as an essential tool to introduce students to field geology, to have them collect their own primary data and thereby create their own interpretations based on critical thinking and logical reasoning. In the field, I see my role as a guide (more than a repository of correct answers), helping students to reason their way to their own interpretations. Whether they go on to become earth scientists, journalists, or software engineers, the ability to think critically, to problem-solve, and to effectively convey their ideas are life-skills that extend beyond geology.
Mentoring and Outreach
I am particularly passionate about mentoring underserved students in the Los Angeles area. As part of several NSF-funded grants, I founded ‘LA ROCS’ (Research Opportunities for CSUN Students) outreach program.
The goals of this program are to
encourage aspiring CSUN geology undergraduate students, especially minorities and females, to pursue research projects with faculty mentors (including, but not limited to myself),
broaden students’ understanding of career and graduate school opportunities in the geosciences, and
create a sense of community among underserved students with the goal of increasing retention in geoscience.
In addition to meetings during the academic year, I also lead a summer GRE workshop to help with graduate school exam preparation. The ROCs program provides funding for outside speakers to visit CSUN and for undergraduate participants to attend and present their research at regional and national meetings (e.g., GSA, AGU). These meetings are an important venue for undergraduate students to be exposed to exciting research, and to meet prospective graduate school advisors. Visit the website www.larocs.org
Education
PhD, 2007, University of Wyoming
MS, 2003, Brown University
BA, 2000, Brown University
Recent Courses Taught at CSUN
Geology of Planet Earth (GEOL 101)
Geology Goes Hollywood (GEOL 107)
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (GEOL 307)
Advanced Igneous Petrology (GEOL 536)
Analytical Geochemistry (GEOL 553)
Seminar in Arc Dynamics (GEOL 595D