(from Marine Science Careers)

B.A., Earth Science, Kean Univ.
M.S., Geology, Lehigh Univ.
Ph.D., Oceanography, Univ. of Rhode Island

Current job: Program Officer, Ocean Studies Board, National Research Council, The National Academies

Past job: I was an assistant professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of New Orleans in Louisiana. My title was “geoscience educator.” In this role, I worked with pre-service and in service teachers who were interested in teaching science, especially earth science. This was a position that I find personally satisfying as I feel that I was making a difference in the education of future generations of scientists.

I am also active in research. My research involves the examination of particles that fall to the seafloor through the ocean. Mainly, I focus my research in the Canadian Arctic, an area influenced by both the oceans as well as by icebergs that originate on land.

Key factor: I find my present work as an educator to be very challenging. I come from a family of teachers. My father was a college professor and my mother was a junior high school teacher. I was raised with the idea that education is very important. When given the opportunity to make a difference in preparing teachers, it was a challenge that I could not turn down.

Like most: I like the opportunity oceanography has given me to meet and work with scientists from many parts of the world. I especially like having the opportunity to visit them in their homes and learn about their culture and customs. like least: Scientific research requires money. To be an active participant, one must be able to raise funds. That is often very difficult. Part of the process of raising funds requires the review of your proposals by anonymous colleagues. They can at times be unkind, making this part of being a scientist frustrating.

Relax: I like to exercise, especially lifting weights. I like to go on long walks with friends and family. And I like to read. But mostly, I enjoy being in the company of people I love, especially my wife, Carol.

Heroes/heroines: My main hero is my father. He is an African American who went on to be a scientist at a time when that was a difficult thing to do. He never attained his doctoral degree, but he instilled in me a desire to learn and to question.

Advice: Never be afraid to ask questions, never be afraid to learn, and read, read, read. There are many opportunities opening up for young people in marine science. Find out about them, and don’t be afraid. We are here to help you.

Career opportunities: There are presently not many openings in academia. However, within industry, the job market has improved. The petroleum industry has been hiring more young people with degrees in marine science, as have environmental and engineering firms.

10 years: I hope to be working closely with teachers. I hope to be an educator until I retire.