Department News

After 22 years of service, Beatriz Stephens retired as graduate secretary. The department held a widely attended retirement party for Beatriz on April 9, 2010, at the Callaway Building at the Botanical Gardens.

Beatriz - we will miss you!
Former Geology office staff members (L to R): April Myers, Patti Gary, Beatriz Stephens, and Pat Hancock.
Mike Roden and Mark Rich catch up at Beatriz' retirement party.
Beatriz Stephens and her husband, Thomas, with five of the graduate coordinators with whom she was worked in her 22 years (L to R): Paul Schroeder, Alberto Patiño Douce, Steve Holland, Mike Roden, Gilles Allard.

The newly formed UGA Geology Alumni Board held its first meeting on March 26-27, 2010. After meeting with administration, students, and faculty, the Board began work on helping the department with fund raising, student internships and promotion of the department to the administration.

Members of the UGA Geology Alumni Board. Back (left to right): Roger Sharpe, Jeff Reid, Jane Marshall, Mark Hall, Mac Duncan, Colleen Stapleton. Front (left to right): Andy Thomas, Gilles Allard.
Mack Duncan, Chris Fleisher, and Colleen Stapleton chat at the Alumni Board mixer.
Jim Wright and Andy Thomas having a laugh at the Alumni Board mixer.

Barbara Ruff


Barbara Ruff, a curator for the Department of Geology and the Georgia Museum of Natural History, a former instructor in Geology, and a specialist in zooarchaeology passed away this past fall after a long illness. Barbara majored in English at Bryn Mawr and switched to Geology at the University of Georgia where she graduated magna cum laude and went on to obtain a M.S. degree in vertebrate paleontology under Michael Voorhies. Following graduation she worked as a Research Assistant in several laboratories but especially with the Zooarchaeological Laboratory in collaboration with Dr. Elizabeth Reitz. Barbara was well known for her enthusiasm in securing animal specimens for this lab – such that all her cars carried dissecting tools in case an opportunity arose to secure a specimen while driving. Starting in 1982 and until she retired in 1999, Barbara was an Instructor in the Department of Geology where she taught historical geology courses. After retirement she continued to be associated with the Department of Geology as well as the Georgia Museum of Natural History as a curator and became dedicated to developing an appreciation of natural history in elementary and middle school students.

Geology Club

This year, the Geology Club at UGA grown from a social club to being the professional student organization of the Department of Geology, registered by UGA, and actively involved in campus life. Twelve student officers and club advisor Dr. Sally Walker have worked to revitalize and refocus the group.

The Geology Club’s new mission includes educating the public about geology, promoting the department, and supporting undergraduate student research. The club strives to bridge the gap between students and faculty, between academia and industry, in order to create a community of geoscientists. The club strongly emphasizes helping students join the geoscience workforce through networking and career preparation. The club promotes the Atlanta Geological Society, the Georgia Geological Society, the Georgia Museum of Natural History, the Geological Society of America, and is becoming a student chapter in the American Institute of Professional Geologists.

Alumni can be involved in mentoring, educational and outreach events, professional development, and in other ways. For more information e-mail geologyclubuga@gmail.com or visit the website under the Geology Department Alumni tab.

Geology Club members enjoying a personal museum tour from Fernbank Geologist Chris Bean.

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