2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENT
D. Mark Jones (MS 2000)
I’ve been with the Ohio Geological Survey for a total of 17 years, having started as an intern while still in school. While enrolled at Cleveland State University, I attended Kent State as an undergraduate visiting student. I also attended KSU’s field camp as an undergrad and attended KSU full-time as a graduate assistant in the MS program, and I graduated with an MS in Geology in 2000.
Relocating to Columbus, Ohio, I worked in environmental consulting, eventually becoming employed with Metcalf & Eddy (now AECOM). Employed as a subcontractor to FEMA and US EPA, I provided technical expertise and assistance following natural disasters and the World Trade Center attack and did geologic mapping in the Central Valley of California. I returned to the Ohio Geological Survey in 2008 as a geologist studying Lake Erie (limnology, sedimentology, erosion, and salt mining). In 2013 I took over as manager of the Survey’s core repository and added core archival and preservation as a career focus. I’ve also been studying thin-skinned tectonics as evidenced by Devonian and Mississippian rocks in Ohio, continuing an interest related to my MS thesis.
I became State Geologist and Chief of the Survey in 2021. I’ve made digital preservation of and access to the core repository one of my key interests, as well as advancing Ohio’s geoheritage and geotourism.
KSU was indispensable to me, providing a lifeline to complete my undergraduate degree. Based on that short experience, I was impressed enough with the program and the professors to enroll in the graduate program, and I’ve always been proud to call myself an alumnus of Kent State.
2022 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENT
Joseph Hannibal (MS 1980, PhD 1990)
I came to geology late, taking my first course at Cuyahoga Community College at night while employed as a librarian (having earned an Anthropology Degree and a Master of Library Science degree at KSU). The night-course was an eye-opener, rekindling an interest I had in geology as a kid after finding fossils in my yard, including bones of a Dunkleosteus. Eventually I ended up back at Kent State to earn a master's and Ph.D. in the Department of Geology. I spent almost 40 years working for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. I was responsible for the invertebrate paleontology collection; worked on several exhibits; wrote, cowrote, edited, and coedited a variety of technical and non-technical publications; and ran geologically oriented public outreach activities. I am currently the museum’s emeritus curator. The courses I took in geology at KSU were excellent, the field trips were inspiring, and the research opportunities amazing. I’m grateful for my experiences at Kent State which have greatly influenced just about everything I have done academically.
2021 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENT
Nancy Ritter Zolidis (BA 1970)
Fifty-five years ago this month, I sat down in a large lecture hall to learn Physical Geology from Mr. Glen Frank. It was the start of my career journey. I was inspired by Mr. Frank’s enthusiasm and passion and so continued with Historical Geology taught by Dr. Feldman and Dr. Miller (lab) which confirmed my decision. I was hooked on geology as a major. In those days, a woman geologist was a rarity and in a few classes I was the only woman. I am grateful for the support that I received from the geology faculty, colleagues and family.
During those four years, positive experiences too many to name here, included opportunities to do research in Dr. Feldman’s lab, Dr. Heimlich’s memorable field trips, field camp (watching the 1969 moon landings from Sturgis, SD), lunchtime discussions to explore evidence of the latest theories such as Plate Tectonics, and, after the Cuyahoga River caught on fire in the summer of 1969, an impromptu discussion session on environmental issues hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Frank at their home. All of these experiences were valuable stepping stones as I pursued a MS degree in Water Resources Management and a PhD degree in Land Resources at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Although my career got off to a slow start as I played the supporting role to my husband’s military career until 1977, I was able to enjoy more than twenty years as a consulting hydrogeologist and a college lecturer.
As a registered geologist and hydrologist in Wisconsin, my background in geology, hydrology, environmental studies, and computer modeling was used to work for mainly engineering consulting firms on a variety of interdisciplinary projects from 1985 to 2009. Remedial site field and computer investigations, water supply analyses, wetland hydrology studies, landfill impact analyses and groundwater recharge mitigation were a few of the interdisciplinary projects performed.
My teaching experience from 1982 – 2017 included instructing physical geography labs (1982 – 84), teaching several geology courses at the University of Southern Maine (1988 – 89), co-directing the ‘Water Resources Management Graduate Practicum and Workshop’ at the UW – Madison (1990), teaching ‘How to Build an Eco-Economy’ at Upper Iowa University (2003 – 2009), and developing a non-credit course ‘The Geology of Janesville Parks’, celebrating its Geoheritage (2017).
I was active with Engineers Without Borders at the UW – Madison and in 2009 formed the chapter, EWB – Madison Area Professionals, to provide mentors for the students working on various EWB projects. In 2014, I traveled as a mentor to Tabuga, Ecuador with five students to research a water distribution system for the village. Additionally, I served as chairpersons of the Janesville Plan Commission and the Janesville Boys and Girls Club Board. Awards received as a senior at Kent included one from the Northern Ohio Geological Society and a ‘Senior Activity Award’ for contributions to the university. Others included a Certificate of Outstanding Community Service at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky (1977), the Meritorious Service Award from Green – Rock Audubon Society and the National Audubon Society (1994) and the Jeremiah Milbank Society Honorarium (2013 & 2014) for contributions to the Janesville Boys and Girls Club.
2020 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENT
Jessica Maisano (BA 1994)
I came for the fashion, but stayed for the geology. Rather than pursue my childhood dream of becoming a paleontologist, I chose fashion merchandising as my major because it was practical, and Kent has a great fashion school. I was also in the Honors College, and took an honors course with Dr. Don Palmer my junior year. Dr. Palmer was so kind and encouraging that I decided to follow my heart and changed my major to geology at the beginning of my senior year, and thus discovered what a wonderful geology department Kent has! Between Drs. Palmer, Rod Feldmann and Alison Smith, I enjoyed tremendous mentoring, employment (washing ostracods in Dr. Smith's lab), and the experience of completing an Honors thesis with Dr. Feldmann that resulted in a publication and my becoming KSU's first NCHC Portz Scholar. The holistic, unwavering support I received from the geology department and the Honors College paved the way for success in graduate school at Yale and employment at The University of Texas....as a paleontologist! I run a high-resolution X-ray CT scanner to help researchers from around the world nondestructively 'look inside' everything from Apollo moon rocks to Stradivarius violins to Lucy. I learn something new every day, and my experiences at Kent made it possible.