Letter from the Department Head The longer I sit in the Department’s Chair, the more I’ve come to appreciate all the living and moving parts that make up our Department. From my viewpoint amidst the ad min, teaching mineralogy, petrology, and other courses on the hard-rock side (now being recast with critical minerals at the center), and my engagement with all my friends, students, and colleagues, the Department is as creative and productive as ever. 4 | The Upper Crust
I don’t know what I’d do without our fabulous staff who just get things done: Kate Cosgrove managing all of our budget matters; Sarah Hammer keeping our labs running and doing many other things to help keep the faculty focused on their work; Mike Menard keeping our hardware, instruments, vehicles, and all the other wheels and gears running smoothly; and Krista Smilek guiding our students and their courses, finances, and decision-making, and
