
Geology and Environmental Science Faculty and Staff
The difference is the people
When our graduates talk about their experiences at UW-Eau Claire, they have lots to say about their studies—the classes, the unparalleled field-based curriculum, the collaborative research. But what every Blugold comes back to as the single most significant factor on their education here is the people, the expert faculty who guided them through the program, supporting not only their studies but their entire student experience.
The department of geology and environmental science faculty members are all experts in their fields and go above and beyond in their fostering of undergraduate research. With a diversity of specialties from structural geology to geochemistry, or hydrogeology to mineralogy, Blugold students have simply the best instructors and research mentors in the business.

-
Scott K. Clark
Geology and Environmental Science | Liberal Studies
Department Chair | Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 154, Eau Claire | Directions
- View full profile
-
Tadesse Alemu
Geology and Environmental Science
Assistant Professor
-
Liza Bednarek Wernicke
Geology and Environmental Science
Visit Assistant Professor/Lecturer
-
Robert Hooper
Geology and Environmental Science
Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 158, Eau Claire | Directions
- View full profile
-
Phillip D. Ihinger
Geology and Environmental Science | Public Health and Environmental Studies
Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 161, Eau Claire | Directions
- View full profile
-
Robert Lodge
Geology and Environmental Science
Associate Professor
My research is focused on Precambrian metallogeny and magmatic-hydrothermal systems. I specialize in mineralizing volcanic environments and reconstructing tectonic/magmatic settings to better assess regional- and property-scale mineral potential. My students and I have conducted field- and lab-based studies on volcanogenic massive sulfide, komatiite-hosted Ni-Cu, and syenite-associated Au deposits.
- Phillips Science Hall 151, Eau Claire | Directions
- View full profile
-
Lorilie Steinke
Geology and Environmental Science
Academic Department Associate of Geology
- Phillips Science Hall 157, Eau Claire | Directions
- View full profile
-
Kent Syverson
Geology and Environmental Science | Foundation
Professor | Development Officer
- Phillips Science Hall 145, Eau Claire | Directions
- View full profile
-
Dr. Sarah A Vitale, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Geology and Environmental Science
Associate Professor
- Phillips Science Hall 155, Eau Claire | Directions
- View full profile
Emeriti faculty
- Karen Havholm
- Paul Myers
- Lori Snyder
- John Tinker, Jr.