Department of Earth Science

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Paul Nickles (M.S. 1997) is a Senior Hydrogeologist at URS Corporation in Chicago.  His work involves applied groundwater flow and transport modeling using one, two, and three-dimensional analytical and numerical modeling.  He also works with remediation design and optimization modeling, and is involved with DNAPL/LNAPL free phase hydrocarbon modeling. Other work on any day at URS might be hydraulic aquifer testing and analysis or mentoring junior staff on field techniques. On a personal note, Paul enjoys riding his 2003 100th anniversary Harley Davidson in charity events and any place else where rock outcrops and scenic highways can be found.  By the way, he's always looking for other "sane" bikers to ride with.  He says, "Send me an email and let's hit the highway!"  Write him at Paul_Nickles at URSCorp.com (Updated 6/15/05)

Liz Rachman Uchison (M.S. 2003) is a hydrogeologist at The Riley Group, Inc., in Seattle, Washington. She also is a licensed Geologist/Hydrogeologist (L.G., L.H.G.) in Illinois and Washington. Her
work mainly involves conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and compliance reviews; designing and performing Phase II Subsurface Site Investigations; remediation oversight; CAD drawing; and
associated proposal, report writing, and consulting. She recently traveled to Alaska, near the Bering Sea, to conduct a Phase I ESA of a fish processing plant. She has also traveled the contiguous U.S. extensively for work and is familiar with regulations in several states across the country. You can email Liz at lizard0602 at att.net. (Updated 3/20/05).

Michael Bryant  (B.S. 2004) is an Environmental Specialist at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  He works out of disaster field offices to ensure that before FEMA issues any funding the project will comply with all environmental laws, executive orders, and the National Environmental Policy Act.  He also provides counsel to the Regional Director and senior management on environmental concerns, and guides contractors in environmental analysis to ensure that environmental consequences are considered before any decisions are made.  He writes, "my skills attained in maps, geotech, hydro, and soil science allow me to be a productive reviewer for FEMA policies and guidelines."    He says current Earth Science students looking to start their careers should be aware that FEMA is always looking for new recruits, and apparently they offers lots of travel.  Between work, school, and fun, in the past year, Mike has traveled to Greece, Belize, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Baraboo and Madison, Wisconsin.  In September 2004 he married Kristy Peterson, and says his life has changed forever!  Mike is at Michael.Bryant at dhs.gov. (Updated 10/23/04)

Killian Walsh (M.S. 2002) worked for 10 years as an urban geologist, both as an independent contractor and for the City of Chicago.  She handled projects that enforced environmental due diligence at urban industrial and commercial sites.  Killian was the lead enforcement agent for Chicago landfills for the IEPA and the City.  One of her projects as a contract geologist included the delineation of the bedrock below Lake Michigan, which meant working on a drilling rig that was set up several miles out in the lake.  Killian remains active in geology as the Treasurer of the local section of the Association of Engineering Geologists.  However, her work with urban land and property issues has just taken on a new dimension: she now sells residential and commerical property.  Currently she is producing a Cable Access television show that gives viewers information about the processes of buying and selling real estate.  This show does not discuss properties for sale, but rather, provides news and current legal information, making it a one-of-a-kind show in Chicago.  Killian can be reached at killian.walsh at century21.com. (Updated 7/08/04)

Dan Bulger (M.S. 2002) writes, "An old high school flame has redirected me away from my intended PhD program that I was to start Fall 2004 at Northern Illinois University.  Currently I am looking at PhD programs at Georgia State and Georgia Tech. I hope to start my new program either this fall or spring semester. My long term goal is to teach secondary science methods classes and geology at the college level. I can be reached via email at dbulger at mail.com ."  (Updated 6/24/04).

Kimberly Berends Janson (M.S. 2002) is a Project Manager at Mostardi Platt Environmental in Oak Brook, Illinois.  She is also a licensed Professional Geologist (P.G) in Illinois. Her work mainly involves conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, designing and performing Phase II Subsurface Site Investigations (soil and groundwater), remediation coordination and oversite, groundwater modeling, and report writing in addition to some compliance and permitting projects. She has worked with various state agencies throughout the U.S. to assist clients in cleanup programs and in obtaining successful closure of remedial sites. Kim can be reached at KJanson at mostardiplattenv.com .  (Updated 6/22/04).

Gail Davis Feldkamp (M.S. 1990) is teaching science for grades 5-8 at Appleton Christian School in Appleton, Wisconsin, where she moved in 2000.  She earned a law degree at Arizona State University in 1999, and clerked for the Arizona presiding juvenile court judge.  Gail has three children: Arthur (22), who is married and has three kids; Sara (21), who is in the Air Force, currently stationed in in the Azores; and Max (12), who is going into eighth grade and plays piano and golf.  (Updated 6/03/04).

Emalee Gersch Doyle (M.S. 2004): "I am currently working at Roux Associates with NEIU Earth Science alumnus Steve Lombardo.  I am a Professional Geologist (P.G.) registered with the State of Illinois.  I hope to teach some geology or earth science classes.  I am married to another Earth Science alumnus, Phil Doyle. [Hey, Phil, how about telling us what you're up to?  --Ed.]  And my most important job is being a mom."  You can reach Emalee at edoyle at rouxinc.com .  (Updated 6/02/04).

Christy Barry (M.S. 2003) writes: "I work for Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc. in Oak Brook, Illinois with the title of Geologist in the Environmental Division.  I currently coordinate ambient air monitoring activities during site remediation activities conducted in accordance with Illinois Tiered Approach to Corrective Action Objectives (TACO) and Site Remediation Program regulations; prepare formal human health risk assessments for risk-based closure of sites according TACO Tier 3 guidelines; and supervise analytical data review and validation activities for the division."  Christy can be reached at cbarry at burnsmcd.com .  (Updated 5/12/04).

Chad Solomon (B.S. 1999) writes: "After NEIU, I earned a  Masters of Education from National Louis University.  I began teaching physics in 2000 with another NEIU alum, Mike Gallo, at Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago.  Since 2001 I have been teaching environmental science to gifted students and developing a upperclassmen level earth science curriuclum.  I am finishing the National Professional Teaching Master Teaching certificate.  I am also always looking for ES field trips appropriate for high school seniors.  Please reach me at chadsolomon at yahoo.com".  (Updated 3/29/04).

Paul Sponaugle (B.S. 2003) is a geologist at Burns & McDonnell in Oak Brook, Illinois.  He is involved in projects doing air monitoring at MGP remediation sites and in site investigation work.  He also is working on his M.S. in Earth Science at NEIU.  Paul can be reached at psponaugle at burnsmcd.com.  (Updated 3/16/04).

Jason Meshberg (B.S. 2003) is Project Manager and Field Supervisor for Shabica & Associates, Inc., Northfield, IL.  Most of his time is spent on client contact, permitting, construction documents, design input, and construction observation services.  He writes, "I have also spearheaded a wetland mitigation, and helped with a few grants with focus on reduction of non-point source pollution in the Great Lakes.  I live in Lyons, IL with my wife, Kristen and we are expecting our first child, a daughter by all indications, in April.  I have been competitively bike racing on track, road, and mud for 6 years."  Jason can be reached at jkmesh at hotmail.com. (Updated 12/22/03).

Ann Holda Wiewel (B.S. Earth Science/Sec Ed 1978) is currently an at home mom looking for a high school Earth Science position.  She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching Geology from Michigan State University in 1987.  She lives in Arlington Heights with her husband, Jeff, a computer programmer/analyst, and her 8 year old son Matthew.   Ann would like to organize a reunion party for everyone who went on Geology field trips from 1975 through 1977.  She can be reached at afhwiewel at yahoo.com. (Updated 12/13/03).

Raul Valdivia (M.S. 1995) is Chief Engineer for the City of Chicago Department of Environment.  He is in charge of underground and above ground storage tanks for the City of Chicago.  He works on projects involving environmental site assessments and remediation projects.  Prior to his current position, he worked for a private consulting company.  His original degree is in mining engineering from the University of San Cristobal, Huamanga, Peru.  At present he is working on a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering.  Raul can be reached at RValdivia at cityofchicago.org. (Updated 12/02/03).

Chris Matej (B.S. 1986) is the R&D Manager and ISO 9001:2000 coordinator at Engineered Ceramics, Gilberts, IL.  Chris is responsible for ceramic new product development activities and improving existing alumina, mullite and silica product lines.  His ISO quality duties include raw material supplier audits which recently took him to a suppliers kaolin clay mining operation in southwest Georgia.  Chris and his wife Elyse have three children, Danielle 12, Nicole 9 and Michael 7.  You can reach Chris at cmatej at selee.com   (Updated 10/23/03).

Margarita Ianeva (B.S. 2002) is a Geologist at URS Corporation, and environmental consulting company in Chicago.  Aside from continuing her academic work as a graduate student at NEIU, she is presently working on projects involving process sewers at a major steel-producing plant, ground water modeling using MODFLOW at a large industrial site in the East Saint Louis area, and doing ground water sampling and monitoring.  She can be reached at Margarita_Ianeva at urscorp.com(Updated 9/17/03).

Kevin Goldman (B.S. 2001)  writes "Two years and counting.  My M.S. [at Arizona State] is taking longer than I wanted, but with luck, I will graduate between May and August 2004.  After that, I plan to find the first available job that catches my interest, probably  back in Chicago, but I am willing to go wherever the road leads.  Regardless of the next step, I will always be thankful to the professors at NEIU for helping me down the road to my B.S."  Kevin can be reached at kevalang at yahoo.com(Updated 08/26/03).

Sheri Janowski (B.S. 2002) is Engineering Geologist/Project Coordinator at Wang Engineering, Inc.  Sheri also is a student in our M.S. program in Earth Science.  She can be reached at sjanowski at excite.com. (Updated 3/27/03)

Andrew Benziger (M.S. 2000) is working as a geologist in the Hydrology and Hydraulics branch of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).  His main responsibilities include coastal engineering, monitoring beach accretion/erosion, and performing coastal studies.  His duties also include the inspection of shore protection structures along the shore of Lake Michigan. Additionally, he has provided support to the Geotechnical Section with armor stone quarry inspections. During the month of June, 2002 Andrew worked in West Virginia as part of the USACE mission providing relief to flood victims. Andrew is currently a member of a design team working on a small boat harbor project for the city of Whiting, Indiana.  He tells us that he has been married to his wife, Angela, since 1982 and has two wonderful children; Alexander (12) and Hope (7).  He can be reached at Andrew.R.Benziger at usace.army.mil. (Updated 3/27/03)

Roger Beck (M.S. 2002) is Project Manager/Geologist at ThermoRetec in Skokie. His work involves site investigation and characterizations, soil and ground water sampling, and site remediation.  Roger can be reached at RBeck@retec.com . (Updated 10/16/02)

Yvette Shiu (B.S. 2001) is working part time and attending the Master's Program at NEIU. She is also in the Illinois Army National Guard with 7 yrs left to retirement. (Updated 10/16/02)

Nahid Abedinpour Brown (M.S. 1992) is a registered Professional Geologist (PG) and a Senior Project Manager at Continental Placer Inc. in Glen Ellyn.  She is a registered geologist in Illinois and Missouri, and she has diverse experience working for various types of environmental consulting firms for the last 13 years.  The majority of the projects that she has worked on are related to land pollution prevention.  Two years ago she decided to learn about the Clean Air Act.  With this expansion of her skills, she presently works on projects that are multi-disciplinary.  Nahid can be reached at nbrown@continentalplacer.com . (Updated 08/27/02)

Tricia Feeley (M.S. 1997) is Interim Department Manager at Environmental Design International, Incorporated (EDI).   EDI is a woman- and minority-owned consulting firm in downtown Chicago.  They have government and private contracts, and do Phase I and Phase II site assessments, sampling, remediation, and some USEPA work.  Tricia works part time and spends time with her two children, 4-year-old Megan and 1-year-old Matthew. (Updated 05/15/02)

Steve Lombardo (M.S. 1991)  is a Senior Hydrogeologist at Roux Associates in Oak Brook.  The company is headquartered in Long Island, NY, and has about 175 professionals in six offices.  (Updated 05/15/02)

John Noyes (M.S. 1999) John Noyes and two partners have started up a new environmental field service company called CABENO Environmental Field Services, LLC.  CABENO has a large track mounted Geoprobe, a cone penetrometer, fuel fluorescence detector, and the ability to conduct pneumatic slug testing through the Geoprobe rods (as seen at the June 2002 Midwest Geoscience Workshop at Amhurst).  Pneumatic slug testing through the Geoprobe rods eliminates the need for expensive monitoring well placement just to collect hydraulic conductivity information.  In general, they offer site characterization services, asbestos inspection and oversight, post closure care of landfills (quarterly groundwater sampling, landfill gas system O&M, etc.), and remediation system O&M.  He writes that he has developed a strong entrepreneural spirit and is spending his free time developing new businesses that make lightweight aggregate and concrete from waste materials. He also is licensing a process that bails scrap tires and then encases them in concrete to create concrete blocks to use as road barriers, sound barriers, erosion control, and so on.  John and his wife Sue have two daughters: Kelsey, 6, and Jenna, 3.  John can be reached at jneil14@attbi.com . (Updated 05/09/02)

Mazin Enwiya (M.S. 1999) is a Remedial Project Manager (RPM) in U.S. EPA's Region V Superfund Division.  Mazin is a member of the AIPG, and is a registered Professional Geologist (PG) in Illinois and Tennessee.  He can be reached at enwiya.mazin@epa.gov. (Updated 05/08/02)

William Tong (M.S. 1988) is an Environmental Scientist at the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, in Chicago.  Since 1991, he has worked as a technical enforcement officer in the Water Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Branch, enforcing compliance with NPDES wastewater permits for industries and municipalities, as part of the federal Clean Water Act.  Since 1996, Bill has played autoharp as a member of The Earth Tones (http://wmktong.tripod.com/earthtones), a folk band made up of EPA employees.  Bill traveled to China in 1996 and visited 10 cities, including his father's home village in southern China, and he even substituted for the tour guide to describe the karst topography of Guilin while on the bus.  Click to see over 500 of his China trip photos.   Bill and his wife Wendy (B.S. Accounting, 1991) have a daughter, Cindy (born 1994) and a son, Dennis (born 1999). Since 1994, Bill has also taught part-time as adjunct faculty at the Oakton Community College - Skokie campus.  Click to see his teaching materials and handouts. You can reach Bill at tong.william@epa.gov. (Updated 05/13/02)

Sandy Kubillus (M.S. 1994) is Manager of Environmental Consulting at Integrated Lakes Management in Gurnee.  Sandy specializes in water quality and wetland work.  She is a licensed professional geologist in Illinois, is certified with the Society of Wetland Scientists and with the International Erosion Control Association, and is a Certified Hydrologist-in- Training with the American Institute of Hydrology.  Sandy became a certified lake manager through the North American Lakes Management Society, and is certified as an Isolated Wetland Specialist by the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission.  She is past president of the Illinois Lakes Management Association, and has taught several courses at Northeastern.  She also tells us that she now has three grandchildren!  E-mail: SandyKubillus@compuserve.com. (Updated 01/15/02)

Lawrence Boram (B.S. 1999) is a graduate student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY studying low-temperature aqueous geochemistry, specifically mineral dissolution and precipitation.  His research involves studying plagioclase feldspar dissolution in the presence of high-pressure CO2 in the laboratory to determine if carbonate mineral precipitation is possible.  He is employing Dickson-type gold bag rocking autoclaves at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a high-pressure, high-temperature atomic force microscope at the University of Wyoming.  His research should serve as a laboratory analog for large scale continental CO2 sequestration. Lawrence can be reached at boram@uwyo.edu. (Updated 12/21/01)

Christopher Wetteland (B.S. 1998)  Chris is a Technical Staff Member at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he works in Materials Science and Accelerator Physics.  His lab is a characterization lab, which uses energized particles for materials analysis.  He received his M.S. in Materials and Ceramics Engineering from Rutgers University in 2000, and is currently working on his Ph.D. in Geology at the University of New Mexico.  Chris wants to be sure that current Earth Science students know that "We do at times take students for internships."  He can be reached at Wetteland@lanl.gov or at http://www.lanl.gov/mst/ibml/index.shtml . (Updated 12/7/01)

Christopher I. Chalokwu, Ph.D. (M.S. 1980, B.S. 1978) Chris Chalokwu (M.S. 1980) is Vice President of Academic Affairs at St. Xavier University (3700 S. 103rd St., Chicago, IL).  Prior to this appointment, he held appointments as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Professor of Geology at The University of Tennessee at Martin, as the founding dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and a professor of physical science at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, and as full professor of geology at Auburn University.  He was awarded his doctorate in geology and geochemistry from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  Dr. Chalokwu was a U.S. Senior Fulbright Scholar at the University of Ghana, was a visiting professor at Middlebury College and Fourah Bay University, and has served as external examiner for the University of the Witwatesrand in Johannesburg.  Dr. Chalokwu is an internationally recognized scholar, the author of more than 80 research publications in leading journals such as the Journal of Petrology, Journal of Geology, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, and Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, and has received more than $3 million in competitive research grants.  He is currently an Editor for the international journal Africa Geoscience Review and an Associate Editor for the Geological Society of America Bulletin.  For more information, see http://www.sxu.edu/academ/chalokwu/. (Updated 12/4/01)

Ellin Beltz (M.S. 1996) has taught courses at the Morton Arboretum, Trinity Christian College, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Bentron Institute, and here at Northeastern  Illinois University, in addition to being Project Exploration's Junior Paleontology Program geologist (2000-2001) and a field teaching assistant to Paul Sereno, University of Chicago (2001).  In addition to teaching, she has written a monthly column for the Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society from 1985 to the present.  Her major publications include "Frogs of the Chicago Region" (originally a Shedd Aquarium Guidebook), "Care-in-Captivity of Reptiles and Amphibians"  for the Chicago Herpetological Society, a rangewide survey of distribution of Sistrurus catenatus catenatusfor the state of Illinois, and her 16-year resesearch effort, the translations of the scientific names and original descriptions of the amphibians and reptiles of North America,  which has been linked through DMOZ, AmphibiaWeb, Catalog of North American Herpetology and many other prominent herpetological sites. Ellin photographed and transcribed the 1902 Chicago Folio an atlas of early topographic maps written by William Alden and wrote Chicago's First Families - Local Life until about 400 million years ago for Project Exploration.  Since moving to Ferndale, California in June of 2001, Ellin has been involved with the Ferndale Repertory Theater, local scout groups, and the Ferndale Garden Club.  She enjoys living in a slower paced, quieter and more geologically active area of the U.S.  Ellin's other interests include photography, writing html, technical rock climbing, and reading early explorers' accounts of their encounters with North America unspoiled. Ellin can be reached at  ebeltz@ebeltz.net and http://ebeltz.net/ . (Updated 5/14/02)

Steven D. Sroka (M.S. 1984)  Steven D. Sroka (M.S. 1984) is Park Manager of the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum in Vernal, Utah. He is responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, directing and/or supervising and coordinating activities of the day-to-day operations of the Museum.  He earned his Ph.D. in Paleontology (Dept. of Geology) at the University of Illinois/Urbana in 1996.  Steve is married and has three children: a girl, age 11, and two boys, ages 5.5 and 4.  He can be reached at the museum at 235 E. Main, Vernal UT 84078 435-789-3799. (Updated 6/29/00)

Can't find the name you're looking for?  Carmel, Steve, Chad, Shari, Will, Phil, and Ricky: It's been so long since we heard from you that we've lost track of what you're doing.  Would you send us a message and let us know what you're up to?  And that goes for any other alumni reading this message too! 

© 2005 Earth Science Department, Northeastern Illinois University.
Last updated July 21, 2005.