My Master's thesis from the University of Montana in 1964 dealt with the Precambrian Belt Supergroup in northwestern Montana. Undergraduate education was at the University of Southern California, culminating in 1960 with a B.S. degree in geology. Except for a brief stint as Dean of the Graduate School and Provost of the university, I have been teaching and conducting research since 1967. Although most of my teaching is now in the introductory geology area, I have taught historical geology, life in the geologic past, integrated science, investigating science, invertebrate paleontology, vertebrate paleontology, stratigraphy, field methods, field camp, geologic hazards, carbonate petrology and paleoecology, stratigraphic paleontology, micropaleontology, scanning electron microscopy, and numerous workshops for teachers. My research in invertebrate paleontology concerns the taxonomy, biostratigraphy, and paleoecology of Paleozoic bryozoans.
Bryozoans are small colonial organisms that live in marine waters all around the earth.
My particular interest is in bryozoans of the Carboniferous and Permian Periods. However, most of my research has been conducted in the western U.S., especially Nevada and Montana. I enjoy teaching geology and working with students in the paleontology lab as much as anything else I do. It's fun to go fishing at the local lakes or spend Christmas break on the big island of Hawaii, but I really look forward to the next group of students who challenge my knowledge and continuously help me learn something new about the earth.