Department of Geosciences Strengthens Alumni Connections Through Inaugural Summit

 Photo by Whit Pruitt.

The Department of Geosciences in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences knows that engaged alumni are invaluable to a program’s future. Through monetary and professional resources, these connections allow departments to thrive. This fall, the department demonstrated its commitment to maintaining these vital networks by hosting its inaugural Alumni Summit.

The summit, which was held October 24 through 26, brought together 85 participants from across the geosciences’ community, including 70 alumni with graduation dates spanning from 1968 to 2024. Attendees engaged in cutting-edge research presentations by alumni and faculty, participated in professional development sessions and strengthened connections through group activities.

Behind the summit’s success was the department’s External Advisory Board, chaired by alumnus Shane Matson.

“The spark of the Alumni Summit was to bring alumni back to campus and provide some insight into the sustained vibrancy of the department so many of us hold with such high regard,” Matson said. “With the leadership of Department Chair Jason Tullis, and the incredible support of the faculty and staff, the event came together seamlessly.”

Photo by Jason Tullis.

Established in 2006 by alumnus John Glenn Williams and former Department Chair Pamela Jansma, the 20-to-45-member External Advisory Board meets biannually to discuss departmental challenges and opportunities. The board has consistently been filled with alumni from across the generations, looking to give back when and however they can.

“My time on the U of A campus was incredible,” Matson said. “In fall 2025, my oldest son will begin his studies at the University of Arkansas and regardless of his academic pursuits it is my hope he finds himself surrounded by the same culture of kindness and success so many have experienced in a century and a half [with] U of A Geosciences.”

John Shaw, professor and vice chair of the department, shared his personal experience with the Advisory Board and their impact on his early career at the university.

Photo by John Shaw.

“I was called to an advisory board meeting in my first semester at the university, and they were all so excited to meet me and learn about my work,” Shaw said. “I was just kind of blown away by that.”

“Though the board has changed since then, they have always been a great support system, and we really feel like our alumni have our back,” Shaw added.

The department maintains these vital alumni connections through various annual events and online networks, including a research conference, an end-of-fall-semester chili cookoff and a spring geosciences’ banquet. These gatherings create meaningful connections between past and present members of the program while offering current students valuable networking opportunities with industry professionals.

Photo by Mary Webster.

One of the department’s key strengths lies in providing students with hands-on field experiences, a tradition that helps forge lasting bonds within the geosciences’ community.

“Collaboration is in the DNA of Geosciences,” Matson said. “We learn through observation and description, most often in the field.”

These field experiences not only provide students with practical knowledge but also help establish a community of geoscience scholars that endures long after graduation.

“I arrived at the U of A in 1997 as a 25-year-old student majoring in Geology,” Matson said. “What I found was a small department with faculty dedicated to the education and academic success of every student. There were field trips, pizza, department picnics and alumni visits that, in total, provided a real sense of community.”

The summit’s success in reconnecting alumni from different decades and regions has already generated significant interest in future events.

Photo by Mary Webster.

“The opportunities and connection created by the Geosciences External Advisory Board reflect a strong commitment to student success and community – one which we hope to infuse throughout other areas of Fulbright College as well,” said Brian E. Raines, dean of Fulbright College. “These engaged and amazing Geosciences alumni are doing amazing things to help the program and our students, and we are so grateful for their ongoing support and great example.”

About the Department of Geosciences: Drawing upon geography, geology, Earth science, geographic information science (GIScience), and other areas of the geosciences, the department offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as a Ph.D. in geosciences. Their research activities span the globe, encompassing physical and human systems as well as geospatial technologies.

Editor’s Note: Speaking of amazing Geosciences’ alumni, check out this bonus story about a Geosciences alumnus and instructor at Fayetteville High School whose bond with a beloved former professor is just incredible.