More than 40 faculty, parents, friends and alumni donors from 11 states have made gifts to support experiential learning opportunities for geology students at the College of Charleston.
The Geology Alumni Endowed Award (GAEA) was established by a group of young geology alumni to fund undergraduate research with faculty, field studies and career development activities such as travel to professional conferences for current geology students. The endowed fund has grown to more than $350,000 and is one of the largest endowments in the School of Mathematics (SSM).
“This alumni-initiated endowment fund has surpassed the original goal of $300,000 in less than five years thanks to donations from geology alumni and other supporters who are inspired to help students conduct research with faculty, travel to professional conferences to present their work and network with future employers, and to offset costs related to study-away courses,” says Tim Callahan, professor and chair of the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences. “These three elements are what sets the College of Charleston apart from geoscience departments at other universities.”
The idea for the GAEA stemmed from the community of CofC geology alumni working in Houston and the informal social events they organized to stay in touch. The happy hours and get-togethers provided the group with the opportunity to reflect on their experiences at CofC.
“CofC’s geology department is beloved because the faculty have done an amazing job of creating a familial culture,” says Mike Passarello ’08, who works as an exploration geologist for ExxonMobil in Houston. “You really feel like you’ve found your tribe once you land in the department.
“The professors cultivate that by being accessible with open door policies and attending social gatherings with students,” he adds. “Because we don’t have a graduate research program, a professor’s attention is all on undergrads, and that’s unique. The research they’re doing leverages undergraduates, so you’re replicating what happens in graduate school.”
The geology alumni strongly valued their research with faculty as well as the field coursework that helped propel them in their professional careers. The group wanted to ensure that current students would have access to the same experiential learning opportunities. With the philanthropic support of their fellow geology alumni, Passarello established the GAEA with Karen Black ’10 and Emily Sekula ’05 in 2016. The late dean emeritus Mike Auerbach stepped in to award honorary GAEA recipients from the SSM Dean’s Excellence Fund while fundraising continued.
“Like Mike, I was more than happy to support the GAEA while fundraising was ongoing,” says Sebastian van Delden, who has served as SSM dean since 2018. “What this group of alumni set out to do and ultimately accomplished is unlike any other fundraising initiative at CofC. They’ve established a successful model of how alumni can make a real impact by working together.”
The first official GAEA recipient was selected in 2021: Kesli Kruzel ’22. Kruzel partnered with geology professor Vijay Vulava on an environmental geochemistry project researching water quality issues in Lowcountry waterways. The project involved a long-term collaboration with Charleston Waterkeeper and the tracking and reporting of coastal water conditions, which is critical work for the multimillion-dollar area fishery health and public recreation economic sectors.
Kruzel spent the summer collecting samples and analyzing the water quality in nearby stormwater ponds. This type of research involves both field work, which she loves, and time in the lab.
“We collected samples from stormwater ponds – including Colonial Lake, Alberta Sottile Long Lake and the lake at Magnolia Cemetery – and measured the levels of nutrients in the water,” says Kruzel, who is also minoring in urban studies and environmental and sustainability studies. “I have a better appreciation for the natural world and its functions, which I formerly took for granted. This research has also given me a clear view of the critical issues we face in terms of environmental degradation and climate change.”
Kruzel’s experience is exactly what the geology alumni wanted to ensure for students when they initiated the award.
“Kesli is a very intelligent, independent and hard-working student,” says Vulava. “These are qualities that will help her get the most out of her college experience and lay a solid foundation for her long-term goals.”
Geology alumni continue to explore more ways to give back to the department. In 2019, the Geology Board of Advocates was established to advise the geology chair and faculty. The volunteer-based advocacy board includes Passarello, Black, Morgan Annab ’13, Dan Boles ’04, Chris Itteilag ’08, Will Vesely ’16 and geology advocate and paleontologist Mace Brown. The board engages alumni through consistent communication on various platforms and facilitates social and educational activities throughout the annual fall and spring alumni weekends. The board is also working to bridge the gap between alumni and current students through mentoring and internship opportunities.
“When I was a student at CofC, I didn’t participate in an internship, but I wish I had,” says Black, a data analyst for Hewlett Packard Enterprise in Houston. “Lack of awareness and knowledge of how to obtain an internship are some reasons I didn’t take that opportunity. The goals of the board are to inform geology students about internship and research opportunities as well as participate in career panels to let students know the importance of internships and how to obtain them.”
Moving forward, the board will continue to partner with the geology department to identify areas of need and other philanthropic opportunities for alumni and friends.
“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, and we want to do more,” says Passarello. “I hope it inspires all alumni to consider how they can give back and make a difference for the next generation.”
