The primary foci of my research are the paleobiology, paleoecology, taphonomy, and phylogeny of mollusks, particularly the Bivalvia. My work combines field research in both modern and ancient settings, museum studies, and laboratory analyses. Clades of particular interest are the Corbulidae (especially how the family's evolutionary history was influenced by major environmental, oceanographic, and climatic changes over the last 23 million years in tropical America) and the Lucinidae (a group that houses sulfur-oxidizing bacterial symbionts in their gills and that have a significant impact on sensitive coastal ecosystems such as seagrass meadows).
I received a B.A. (summa cum laude) in geology, biology, and music from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1985. My M.S. in geology is from Bowling Green State University (1987) where I held an Amoco Foundation Geology Fellowship. I pursued a Ph.D. in geology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a doctorate in 1991. While at Madison I received a Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Fellowship and a Shell Companies Foundation Fellowship. In 1991, I joined the faculty in the Department of Geology & Geophysics at Louisiana State University. While at LSU, I received the College of Basic Science Research Award, Dr. Henry V. Howe Distinguished Professorship, and the Harrison Family Field Camp Professorship. I also served as LSU Faculty Senate President and Chair of Geology & Geophysics. I came to SD Mines in 2011 to serve as Department Head for Geology & Geological Engineering and as Director of the Museum of Geology. I also served as Interim Head of Mining Engineering & Management in 2019-20.