Faculty and Staff

Faculty

Robert A Hall

Department Head
Robert.Hall@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-1973
Office: NMI 320

B.S., University of New Brunswick
M.S., Queen’s University
Ph.D., Queen’s University
Liangping Li

Associate Professor
Liangping.Li@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 340

M.S., China University of Geoscience
Ph.D., Technical University of Valencia
Laurie C Anderson 

Vice President of Research

Laurie.Anderson@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2493
Office: Ascent Innovation Building 137

B.A., University of Minnesota-Morris
M.S., Bowling Green State University
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Webpage

Arden D Davis

Professor Emeritus 
Arden.Davis@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2527
Office: NMI 235
Edward F Duke

Professor
edward.duke@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2388
Office: NMI 113J

B.S. Beloit College
M.A., Ph.D., Dartmouth College
Research Webpage
James E Fox

Professor Emeritus
James.Fox@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2467
Office: PRL 135
Zhi Ye

Assistant Professor
Zhi.Ye@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 338

B.S., Yangtze University
D.Eng., China University of Petroleum
Ph.D., The University of Oklahoma
Research Webpage
Victoria M Karnes 

Instructor
victoria.karnes@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 324

B.S., South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
M.S., University of Arkansas
Kurt W Katzenstein 

Associate Professor
Kurt.Katzenstein@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2346
Office: NMI 342

B.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of Nevada – Reno
Sarah W Keenan 

Associate Professor
Sarah.Keenan@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-5163
Office: NMI 331 / PRL 111

B.S., University of St. Andrews
M.S., University of Bristol
Ph.D., University of Tennessee
Timothy L Masterlark 

Professor/Mickelson Professor
timothy.masterlark@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 334

B.S., University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
M.S., University of Wisconsin – Madison
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin – Madison
Roger L Nielsen 

Research Scientist IV
Roger.Nielsen@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 335

B.S., University of Arizona
M.S., University of Arizona
Ph.D., Southern Methodist University
Darrin C Pagnac 

Interim Director, Museum of Geology/Professor
Darrin.Pagnac@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2469
Office: NMI 331 / PRL 211

B.S., University of North Dakota
M.S., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Ph.D., University of California – Riverside
Colin J Paterson 

Professor Emeritus
colin.paterson@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 234

B.Sc., Ph.D., University of Otago, New Zealand
Chelsea L Pederson

Assistant Professor
chelsea.pederson@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 326

B.S., University of Miami
Ph.D., University of Miami
Christopher J Pellowski 

Coordinator/Instructor
christopher.pellowski@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2465
Office: NMI 337

B.S., Winona State University
M.S., Fort Hays State University
Ph.D., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Perry H Rahn 

Professor Emeritus
perry.rahn@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2527
Office: NMI 235

B.A., Lafayette College
B.S., Lafayette College
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
William M Roggenthen

Professor Emeritus
William.Roggenthen@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 234

B.S., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
M.S., University of Colorado
Ph.D., Princeton University
J. Foster Sawyer

Professor Emeritus
Foster.Sawyer@sdmst.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 233

B.S., Furman University
M.S., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Ph.D., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Gokce K Ustunisik 

Associate Professor
Gokce.Ustunisik@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 336

B.S., Ankara University
M.S., Ankara University
Ph.D., University of Cincinnati
Nuri Uzunlar 

Professor
Nuri.Uzunlar@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2494
Office: NMI 332

B.S., Black Sea University
Ph.D., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Trevor S Waldien 

Assistant Professor
Trevor.Waldien@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 328

B.S., Oregon State University
M.S., Ph.D., University of California - Davis
Samantha N Wright 

Samantha.Wright@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 219-8219
Office: PRL 213

B.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
M.S., East Tennessee State
Nathaniel S Fox 

Nathaniel.Fox@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2487
Office: PRL 114

B.S., University of Massachusetts, Amherst
M.S., East Tennessee State University
Ph.D., University of California, Merced

Darrah D Steffen

Darrah.Steffen@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-6155
Office: MOG 307

B.S., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
M.S., Fort Hays State University

Staff

Cleo J Heenan

Senior Secretary
Cleo.Heenan@sdsmt.edu
Phone: (605) 394-2461
Office: NMI 341

 

 

 


 
Emeritus Faculty

Phillip Bjork – Professor Emeritus of Paleontology
Arden Davis - Professor Emeritus of Geology & Geological Engineering 
James E. Fox - Professor Emeritus of Geology and Geological Engineering and Curator Emeritus of Invertebrate Paleontology for the Museum of Geology  
James Martin – Professor Emeritus of Geology 
Colin Paterson - Professor Emeritus of Geology and Geological Engineering 
Perry Rahn - Professor Emeritus of Geological Engineering 
Dr. William Roggenthen - Professor Emeritus of Geology and Geological Engineering
John Foster Sawyer - Professor Emeritus of Geology and Geological Engineering

Courtesy Adjunct Appointments (Faculty or Research Scientist)

Mark Anderson – Research Scientist, USGS
Dr. Rachel Benton - Faculty, Retired Park Paleontologist
Dr. Joshua Valder - Faculty, USGS

SD Mines GGE Graduate Students