Faculty & Staff
Contact Nikki Elkins for more information about this trip.

Now Hiring 2011 Staff

GeoJourney is now accepting applications for the 2011 Summer and Fall field seasons. If you are intersted in beocoming a GeoJourney staff member Click Here

If you have any questions about becomng a staff member on GeoJourney or what positions are currently availible contact either nikki@geojourney.org or ian@geojourney.org.
Nikki at Logan's pass in Glacier National Park Nikki Elkins
 

Hi my name is Nikki Elkins.  I developed the GeoJourney program at Bowling Green State University when I moved to Bowling Green, OH in 2002.  I am the current director of GeoJourney.  I have spent 18 seasons in the field, teaching students from the University of Georgia and BGSU on GeoJourney.  I graduated in 1998 with a Bachelors degree in Anthropology and in 2002 with a Masters degree in Geology from the University of Georgia.  I teach courses on campus and in the field in geology, American culture studies, and environmental studies.

Outside of GeoJourney I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, trying new and unusual varieties of beer, and exploring places I’ve never been.   

For more information about GeoJourney contact me at Nikki@GeoJourney.org
Ryan Heney
 

Hi,
My name is Ryan Heney.  I am currently a senior working on my Exercise Science major and Food and Nutrition minor.  In 2007, I was a student of GeoJourney.  I was a staff member of GeoJourney in 2009 and will be the assistant cook for the 2010 summer trip.  I am also the president of Base Campus which is an on campus organization where past GeoJourney students get together to form a service and social group.  Base Campus also goes on week long and weekend camping trips throughout the year.  Most recently we went on a week long trip to Georgia this past spring break.

Some of my hobbies/interests include playing any sport, hiking sweet mountains on GeoJourney, watching Lost and Survivor, watching my Michigan Wolverines through good and bad times, traveling, photography, and cooking.
Brian on his way to the top of Half Dome Brian Hensien
 

My name is Brian Hensien and I graduated from BGSU in May of 2006, and have been doing freelance video production ever since. Some of my past clients include The Sylvania Historical Village, Jewish Family Services of Toledo, Generations Financial Group, various weddings and event videos, and BGSU's GeoJourney Program. GeoJourney was by far the best freelance experience ever!

I am currently seeking additional video projects to work on. You can check out some of my other work on Henchmedia.com

Thanks to GeoJourney I've been everywhere man!
Katie on the AT
Katie Kluesener
 

Hi, I’m Katie Kluesener.  I first experienced GeoJourney as a student in 2005 and was staff on the 2008 trip, assisting in the kitchen.  I am a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education.  I recently moved to Spring, Texas, where I completed my student teaching in the Houston area.  I have accepted a position for the 2009-2010 school year in the Aldine ISD.

While at BGSU, I held several officer positions in both BaseCampus and Colleges Against Cancer.  I was one of three chair persons for the campus’ first American Cancer Society Relay for Life event, hosted in the fall of 2008.   In addition to camping and hiking-type activities, I like to spend time studying child/family relationships, reading, enjoying the company of friends and family, playing various musical instruments and, when the weather is agreeable, boating and waterskiing.
Jessica at Glacier Point in Yosemite Jessica Lawrence
 
Hi my name is Jessica Lawrence, I am 25 years old and grew up in Gahanna, Ohio. I went to Ohio Wesleyan University for my Bachelor's degree in Geology and Bowling Green State University for my Master's Degree in Geology.

My passions are vertebrate paleontology and marine reptiles. My thesis was on the phylogeny of derived ichthyosaurs. While at BGSU I taught the Geol 105 and 215 labs. I was a swimmer for 14 years, including my time at Ohio Wesleyan. I have been on a high school trip to Alaska and was enrolled in BGSU's field camp in 2007 and was then a camp manager in 2008. I am currently an employee at PSI Engineering, doing an ODOT Rockfall Inventory, assessing the danger of rock outcrops to the road and those driving on it.
Hannah in Yellowstone National Park Hannah Martin
 

Hi my name is Hannah Martin. I went on GeoJourney in 2008 as the trips head cook. I also went on GeoJourney in 2005 as a student. I am currently attending Bowling Green State University pursuing a degree in History. My future plans are to attend culinary school and open my own restaurant.

I enjoy sharing my love of food with the world and with future GeoJourneyers. My hobbies include cooking (obviously), reading, playing with my adorable puppy, and anything having to do with the outdoors.
Chris Pepple on top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park Chris Pepple
 

Hi, my name is Chris Pepple, I am a recent graduated from Bowling Green State University, and I serve as a geology instructor for the university on the trip and on campus. I received bachelor degrees in integrated science education and geology, and I received my masters in geology. I was a part of the staff on the 2007 trip, and I am now an instructor teaching the geology component of the GeoJourney program.

Through my years I have enjoyed many of the opportunities that field studies has offered me on both the GeoJourney program as staff and instructor, and through the Department of Geology’s Field Camp program, where I served as a Camp Manager for two consecutive summers. I am currently interested in quartz experimental research, and I hope to pursue that further here at BGSU.

Kelly Reid at the Rainforest Cafe Kelly Reid
 
Hello, my name is Kelly and I was the sustainability chef for geojourney 2008. I am currently studying Environmental Science at Bowling Green State University, and I also attended Geojourney 2006 as a student. Geojourney has been the best experience of my life and I have met the most amazing people I have ever known. My aspirations after college are to attend University of Vermont for my masters and then pursue a career in the national park systems.

My hobbies include hiking, camping, traveling (especially on geojourney), frisbee, baking, and reading. Ultimatley I aspire to be involved with the United Nations in Japan as an environmental correspondent, and work on Geojourney forever.
Caitlin Rex
 

Hi, my name is Caitlin Rex. I was a student on GeoJourney in 2006 and have been a staff member on the University of Georgia Interdisciplinary Field Program, the program GeoJourney originated from, for the past two summers. I recently graduated from BGSU in May of 2009 with a Bachelors degree in Biology. After cooking on GeoJourney this summer I am planning on taking a year off from school before attending grad school. During my time off I am hoping to go canyoneering in Utah and to travel around New Zealand and Australia while volunteering to work on organic farms.

In my spare time I enjoy doing anything outdoors, particularly backpacking, hiking, caving, biking and rappelling. I also enjoy reading a good book, learning anything science related or anything in general, traveling, cooking and hanging out with friends.
Ian Rodgers
 

Hi my name is Ian Rodgers, I was a student on GeoJourney in 2004 and have been a staff member since 2007.  I graduated in 2008 with a degree in Outdoor Recreation and a minor in Geology from Bowling Green State University. I am certified as a Wilderness EMT-B and act as the Assistant Director of GeoJourney.

I am currently pursuing a Masters of Education here at Bowling Green State University. Last spring I was hired as Wilderness Medicine Instructor for SOLO schools to teach Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness Advanced First Aid certification courses.

My hobbies include SCUBA diving, rock climbing, backpacking, rappelling, skiing, and Mt biking.  I also enjoy continuing to be an active part of BaseCampus, hanging out with good friends, sitting atop Angels Landing in Zion NP and of course working on GeoJourney. 
Jim Whitney
 

Hi. My name is Jim Whitney. I started the University of Georgia Summer Field Program which is the ancestor of Geojourney more than 20 years ago while I was Head of the Geology Department. Currently I am Professor Emeritus of Geology having retired from full time work nearly 8 years ago. This year I have been teaching in the Franklin College Spring Semester in Costa Rica for two months, and with the Southern Pacific study abroad program in New Zealand.

I received my B.S. and M.S. degrees from MIT in 1969 and a PhD from Stanford University in 1972. From 1972 until 2002 I was employed by the University of Georgia, moving through the ranks to Professor and Department Head in 1983. After 8 years as Head I became an Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs in charge of Curriculum and led the University’s transition to the semester system. Finally, I was Acting Head of Anthropology for two years, a field in which I had never taken a course, but that is another story.

I helped lead my first travel study program in 1975. Our first attempts were a couple of weeks between terms. While I was Department Head we started the first extended summer travel program, first involving only Geology and later incorporating Anthropology and Ecology. It was here that we developed the concept of an integrated, interdisciplinary, experiential, field-based program.

Since retiring from full time work I have taught with Semester at Sea, and been involved in a number of study abroad experiential programs, including most of the previous Geojourney trips..
GeoJourney's Future Staff!

GeoJourney is now accepting applications for the 2011 Summer and Fall field seasons. If you are intersted in beocoming a GeoJourney staff member Click Here

If you have any questions about becomng a staff member on GeoJourney or what positions are availible contact either nikki@geojourney.org or ian@geojourney.org.