About the Department of Geology & Geological Engineering
We aim to create well-rounded geologists and engineering professionals
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Come Join Us!
We’ll help you develop your communications, critical-thinking, teamwork and leadership skills, which are vital in today’s world. You’ll be able to gain real world experience through internships and co-ops in your area of expertise. You can participate in engineering professional societies and other interest groups at the school.
Plus, by engaging in research, you can work with national and international specialists to tackle engineering grand challenges.
We’ve got a great network of alumni. You’ll be able to learn from their experience – from what it’s like as a starting professional to how they’ve achieved success in their work life. You’ll see them in classroom settings, at small group lunches and at career fairs. And when you graduate, you become part of a network that is dedicated to seeing you succeed. Are you ready to live your legacy?
We have a very low student-to-faculty ratio and our students constantly say how their professors make time to help them with their classwork, projects and future goals. We are dedicated to educating the state of Mississippi and beyond. Persevering through all to grow toward something bigger. Because we’re rebels in our own way.
The demand for geoscientists in a range of employment opportunities continues to expand and outpace the number of students preparing for geoscience careers. The American Geoscience Institute (AGI) using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data estimates that by 2028, there will be a shortage of 35,000 geoscientists (FTEs, full time equivalents), and geoscience employment will increase over the next decade by 4–8%, depending on the specific occupation.
Our Degree Offerings
UG
Study the earth, the materials of which it is made, their structure and the processes acting upon them
- Oxford
UG
Combine the knowledge of earth science with engineering principles to solve human problems
- Oxford
GRAD
Explore our Master of Science in Engineering Science with emphases in Environmental Engineering, Geology, Geological Engineering, and Hydrology and Computational Hydroscience.
- Oxford
GRAD
Pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science with advanced, research-intensive study in Environmental Engineering, Geology, Geological Engineering, or Hydrology and Computational Hydroscience.
- Oxford
Geology and Geological Engineering Faculty
Thomas Oommen
- Chair and Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering
Ruixia Bai
- Laboratory Coordinator - Geology and Geological Engineering
Jordan Burkey
- Adjunct Instructor - Geology and Geological Engineering
Ron Counts
- Associate Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering and Associate Director of Mississippi Mineral Research Institute
Gregg Davidson
- Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering
Jordan Ewing
- Adjunct Assistant Professor
Jennifer Gifford
- Associate Professor of Geology & Geological Engineering
Robert Holt
- Professor of Geology & Geological Engineering
Hanna Konavaluk
- Instructor
Leonardo Macelloni
- Director of Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute and Center for Marine Resources and Environmental Technology and Associate Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering
Elsie Okoye
- Adjunct Instructor in Geology and Geological Engineering
Maxwell Pizarro
- Adjunct Instructional Assistant Professor - Geology and Geological Engineering
Brian Platt
- Associate Professor of Geology & Geological Engineering
Julie Retrum
- Instructional Associate Professor
Inoka Widanagamage
- Instructional Associate Professor of Geology & Geological Engineering
Lance Yarbrough
- Associate Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering
Sherra Jones
- Operations Coordinator II
Alden McNamara
- Administrative Assistant I (NE)