At the 2026 Awards Ceremony we recognized two alumnae whose careers embody the department’s spirit of discovery, service and innovation. We asked our awardees to share parts of their story, with excerpts provided below. Each reflects the curiosity, perseverance and impact we think characterize our graduates. By honoring our former students, we hope to inspire today’s students to strive for both personal and professional success.

ESS Emerging Leader Award – Julia Kelson (Ph.D. 2019)

Julia Kelson, an assistant professor at the Indiana University Bloomington, is a pioneering isotope geochemist and paleoclimatologist whose research advances new frontiers at the intersection of past, present and future climate science. By integrating laboratory innovation, fieldwork, global data synthesis and modeling to study modern processes and reconstruct past environments, she addresses fundamental questions about how Earth’s climate, topography and surface processes co-evolve. Julia was also awarded the Geological Society of America’s prestigious Donath Medal in September 2025.

Growing up with parents who are both geoscientists, conversations during family hikes and vacations was often about earthquakes and rocks. Although she eschewed geology in high school, once she started her undergraduate studies, she couldn’t resist majoring in Earth sciences. Julia arrived at ESS for a Ph.D. expecting to focus on tectonics and geomorphology. However, her supervisor Professor Kate Huntington suggested she work on clumped isotopes.

“I must have looked up the definition of an isotope, and then I fell off the deep end and became a geochemist,” said Julia. “I am so grateful to have found a specialty that gives me a broad platform from which to investigate terrestrial landscapes and environments on many timescales.”

Aside from marrying ESS alumnus David Lilien, who “improves my life every day in many small and big ways,” when considering how her time at UW still influences her, Julia said that her approach to science, communication and mentorship were all fundamentally shaped by the faculty at UW. For example, her first scientific paper encountered a series of obstacles but also was how Julia learned not to take “no” for an answer — something she learned from her mentor and PI, Huntington.

A favorite memory in ESS (and some of the best adventures she’s ever had) is skiing volcanoes in the Cascades with fellow ESS graduate students.

“Talk about work-life balance: Sometimes we would go from conducting research and writing papers to skinning up mountains in a single day!” Julia exclaimed.

Today, Julia is most proud of a funded research project that created opportunities for undergraduate and early-stage graduate students to be involved in field- and laboratory-based research activities.

“Some of the most satisfying moments in my career so far have been watching undergraduate students find their spark for the geosciences,” she said.

Words of advice

“Follow the scientific questions that interest you, don’t be discouraged by surprising results and publish your work.”

ESS Distinguished Graduate Award – Donna Whitney (M.S. 1987; Ph.D. 1991)

Donna Whitney is a world-renowned geologist using metamorphic rocks to reconstruct the chemical and physical processes that drive metamorphism in continental and oceanic crust, and that eventually returned these rocks to the Earth’s surface.

Donna discovered geology as an undergraduate at Smith College, though she didn’t consider graduate school until she did a small research project during her senior year. This project, involving some interesting metamorphic rocks, led her to the research of ESS Emeritus Professor Bernard Evans. As a graduate student, Donna quickly realized that continuing to do research and teach geology were exactly what she wanted to do.

From the mid-1980s to early 1990s, Donna said many students spent a lot of time in the department because that is where they had access to computers, journals, books, microscopes, and so on. She reflected on the many late nights that often ended in the College Inn Pub down the street.

“Mostly, we talked about our research or debated geologic topics of the day,” said Donna. “I learned so much from those conversations. I learned about giant Cretaceous clams and the nickel content of olivine! I also learned how to have fun and have collegial arguments about science.”

Donna has been deeply committed to fostering international collaboration, providing invaluable community service and mentoring the next generation of geoscientists. Soon after arriving at the University of Minnesota, Donna and a colleague created a research group that integrates structural geology and metamorphic petrology called STAMP, or Structure, Tectonics And Metamorphic Petrology. She has worked all over the world on interesting tectonics problems. Over her career, Donna has also supervised about 40 graduate students, more than 10 postdoctoral scholars and 80 undergraduates — many of whom have gone on to become leaders in metamorphic petrology or industry.

“Teaching and mentoring have been a major highlight of my career,” she said.

In thinking about her time in ESS (then Geological Sciences) and the ways in which it has influenced her career, she said: “What stands out for me are the enduring and evolving connections I made with people — from the time when I was a grad student with other grad students, some undergrads, faculty and researchers, and from more recent research and service activities with current ESS members. It is an excellent community, and I am glad to be part of it.”

Words of advice

“The landscape for the geosciences has changed so much in the past year that advice I might have given not long ago, both practical and philosophical, does not feel relevant anymore. One thing has not changed: The geosciences are absolutely critical to solving major problems facing humanity worldwide, and so I hope that the younger members of the ESS community will stay strong and continue working to do great science and be great scientists.”