ESS annual alumni awardee profiles: Julia Kelson and Donna Whitney

At the 2026 Awards Ceremony we recognized two alumnae, Julia Kelson and Donna Whitney, 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.

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The lasting impact of recruitment

Something as simple as an invitation to participate can change the course of an individual’s career and their impact on the geoscience community. From 1971 to 1974, seven Black graduate students were invited to apply to the UW Department of Geological Sciences, five of whom entered in 1973. To better understand the outcomes, current ESS graduate student Claire Jensen and Professor Emerita Jody Bourgeois recently interviewed four of these students, asking about their experience, why they chose UW and their careers following graduation.

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ESS Celebrates 130 Years at the Burke Museum

On September 20, over 300 members of the UW Earth & Space Sciences community, including over 70 alumni, came together at the Burke Museum to celebrate the Department's 130th Anniversary.

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ESS Alumni Climbing into History

Not surprisingly, over the years, UW geology and geophysics students and faculty have enjoyed and excelled at rock climbing and mountaineering.

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Open Geology - ESS Alums and Faculty contribute to public geological education in the western U.S.

Locals interested in learning more about Washington State geology may be familiar with Roadside Geology of Washington (2nd ed.), authored by UW geology alum Marli Miller (M.S., 1987; Ph.D., 1992) and Professor Emeritus Darrel Cowan. 

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Geology's "Girls in the Boat"

While the world celebrates again the “Boys in the Boat,” our department would like to celebrate two geology majors who played historical roles in UW Husky Women’s Crew.

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ESS Alum and "Ranger of the Lost Art" Doug Leen releases new book

Doug Leen, or Ranger Doug as many now know him by, graduated with his Bachelors of Science from UW ESS (then Geological Sciences) in 1970 after serving two years in Vietnam in the United States Navy Seabees Doug joined the National Park Service after graduating and spent the next seven years as a Grand Teton National Park climbing ranger at Jenny Lake. 

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