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Why GSA Membership is Important to Me

1. When did you first become a member? Did anything or
anyone influence you to become a member?
I became a GSA member in 1996 as a graduate student.

2. Did or do you participate in any programs, committees,
apply for research grants, etc.?
I received the GSA-ExxonMobil Bighorn Basin Field Award
in 2011.

3. How has GSA membership been particularly impactful on
your career?
Being a GSA member is perhaps the best career decision I
made. I started my academic career at a two-year campus before
moving on to a four-year regional comprehensive university.
I could always count on the GSA Geoscience Education Division
and the National Association of Geology Teachers (NAGT) for
finding opportunities for professional development and a support
system. Most importantly, being part of GSA made me aware of
the barriers and challenges faced by people from marginalized
communities in the geosciences and gave me a space where I can
find like-minded people who are as passionate as I am in making
the geosciences more equitable, accessible, diverse, and inclusive the various field trips organized as part of every GSA regional and
at all levels. GSA helps me be a change agent in my discipline. annual meetings. Being able to visit various field locations in the
company of a group of other geologists is, perhaps, the most impact-
4. What is the greatest benefit to being a member of GSA? ful opportunity for my continued professional development.
Being a GSA member exposed me to the range of career opportu-
nities for geoscientists both within and outside of academia. GSA 5. What would you say to a peer who is considering joining
maintains a nice balance between pure research, applied research, GSA/starting their geoscience journey?
pedagogical research, and research on effective teaching practices. Just do it. You will not regret this decision.
There is something beneficial for everyone, no matter whether some-
one is a beginning student or a seasoned geoscientist. However, as a Juk Bhattacharyya
field geologist, the greatest benefit of being a GSA member for me is GSA member since 1996

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