People
Dr. Jessica Bent
Program Director of GeoFORCEDr. Bent is the Program Director of GeoFORCE. She is an educator and researcher who believes every student, from every background, deserves an accessible, high-quality pathway to achieve success. She brings over a decade of experience building such access for middle-school, high-school, and post-secondary students.
Christine Simurda, PhD
Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Director, NextStep GeosciencesChristine Simurda is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Director for the NextStep Geosciences program at the Jackson School of Geosciences. She is passionate about providing opportunities for STEM undergraduates to engage in geoscience research and enhance their technical and professional skills to prepare them to be geoscience leaders.
Linda McCall, MBA, MA
Public Information Geologist, Bureau of Economic GeologyLinda Ruiz McCall is the Bureau Information Geologist and Resource Center Manger. Linda is a geologist, educator, and business woman with experience in government service, private industry, and public education. She has extensive speaking experience and is committed to helping to build understanding about natural resources. Her special interest is the use of new media in science communication.
Dr. Jay Banner
Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesDirector, Environmental Science Institute
Jay Banner is the F. M. Bullard Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Director of the Environmental Science Institute. His K-12 and public outreach programs include the Hot Science – Cool Talks Outreach Series and multiple NSF programs involving urban watersheds and people.