Erin Campell joins DNR as state geologist

Petroleum News

Dr. Erin Campbell joined the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Aug. 19 as state geologist and director of the Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys.

"Dr. Campbell is superbly qualified for this technical role and brings an established record of state-level leadership," said DNR Commissioner John Boyle.

Campbell holds a Bachelor of Science with a major in geology and a minor in mathematics from Occidental College. She obtained her Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Wyoming, specializing in structural geology with a secondary emphasis in geophysics.

She worked as a geologist for Chevron for 4 years in Louisiana and California and then returned to Wyoming where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Wyoming for 15 years and directed the Geology Field Camp. She did research in structural geology, geomechanics and CO2 sequestration and established the Cretaceous Tight Oil Consortium in the Powder River basin.

Campbell spent a year as manager of the Energy & Mineral Resources Division at the Wyoming State Geological Survey and was then appointed Wyoming State Geologist and director of the survey in 2017, positions she held until moving to Alaska this summer.

She has worked extensively with the Association of American State Geologists at the national level.

There are 70 employees at DGGS, DNR said. They generate, analyze and interpret data on geologic resources and natural conditions; map and inventory mineral and energy resources on state land; manage programs for hydrology and surficial geology, natural hazards and geophysics; and run the Geologic Materials Center in Anchorage.

DNR said the division was previously led by Dr. Melanie Werdon, who retired earlier in the year.

--Petroleum News