Joseph Reese, PhD

Dr. Joseph Reese is a full professor of Geology in the Department of Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) at Penn West Edinboro. At Edinboro / Penn West University since 2002, he has taught upper-level courses on rock deformation, metamorphism, North America tectonic history, field geology, and energy resources. His forte at the introductory level is teaching students the perils of geohazards and the wonders of National Park geology. Dr. Reese holds a B.S. in Geology from Edinboro University, a M.S. in Geology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and a Ph.D. in the Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. His graduate research focused on deformed Mesoproterozoic rocks of the Belt Supergroup, MT, and Grenville Llano Uplift, TX. He remains passionate about studying mountain-building processes and continent evolution. Beyond studying rocks, he maintains an active, eclectic scholarly agenda, focusing on place-based geoscience teaching, undergraduate geoscience education reform, evolution of Earth systems, use of remotely sensed imagery to investigate Earth’s surface, system interactions and human impacts, and localism linked to the craft beer industry. Dr. Reese has served or currently serves as a BEES Assistant Chair, Environmental Science – Professional Geology program assessment co-coordinator as well as, over the years, other university-wide and department-level functions too numerous to remember. He is a professional member of numerous geoscience-affiliated organizations (Geological Society of America, National Association of Geoscience Teachers, etc.), routinely participates in the activities of these organizations at various levels, and regularly presents at national and regional conferences. An enthusiastic advocate of educational outreach, Dr. Reese has also given numerous talks to varied groups throughout the community, including the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie, PA.