Meet Karen Layou - Professor of Geology
Where did yous grow up? If non inward Richmond, how long possess got yous lived here, together with what brought yous here?
I grew upwards inward northeast Ohio—Warren, to go exact. I possess got lived inward Virginia since 2007, but my domicile is real unopen to Williamsburg. I graduated from the University of Georgia amongst my Ph.D. inward 2007 together with moved to Virginia amongst my identify unit of measurement to produce a visiting assistant professorship at the College of William together with Mary.
When together with why did yous acquire interested inward Geology?
I possess got loved geology since I was a child. I had a box of rocks that I collected on walks inward the common amongst my grandpa, or from the gravel driveway at my aunt’s house. For my tertiary degree scientific discipline fair project, I classified the rocks from that box together with it’s been inward my blood always since! When I started college at Penn State University, I began equally an technology scientific discipline major, but afterwards 3 semesters, I simply wasn’t excited past times what I was learning. One afternoon my sophomore year, I stumbled across a mineral museum on campus together with it was similar finding quondam friends. I went upwards to the geoscience subdivision component together with changed my major that day! Geology is dynamic together with exciting—it’s all near our home, our planet. I am captivated past times the history recorded inward rocks together with fossils. And getting to produce enquiry inward the mountains or on the beach is pretty great, too!
How long possess got yous worked for Reynolds?
I possess got been a professor at Reynolds since August 2013. I honey it here—I possess got wonderful colleagues together with I genuinely relish getting to know my students.
In 2015 yous were chosen to participate inward a iv twelvemonth National Science Foundation project. How is the projection progressing?
The SAGE 2YC Change Agents projection is fantastic! Through this project, I partner amongst colleagues at Thomas Nelson Community College equally 1 of 10 regional teams to a greater extent than or less the dry reason who are working to ameliorate geoscience didactics at two-year colleges. In particular, the projection aims to growth educatee success through implementing research-based best teaching practices, broaden participation inward the geosciences, together with foster pathways to geoscience careers. Here inward Virginia, my squad takes payoff of resources similar the VCCS Science Peer Group coming together to run workshops to percentage together with acquaint information related to the projection goals amongst other VCCS faculty. We possess got also gotten 2YC students involved inward career-building together with networking opportunities, such equally the annual Virginia Geological Field Conference together with Southeastern Geological Society of America meetings. Check out our website for to a greater extent than information on the project: https://serc.carleton.edu/sage2yc/teams/virginia/index.html
For the past times 2 years yous possess got been a Faculty Star Award Recipient. What is the hugger-mugger to your success equally a faculty member?
When I origin began teaching, I attended an National Association of Geoscience Teachers On the Cutting Edge Early Career workshop for geoscience faculty. One of the reflections nosotros did asked us to intend near our favorite instructors together with reckon what they did well. I most admired teachers who were approachable, genuine, together with passionate near their expanse of expertise. These are traits I assay to convey to my interactions amongst students together with colleagues.
What produce yous similar to produce when yous are non working?
I honey spending fourth dimension amongst my family—hiking together with camping ground amongst my hubby together with 11-year quondam sons is a smashing agency to pass a weekend. I also relish placidity fourth dimension on the couch amongst a truthful cat or 2 together with a smashing book. I am a big fan of historical fiction.
If yous could move to whatever place, where would yous go?
Does it solely possess got to go 1 place? My students would in all likelihood say yous how I yell all the places I demand to geologically pilgrimage to someday. Right now, top of the listing is Republic of Iceland because glaciers, volcanoes, together with a divergent plate boundary all inward 1 dry reason must go visited. I also possess got the finish to acquire to all of the the U.S.A. National Parks inward my lifetime—I’ve done 27 of the electrical flow 59 together with thus far. I would also honey to pass fourth dimension on the International Space Station to go able to appreciate world from a dissimilar perspective—I bet Google world isn’t quite the same.
If yous won several meg dollars what would yous produce amongst the money?
I would invest it inward the stock marketplace position to generate to a greater extent than funds for philanthropic purposes—my organized religious belief community, college scholarships, environmental protection, brute welfare, together with populace libraries. And I’d in all likelihood hitting a few to a greater extent than national parks, too.(Photo from Karen's trip terminal summertime to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington.)
