Purcell Geology

Hello, and welcome to my website! I am a recent graduate of Pacific Lutheran University (2022) with a Bachelor of Science in Geosciences. I am very passionate about every facet of Geology, from Economic to Cultural Geology, and I am hoping to utilize these passions in a professional environment. 

I am currently employed as a Land Use Analyst and Project Engineer at Graves + Associates in Tacoma, WA. While I am excited to be honing my project management and client communication skills, my passions and personal values lie with sustainable infrastructure and combatting climate change. I am currently enrolled in the University of Kentucky's Master of Arts in Applied Environmental and Sustainability Studies program, with an anticipated graduation date of summer 2026!

 My current goal is to become employed in the field of sustainability, to help make a significant impact in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and securing a greener future. I hope to use my strong mathematical, writing, and critical thinking skills to analyze the carbon footprint of things we take for granted, including transportation, housing, and creature comforts.

I have academic experience working towards a sustainable future, with courses in Conservation of Natural Resources, where I completed a lifestyles project to reduce my carbon footprint. Additionally, in my course Geology of Energy, I learned how our energy demands control our lives, and how geology in turn controls the energy we can harness. Our final project for this class was to develop a plan to de-carbonize the state of Minnesota. Our group developed a plan for large scale solar, biofuel, and LFGTE plants to generate over 150% of the states 2018 energy demands.

I have also worked in numerous geological settings, both professionally and academically. I have completed a course on Geologic Mapping in the Field with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, as well as many courses at PLU with significant field components. I have also been employed by PLU's Natural Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program as a Glacial Research Assistant. In this role, I designed and conducted an experiment on Emmons Glacier in Mount Rainier National Park. In my current role, I have used computer models to predict and estimate the impact of stormwater infiltration facilites, to ensure a sustainable water future in the built environment.

Please explore this website to see photos of interesting geology I have encountered, final products of projects I have completed, and my current resume.