Meet the TEam

The GeoSPACE project is a collaborative project that brings together a rotating team with expertise in planetary science, volcanology, field geology, geoscience education, accessibility and technology. Our roster of guest instructors has not yet been finalized for 2026, but we always have a roster of gifted scientists and educators participating in the course. Stay tuned for updates early in the spring semester!

TEaching Team

Anita smiles at the camera in a scrubby desert landscape, wearing a blue hat and field shirt and sunglasses on her head.

Lead Instructor Dr. Anita Marshall

Anita (She/her) is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Florida, Gainesville.

My primary research area is Geoscience Education, specifically academic and social engagement in field courses, how to form belonging and community in educational spaces, and the barriers to participation for people with disabilities in science disciplines. My geology training is in volcanology, specifically using near-surface geophysics to explore tephra deposits and sub-surface features of small-volume volcanic eruptions. I'm passionate about geo-ethics and culturally respectful and sustainable field work. I am a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and have a physical disability and chronic fatigue. I am so excited to get out in the field (in person or remote) with our GeoSPACE students and show them the volcanoes I fell in love with as a student.

2026 In-Person Co-Instructor Alex Bearden

Alex (he/him), is a PhD candidate in Volcanology in the VIBE Lab at at UC Berkeley in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science.

I use combination of microanalytical techniques (Raman, SIMS, SEM, EMPA) and Python3 and to constrain magma storage depths, volatile cycling, and S isotope fractionation. I really enjoy field work and am pretty obsessed with olivines.

2026 Virtual Co-Instructor McKayla Meier

McKayla (She/her) is a PhD candidate at the University of Florida studying planetary volcanism and geochemistry. McKayla co-developed the virtual program and is the lead virtual instructor this year.

My research focuses on planetary volcanism on the Earth, Mars and the Moon.

Sean sits in his power chair wearing a brown fleece in front of a rock slab covered with dinosaur footprints.

2026 Virtual Co-Instructor Sean Thatcher, MSC

Sean (he/him) is a Lecturer in the Engineering and Environmental Science Department and the Earth and Ocean Science Program Coordinator at CUNY College of Staten Island.

My research focuses on environmental geoscience, GIS and accessible science.

2026 Technologist, In-Person Team Michael Cox

Michael (he/him) is a geology graduate student at the University of Florida and will help facilitate communication between in-person and virtual teams, in addition to researching the experiences of students participating in field work through technology.

2026 Virtual Teaching Assistant Katelyn Frizzell

Katelyn is a PhD student at Arizona State University in the School of Earth and Space Exploration who will assist the virtual students with planetary mapping and remote sensing.

More Members of team GeoSPACE

All of these people have been involved with the GeoSPACE program and continue to rotate in and out as part of the teaching team each year. We also have a number of guest professionals not listed that join us for a field day through out the course.

Dr. Lis Gallant

Lis Gallant (she/ella) is an assistant professor and volcanologist at the University of Hawai'i Hilo who research focuses on lava flow hazards and eruption response.

Dr. Dave Williams

David A. Williams (he/him) is a Research Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. Dave's research focuses on planetary geologic mapping of bodies across the Solar System, and computer modeling of the physical and geochemical evolution of lava flows in a variety of planetary environments.

Trevor Collins

Trevor Collins (He/him) is Senior Research Fellow in Technology-Enhanced Learning at The Open University (UK).

Jen wears a brimmed field hat and smiles from her wheelchair in front of Meteor Crater.

Dr. Jen Piatek

Jen Piatek (She/her) is a professor of planetary geology and chair of the Geological Sciences department at Central Connecticut State University. Jen's research involves remote sensing of planetary surfaces.

Dr. Steve Elardo

Steve Elardo (he/him) is an Assistant Professor and NASA Early Career Fellow at the University of Florida. Steve's work uses high-pressure and -temperature experiments, studies of planetary samples, and non-traditional stable isotope geochemistry to study planetary evolution.

Dr. Amy Williams

Amy Williams (she/her) is an Assistant Professor and NASA researcher at the University of Florida. Amy's primary research area is astrobiology/ geobiology; exploring how life is preserved in the rock record as a biosignature, and how we can detect those biosignatures both in ancient rocks on Earth and Mars.

Yesenia, in sunhat, smiles in front of the red rocks of Arches National Park

Yesenia Arroyo

Yesenia Arroyo (they/them) is an early career researcher at NASA Goddard with the Habitable Worlds program.

Anna Baker

Anna Baker (she/they) is a PhD candidate at Northern Arizona university in the Astronomy and Planetary Science Department.

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