Volume 14, Issue 3| Fall 2025
Foundations
NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEOSCIENCE TEACHERS GEO2YC DIVISION
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In this Issue:
- President's Column
- Annual Membership meeting info
- Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award - new structure
- Geo2YC wants to support your work
- GSA Connects 2025
- NAGT webinars are for Geo2YC, too
- Research opportunities for 2YC students
- Share your stories with us!
- Geo2YC pencils
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Sean Tvelia
President's Column
Sean Tvelia, Suffolk County Community College
As I sit in my office writing this article, I can't stop thinking what happened to September. I mean, I remember it beginning but it seems that since Labor Day everything was just a blur. Here in New York, we are busier than ever and although there have been some trying moments sprinkled throughout, it's been a good busy. And what fascinates me most is how many of our colleagues across the membership are saying similar things.
At Suffolk County Community College, students are more engaged—even more than they were pre-pandemic. Our classes are active, students are engaging in discussion, actively seeking career advice, extracurricular experiences, and most importantly, extra help. Time with students is refreshing, and in some ways inspiring, to hear them talk about their life goals.
September was also my last month as Geo2YC President, thus I've been reflecting on the year and the work we have done as a division. As many of you may know, I often refer to this division as my happy place. Even if it is just a virtual place, it's a community where we can all get together to support and learn from each other. Now, I will admit there have times when my week was way too long and I wished we didn't schedule that 8:00 PM fireside chat. But something happens when that first participant shows up--it just resets the day. Over the past year, we have tackled some heavy topics, and though we may not have changed the world, I would like to think we have changed what happens in our classrooms in a positive way.
Whether comforting a colleague, providing classroom resources, or talking through challenges, the Geo2YC Division makes a difference. For that, I couldn't be prouder to have served as president and worked alongside my fellow officers. Looking forward, I think it is safe to say that higher ed—and two-year colleges in particular—will be facing significant challenges. The good news is that this division, and the leadership we elect, will be here to support us all when we need it.
Lastly, as we enter October, I would like to remind everyone about our annual business meeting scheduled for October 8 at 8:00 PM Eastern. For those of you headed to GSA, don't forget to stop by the NAGT booth, and check out the NAGT and Geo2YC sponsored sessions - a list of which can be found here: https://nagt.org/nagt/profdev/GSA/2025GSA/index.html.
Annual Geo2YC Division Membership Meeting
When:Wednesday, October 8 - 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern
Join us as we transition members of the executive leadership of the division, review the budget reports, discuss future Fireside topics and times, and chart a course for the division over the next year. We would love to hear ideas from the membership on how to best serve your needs!
Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award Updates
From the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award Committee
As a reminder, the OAFA Committee has moved to an annual recognition for the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award, but nominations are still accepted year-round. Keep an eye out for the last Geo2YC newsletter of the year in December for this year's honorees!
Have a colleague you would like to acknowledge? Please complete an Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award nomination today. Note, these colleagues DO NOT have to be current members of NAGT or the Geo2YC Division to be recognized.
2YC Funding Opportunities for fall and spring activities
Apply for a Geo2YC Faculty Development Grant! Next deadline is April 15.
The Geo2YC Division is here to support our members financially - we offer $500 to help facilitate workshops or activities for 2YC faculty that are planned by our members, and $100 travel grants for professional meetings, including GSA, AGU, EER, regional NAGT meetings, and more. Historically, we've received few applications - so the likelihood of funding is high - let us help you. Rolling deadlines annually are on April 15 and September 15. Apply here.
GSA Connects 2025
Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX October 19 - 22, 2025
We hope to see you this fall at GSA Connects 2025. Here's a list of Technical Sessions on Geoscience education, including those sponsored by NAGT and its Divisions:
- T69. 2YC and 4YCU Geoscience Student Research Poster Showcase (posters)
- T70. Balancing Tradition and Innovation: Evolving Geoscience Curricula for a Changing World (posters)
- T71. Current Advances in Geoscience Education Research (posters)
- T72. Diversifying Geoscience Education Across the Academic Playing Field: Using Creative Methods to Foster the Current and Next Generations of Geoscience Professionals (two sessions)
- T73. Geology Programs in an Environmental Science World
As of this newsletter publication, there are no formal plans for a Geo2YC meetup at GSA. Please look for each other at NAGT events!
Get involved with NAGT Webinars
Check out the schedule for the NAGT Webinar Series! Lots of great opportunities for learning and discussion through these events, and even if you cannot attend, you can register so the link to the recording is sent straight to your inbox. An archive of prior webinars is also available.
NAGT Webinar Committee is looking for webinar hosts
NAGT offers a wide range of webinars each month to bring the latest in geoscience and pedagogy to our members. The NAGT Webinar Committee is looking for members who would be willing to host a webinar this coming academic year. Consider sharing a fun teaching technique, resources you've used in your classroom, or collaborate with colleagues to tell us more about what's been going on in your professional world. If you have some ideas, please reach out to the current chair, Beth Pratt-Sitaula (beth.pratt-sitaula@earthscope.org).
Research opportunities for students
Here is an up-to-date list of ongoing research programs that are accepting 2YC students! Please share widely with your student network
Hey members - what are you and your students up to?
You may have noticed this issue is a bit light on content - that's because we need to hear from you! Please share your Geo2YC experiences with us - we are always looking for:
- Field Notes - tell us (and show us with pics) about field trips you do with students, especially if it's outside on your campus or in urban areas. If you are conducting field work with colleagues, tell us about that too.
- Geoscience/geology/STEM clubs/professional society chapters - how are you encouraging your students to engage beyond the classroom? Tell us about meetings or outreach events...show us your t-shirts! Consider getting your students to write about it for us.
- Grant projects - have you had a funded grant? We would love to hear about your projects.
- Teaching experiences - have you tried a new activity that went well? Did you try something that totally flopped? Do you love a particular lesson from the SERC collection? Let's talk about what we do best.
- Favorite rocks and fossils - we all have favorite samples in our teaching collections - share yours with us!
Please note, you don't have to write a lengthy, fully perfect article. A picture and a paragraph or two can tell the full story...and don't worry about typos/grammar...your trusty newsletter editor's got you covered.
Where in the world are NAGT Geo2YC pens and pencils?
