2006-2007 AGI Fellow Allyson K. Anderson

Allyson Anderson was selected to be the 2006-2007 American Geological Institute Congressional Science Fellow. She worked for the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on many issues, including carbon sequestration and geothermal energy resources.

Before coming to DC, Allyson was a petrophysicist in the Formation Evaluation Core Group of ExxonMobil in Houston, Texas and a researcher at the Kansas Geological Survey. She earned a Master's degree in Geology from the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis in 2000. She is the Past-President of the Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) and the Vice-Chair, Professional Women in the Geoscience Professions Ad Hoc Committee of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). Allyson is enthusiastic about continuing her volunteer work on public outreach, education and career opportunities in the geosciences, while meeting the challenges of public policy development in Washington DC.

Allyson worked for five years as Professional Staff for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and in 2012 joined the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Director.

Anderson and the other 2006-2007 geoscience fellows are profiled in the December 2006 issue of Geotimes.

Allyson has written the following articles for Geotimes:

Rachel Bleshman

Rachel, sponsored by AGI and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation, has arrived for the furious finish of the 109th Congress, which will likely continue their work through the dark and cold days of December this year. Rachel graduated in May 2006 from Wesleyan University of Connecticut where she received a BA in Earth and Environmental Science. After four years of field trips and an exciting geological cross-country trip this summer, she is ready to experience how public policy and geoscience connect to affect our country.

See photo with 2007 AIPG/AGI Summer Interns.

After working for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a DC law firm, and Vice President Joseph Biden, Rachel is now studying law at Tulane University. (07/11)

Tim Donahue

Tim Donahue is a senior at Winona State University in Minnesota, majoring in geoscience, public administration, and political science. He expects to graduate this December. He will focus on energy policy and other hot topics during the steamy Washington DC summer.

Publications while at AGI:
Donahue, T. Facing Energy Demands and Rising Costs, Policymakers Consider Nuclear Options, The Professional Geologist, Nov Issue 2006.

Jessica Rowland

Jessica Rowland earned her BS in geosciences and anthropology from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and is currently finishing a Master's degree in isotope geochemistry from the University of Arizona. Her research involves reconstructing broad-scale climatic and environmental variation in western Israel through the use of stable oxygen and carbon isotopes in fossil tooth enamel from archaeological sites. While at AGI, Jessica will be following legislation related to climate change, environmental policy and other issues.

Publications while at AGI:
Rowland, J. Is Carbon Dioxide a Pollutant?, The Professional Geologist, Nov Issue 2006.

Jessica is working at the University of New Mexico on education and sustainability.

Carrie Donnelly

Carrie is a Master's student at the University of Washington where she conducts research on the uranium-series chemistry of lava from the ongoing eruption of Mt. St. Helens. During her stay in Washington, DC, Carrie will focus on science education policy, emergency management and other issues

Publications while at AGI:
Donnelly, C. American Competitiveness: A Focal Point for Cooperation Between Industry and Academia, The Professional Geologist, Nov Issue 2006.

Jenny Fisher

Jenny earned her BS in planetary science from Caltech last June and will be returning to school next fall to begin graduate studies in atmospheric chemistry at Harvard. She has recently returned to the US after spending the past six months teaching in London. While at AGI, she will be following legislation related to American innovation and competitiveness, the FY07 budget,and the reponse to Hurricane Katrina, among other topics.

Jenny received her Ph.D. in Atmospheric Chemistry from Harvard University and is currently working there as a Postdoctoral Fellow. (09/11)