Each summer, ISU alumni in geological and atmospheric sciences gather in Shell, Wyo., for Geology Field Camp. They reconnect, reunite, explore their passions, and share their talents. It’s a level of engagement that brings increased credibility and resources to ISU’s department of geological and atmospheric sciences. It’s a level of engagement that offers alumni continuing education opportunities. And it’s a level of engagement that wouldn’t be possible without the department’s professor and chair, Carl Jacobson.

In his role as chair, Jacobson recognizes the value ISU’s successful and talented alumni can add to the program. It has made his department one of the university’s most successful at engaging alumni. Alumni are invited to campus reunions every two years, to come speak to ISU classes, to meetings in large cities across the country, to special meteorology alumni meetings in conjunction with the annual National Weather Service Conference in Des Moines, and, of course, to the Geology Field Camp. In 2003, more than 100 alumni participated in a special reunion at the camp thanks to Jacobson’s efforts. 

“Alumni have never been as well informed about the depth and expertise of the faculty, new programs, and department direction than under the leadership of Carl Jacobson,” one alumnus remarked. “There is a special enthusiasm among alumni for the department now.”

Jacobson has a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton and a Ph.D. from UCLA and has been a member of the Iowa State faculty since 1980. He received the ISU Outstanding Teacher Award in 1991 and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Outstanding Achievement in Departmental Leadership Award in 2005.

Jacobson and his wife, Carol, have two sons: Mark (biology ’06) and David, a current ISU aerospace engineering student.