New chair named for Department of Earth and Environmental Science

(Jan. 22, 2003)--The University of Texas at San Antonio has named Robert K. Smith, professor of geology, as chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Science. Smith has 11 years experience as director/chair and one year as acting dean.

His directorship began in the Division of Earth and Physical Sciences from April 1982 to August 1986. He served as acting dean for the College of Sciences and Engineering from September 1986 to May 1987. Smith was a division director from September 1986 to August 1993.

Before coming to UTSA, Smith was head of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Southern Colorado from 1976 to 1982. He holds a doctorate and master's degree in geology from the University of Iowa and a bachelor's degree in geology from Washington State University.

A professor of mineralogy and petrology, Smith is the principal investigator of the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Unit Lab which conducts research and analyzes unknown substances. Smith's principal research is in mineralogy and igneous-metamorphic petrology and he has been recognized for his work on the granites in the Llano Uplift in central Texas and his work with volcanic rocks.

Smith replaces Weldon W. Hammond, who remains director of the UTSA Center for Water Research.

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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2003