August 2, 2017
Susie Welch, recently retired outreach coordinator at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology, was recognized by Governor Susana Martinez for outstanding accomplishments and invaluable contributions to the state of New Mexico. Congratulations to Susie on the well-deserved citation!
Susie has served in the position of outreach coordinator at the Bureau of Geology since 1994. Of her many accomplishments, two initiatives that she spearheaded particularly stand out. Lite Geology, a periodical geared at teachers, students, and anyone else who loves geology, was started in 1992, and its 41st issue just came out. This lighthearted publication, which Susie has really made happen, has covered a huge range of topics, and is a source of information for lay people and specialists alike. The other major program that Susie was instrumental in creating is the annual "Rockin’ Around New Mexico" geology workshop for teachers. Through this workshop, Susie facilitated interaction between New Mexico science teachers and professional scientists from both the Bureau of Geology and elsewhere. The training provided by these workshops has likely benefited thousands of New Mexico K-12 students through the hundreds of teachers who have participated over the years.