Recognizing outstanding scholarship and teaching, Norwich University faculty have named Geology Professor Richard Dunn a Charles A. Dana Professor. The prestigious award carries a $10,000 annual stipend.
“Professor Dunn is an internationally recognized and extraordinarily accomplished earth scientist, especially in the fields of surficial geology and geoarchaeology,” said History Professor Gary Lord, who chaired the selection committee.
“In many of his research projects, he has collaborated with scientists from the leading research institutions in his discipline.”
Dunn's research ranges from the glacial history of Vermont to archaeological geology in Greece, Israel and Easter Island. “Many of these multinational and multidisciplinary projects have involved Professor Dunn's students in significant ways,” Lord added.
A committee of current Norwich University Dana professors selected Dunn for the award, which was announced during Commencement ceremonies on May 10.
Dunn received his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Delaware in 1998 and has taught at Norwich since 2000.
His research falls at the intersection of geology and archaeology, where Dunn applies his expertise in stratigraphy, sedimentology and geomorphology to reconstruct landscapes of the last 20,000 years. He often works at archaeologically significant locations, including sites in Greece, Israel, Cyprus, Portugal, and Easter Island.
Dunn has described his findings in numerous research papers and technical reports.
At Norwich, he teaches courses that examine Earth’s surface processes and the evolution of Earth’s environments. He also leads senior research and seminar courses and has mentored a large number of undergraduate research projects.
The university’s Dana program works to recruit and retain an outstanding full-time faculty recognized for their scholarship and teaching excellence. Tenured full professors from all academic disciplines are eligible.
“Norwich has provided me many tools for success, including financial help for scholarship, great colleagues across the campus and the good fortune to work with motivated students as research partners,” Dunn said. “It is a great honor to be named a Charles A. Dana Professor, and I recognize and thank my colleagues, both faculty members and students, that pushed me forward."
In 1974, the Charles A. Dana Foundation, a philanthropic foundation that funds research nationwide, presented Norwich University with an endowment designed to supplement salaries of full-time senior faculty members. Since the first nominations in 1975, Norwich has named 21 Charles A. Dana Professors.