Biography

Louis A. Fernandez
California State University
San Bernardino, California

Dr. Fernandez received a B.S. from City College of New York, an M.S. from University of Tulsa, and a Ph.D. in geology from Syracuse University. He was a research geologist at Yale University from 1968 to 1971 where he worked on petrologic problems including studies on Apollo 11 and 12 lunar samples. In 1971 he joined the faculty at the University of New Orleans (UNO) as an assistant professor of geology. In 1976 he served as acting dean of UNO's College of Sciences. From 1977 to 1991, he was a professor of geology at the University of New Orleans. During that period, he also chaired the department (1981 to 1985) and served as dean of the College of Sciences from 1985 to 1991. In 1991, Dr. Fernandez became a professor of geology at the University of California, San Bernardino, and Dean of the School of Natural Sciences. In 1994, he was named that university's Vice-President for Academic Affairs.

He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, and has served as chair of its Committee on Minorities in the Geosciences. He is also a member of the Mineralogical Society of America and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers. He has received many distinguished alumni awards as well as awards for teaching and educational administration. He was instrumental in establishing the Minority Participation Program of the American Geological Institute, and has served on that program's advisory committee for many years.

Dr. Fernandez's comments on working in academia.

Return to Geoscience Profiles