Wendy didn’t start out with aspirations of becoming a geologist. In fact, her undergraduate major was in Theatre with a focus on Shakespearean acting! A strange series of events lead her to become a geologist, and she is a staunch advocate for accumulating a diverse “toolbox” of skills and experiences. She believes that nothing that we learn is ever wasted and the unique skills and perspectives we acquire on our way to becoming scientists informs our science in critical ways.
Education and Experience
EDUCATION
- PhD, Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ (2008 – 2014)
- MSc, Geology, THE Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (2006 – 2008)
- Continuing Education, Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA (2002 – 2006)
- BA, Theatre & Geology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA (1994 – 1998)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Branch Chief, Seismic Hazards and Earthquake Engineering, California Geological Survey, Sacramento, California (2024 – present)
- Founder, Dr. Wendy Rocks, LLC, Science Communication Consultancy, Maryland (2023 – 2024)
- Communication Strategist, Earth Sciences Division at NASA, Goddard (2022 – 2023)
- Senior Science Communication Specialist (2020 – 2022), Geologist & Science Communication Specialist (2015 – 2020), Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), Washington, DC (2015 – 2022)
- Owner and Operator of SpaceFace Social Media, MD (2011 – 2024)
- Outreach & Education Coordinator, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, Pasadena, CA (2004 – 2006)
- Outreach & Education Assistant, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, Pasadena, CA (2000 – 2004)
- Actress, Los Angeles, CA (1998 – 2002)
APPOINTMENTS, SERVICE AND TRAINING
- National Academies Committee on Solid Earth Geophysics, 2025 – present
- USGS ShakeAlert Ready Outdoors, External Advisory Committee, 2025 – present
- Frontiers for Young Minds If/Then Women in Science Collection, Collection Co-Editor, 2024.
- CRESCENT (Cascadia Regional Earthquake Science Center) External Advisory Board, 2024 – present
- Geological Society of America Education Committee, 2021 – present
- AGU Awards Committee for Education, 2020 – present
- Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER) Advisory Board, 2022 – present
- AAAS If/Then Ambassador, 2019 – present
- AGU Hazards Equity Working Group (HEWG) Steering Committee, 2020 – 2023
- Public Information Officer, JIC and JIS training, 2019
- THE Ohio State University School of Earth Science Alumni Board, 2017 – 2022
- 500 Women Scientists
- Leadership Board, 2016 – 2021
- Executive Leadership Board 2020-2021
- Advisory Board 2018 – present
Dr. Wendy Bohon 