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Eberly College of Arts & Sciences Department of Geology and Geography
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Male with grey hair and mustache motions while teaching as he stands in front of a mountain cut where the strata can be seen.

Alan C. Donaldson

In Memoriam, 1929-2021 — Emeritus Professor of Geology

Categorized As

Geology,In Memoriam

Alan joined the West Virginia University faculty in 1957 as a geology professor. He served 24 years as Chairman of the Geology & Geography Department at WVU from 1971 to 1995. Alan knew from a young age that he wanted to teach and credited his “geology genes” to previous generations of scientists. He felt his long tenure to pursue his passion was a privilege.

In 1995, Alan was awarded the Distinguished West Virginia Award for outstanding achievement and meritorious service by Governor Gaston Caperton. The Distinguished West Virginian Award, which honors a citizen’s service to West Virginia, is the highest award that can be presented to a citizen by the governor. That same year he was recipient of the I.C. White Memorial Award from the Eastern Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) for his outstanding contributions to the geologic knowledge of sedimentary rocks in the Appalachian Basin. He was recognized by the Eastern Section of AAPG as the 1989 Outstanding Educator, nominated by Dr. Robert Shumaker, for being an excellent teacher at both the introductory and advanced teaching levels. 

Man with grey hair and mustache motions toward a large mountain cut in the background that shows the strata of rock layers

After he partially retired in 1995, he continued to teach geology classes as professor emeritus for the next ten years until 2005, and organized and taught seminars/courses for the energy and environmental industries. He supervised 14 Ph.D. and 70 M.S./M.A. graduates, and these bonding experiences rank with the highest highlights of his career. He published over 50 papers largely related to sedimentation and sedimentary rocks. His national reputation in research led to him being invited to the prestigious Geological Society of America’s Centenary Volumes on a Decade of North American Geology. 

Alan academically impacted countless lives which helped advance the careers of his students and faculty, many who became successful in academia, government, and industry. He inspired and transformed individuals from all over the world. A people-oriented person, he was respected for his mentorship abilities, optimism, high energy, and creative way he pushed the “multiple working hypotheses”. His leadership always brought out the best in people.

Read the full tribute at Hastings Funeral Home

Make a difference with an honorary gift

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alan C. Donaldson Endowed Scholarship or the Alan C Donaldson Geology Graduate Student Scholarship:

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