Dr. Wan Yang, a professor of geology and geophysics at Missouri S&T, has been elected a Fellow of the Geological Society of America (GSA). 
 
“I feel greatly honored with the fellowship and have been fortunate to have the opportunities to do what I have loved to do throughout my career in geological research and education,” Yang says. “The strong support I have received from my family, friends, colleagues, former and current students, and various institutions and organizations, including Missouri S&T, has played an important role in my success.  
 
“This honor will push me forward to do more in research, teaching and public service.” 
 
According to the GSA website, the GSA Fellowship honor is awarded to the most accomplished individuals in the geosciences field who have sustained records of achievement. Fellows typically must have at least 15 years of experience related to the field and at least five years of continuous GSA membership. 
 
Yang has been a GSA member since 1999. Since 2010, he has been a faculty member at Missouri S&T, first as an associate professor, before being promoted to professor in 2019. 
 
Some of his other academic appointments have been at Wichita State University, the University of Texas at Austin, California State University, Fresno, and multiple institutions in China. 
 
He has also held positions with Phillips Petroleum, Activa Resources and PetroChina, among other organizations. 
 
Some of Yang’s areas of expertise include the Permian-Triassic boundary, sedimentary processes, depositional environments, petrology of carbonate and siliciclastic rocks, and Milankovitch cycles. 
 
He has published hundreds of journal articles, industry research reports, field guidebooks and educational materials and has delivered 80 invited presentations and lectures to professional audiences. 
 
In his letter nominating Yang for the honor, Dr. Stephen S. Gao, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor and chair of earth sciences and engineering, wrote that Yang was also deserving of the honor due to his strong commitment to education and mentorship. 
 
“His leadership in professional workshops, field trips and short courses has been crucial in cultivating the next generation of geologists,” Gao wrote. “His field trips, particularly those through the Ozark Dome and the terrains of northwest China, have provided participants with invaluable experiential learning opportunities that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.” 
 
Yang earned a Ph.D. in geology at the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree in geology from California State University, Fresno, and a bachelor’s degree in petroleum geology from Northwestern University in China. He also completed graduate studies in exploration geophysics while at Northwestern. 
 
For more information about Missouri S&T’s earth science and engineering programs, visit ese.mst.edu. 

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.