Geoff Feiss

Geoff Feiss
  • Former Provost (July, 2003 - June, 2009)
  • Archived Blogger

About Geoff Feiss

P. Geoffrey Feiss became the fourth provost of the College of William and Mary in July 2003. Prior to that he was Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Geology at the College of William and Mary. He holds the A.B. in Geology from Princeton University and the M.A. and Ph.D. in Geology from Harvard. From 1975 to 1997, he was on the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, also serving as chair of the Department of Geology and subsequently as Senior Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences. He taught at Albion College from 1970-1975.

His research interests are hydrothermal geochemistry and economic mineral resources. His most recent book, co-authored with John J.W. Rogers of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is People and the Earth: Geological Perspectives on Global Sustainability, Cambridge University Press, 1997. He continues to be active on the national scene in matters related to post-secondary geoscience education.

A fellow of the Geological Society of America, he has served as chair of its Geology and Public Policy and Congressional Science Fellow Selection committees. He is currently vice-chair of the Geological Society of American Foundation. He has been a member of the National Academy of Science/National Research Council Committee on Earth Resources and is chair of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Universities Research Association (SURA). He is also a past president of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Science and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers.

Posts by Geoff Feiss

End of semester thoughts

On spring days with my office windows open in the Brafferton, I can hear the bell of the Wren Building chime the hour.  This

Rhythms

The College’s blog tsarina reminded me today that it has been three months since I last posted anything.  I had told her early on

Who’s in charge here anyway?

The other day, I was a guest in a class on higher education administration.  Because I was the last in a distinguished list of

Strategic Planning

The College of William and Mary is presently engaged in a year-long strategic planning exercise.  On a scale of one (root canal) to ten

A blogging provost may be the ultimate oxymoron.

A blogging provost may be the ultimate oxymoron - and that word does not mean an idiot with free radicals, though I have been