Robert C. Thomas

Dr. Rob Thomas is a Professor of Geology and Regents’ Professor at the University of Montana Western in Dillon, Montana. He is the first and only Montana professor to receive the national Carnegie/CASE U.S. Professor of the Year award, the highest honor awarded for university-level teaching in the United States. Rob is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, recipient of the Humboldt State University Distinguished Alumni Award, the University of Montana Geoscience Alumnus Award, the Geological Society of America Distinguished Service Award, and the Mike Malone Montana Educator of the Year Award.

He earned B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in geology from Humboldt State University, the University of Montana and the University of Washington. His professional work focuses on riparian sedimentology and stream restoration, extensional tectonics and sedimentation in southwest Montana, geology of Yellowstone Country, Cambrian carbonate sedimentation and trilobite extinctions, and experiential geoscience education. He has authored or co-authored over 75 publications, including the book, "Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country", and the soon to be released second edition of "Roadside Geology of Montana."

Rob’s international experience includes teaching mountain environments to Sherpa mountain guides near Mt. Everest in Nepal for the Khumbu Climbing Center, shipboard students on the global voyage of Semester at Sea, and native Caribbean students at St. George’s University in Grenada. He led GeoVenture field trips in the northern Rockies for the Geological Society of America for 10 years, has taught the Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association geology field camp in the greater Yellowstone region for over 25 years, and runs layperson geology trips in Yellowstone National Park for Yellowstone Forever.

Rob is deeply passionate about experiential education and uses Montana Western’s unique Experience One immersion scheduling to get his students working in the field on projects that make a real and positive impact on the environment. Rob’s personal passions are family, mountain recreation and playing guitar around a campfire.