HGS members and visitors are welcome to contact the Board officers. Commercial uses are prohibited
Education:
2008 BS Geology, University of Texas at San Antonio
2018 MS Analytics, Texas A&M University
Experience:
2008 – 2011 Geologist - Ingrain Inc.
2011 – 2013 Geoscientist - Ingrain Inc.
2014 – 2015 Product Champion – Drill Cutting Technologies – Ingrain Inc.
2015 – 2017 Geologic Advisor – Ingrain Inc.
2017 – 2018 Senior Technical Advisor – Halliburton
2018 – 2019 Senior Account Manager – TGS
2019 – Present Veilvox LLC - Founder
2020 – 2021 Senior Account Manager – Premier Corex
2021 – Present Director, Global Business Development & Technology – Premier Corex
Professional Affiliations:
HGS, AAPG, SPE, SPWLA, GCAGS
Professional Activities:
Testing
2011 – 2017 HGS Chairman Exhibits Committee
2013 – 2014 HGS Secretary
2015 – 2016 HGS Treasurer Elect
2016 – 2017 HGS Treasurer
2017 – Present HGS Advertising Committee Chairman
2018 – 2019 GCAGS Houston Treasurer
2019 – Present GCAGS Treasurer
2020 – 2021 HGS Vice President
2022 – 2023 Geogulf Treasurer
2023 – Present HGS New Energies Chair
Statement:
Ever since I joined the HGS, I have enjoyed the benefits of education, networking, and friendship. Currently, I am working with the GCAGS as Treasurer. For about 7 years, I spent much of my time working on the exhibits committee, organizing the setup and transportation of the HGS booth for various conventions throughout the year. When I served as HGS Secretary, it afforded me the opportunity to learn more about the many functions of the HGS. I was also exposed to the duties as the HGS Treasurer-elect and Treasurer, where I witnessed the society’s dedication to the various efforts through the annual budget. I was then given the opportunity to serve as the HGS Vice President during the COVID-19 pandemic, where I was able to schedule all our monthly technical talks digitally for the first time. Currently, I am chairing the HGS New Energies Group, which meets regularly to discuss carbon sequestration, lithium extraction, geothermal, and other new areas where geoscientists play a key role in supporting projects. It has been a pleasure meeting many people along the way, and I am thankful for the opportunities the HGS has provided me while serving as Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President. It would be my great pleasure to serve in the capacity of HGS President-Elect.
Education
■ M.S. Geology, Baylor University, 1996
■ B.S. Geology, Baylor University, 1993
Professional Affiliations and Registrations
■ Registered Professional Geologist in the States of Texas and Tennessee
■ Certified Safety Professional (CSP-38937)
■ American Society of Safety Engineers
■ Houston Geological Society
Relevant Experience
■ Co-Chair, Environmental and Engineering Geology Committee, Houston Geological Society
■ Director, Houston Geological Society
■ President, University of Houston Parent Organization
■ Chair, Thunder Wolf District, Scouting America
Biography
I am a Technical Director and Global Health and Safety Advisor with Environmental Resources Management (ERM) in Houston. Over my 29-year career, I have served as an environmental and health and safety consultant servicing global oil and gas, chemical, manufacturing, and mining companies. I have utilized my geological expertise to assist global oil and gas companies to understand and address contaminated ground water, soil and sediment issues. My background includes managing investigation and remediation of upstream oil and gas sites and assisting with due diligence for large oil and gas acreage position transactions for major oil and gas clients, which includes assessment of water use and protection, property transaction support, environmental impact assessment, environmental permitting and management, and Stakeholder concerns. I currently utilize my field experience to support teams globally in improving health and safety performance primarily within Global oil and gas companies.
In my personal life I have served for more than 20 years as a mentor of students through my church and Scouting. Most recently, I have expanded my leadership experience through my service as the Chairman of a local Houston District of the Boy Scouts of America.
Why I want to continue to serve the HGS
I am honored to be invited to stand for election as president elect for HGS. My current positions as treasurer and now co-chair of the Environmental and Engineering committee in HGS and past position as a Director have been most rewarding to me and I welcome the opportunity to further serve my fellow Members should I be elected.
We are living in exciting but challenging times when our collective expertise as Geologists is more valuable than ever. Who better than Geologists to help todays leaders understand the complex nature of energy, the carbon cycle, natural disasters, and the impact of each on our world. My hope is that organizations like HGS will bring wisdom and sound scientific reasoning to decision makers in the many public arenas where we serve.
I believe my technical experience in the oil and gas industry combined with my experience and leadership in HGS and other organizations has prepared me to help lead HGS as we continue in these exciting times.
Statement of Interest: Thank you for the opportunity to run for Vice President. I’ve observed the outstanding work of the past Vice Presidents, and I have some ideas on how to provide valuable content for the membership of the Houston Geological Society. Thank you to the HGS Nomination Committee for this nomination, and I hope to have the opportunity to serve the Houston Geological Society membership in 2026-2027.
Biography: Jonathan R. Rotzien is President of Basin Dynamics. He has worked in most of the world’s petroleum producing regions and specializes in leading corporate projects, research programs and professional training courses pertaining to oil and gas exploration and production. In addition to his business, he serves in faculty and research roles at University of Houston, University of Texas at Austin, South Dakota Mines and The Drifters Research Group with the Andalusian Earth Sciences Institute. He currently holds industry appointments with Subsurface Consultants & Associates (Houston, USA) and HOT Energy Group (Leoben, Austria). With over 100 publications including industry short courses, his most recent public works include Deepwater Sedimentary Systems: Science, Discovery and Application (Elsevier, 2022), written by 62 authors from 20 countries, and the 2nd edition of The Explorer’s Mindset: Lessons in Leadership in Applied Geoscience and the Energy Industry (Amazon, 2025), now featured in AAPG Explorer. He holds a B.A. from Colorado College and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.e value of HGS to the next generation.
Education & Certifications
MS Geology, Texas A&M University
BS Geology University of Illinois
AAPG Certified Petroleum Geologist No. 5168
Texas Licensed Geologist No. 3825
Employment History
Strategic Advisor/program Manager, Switch Energy Alliance, 2022-Present
President & Chief Geologist, Viking GeoSolutions LLC, 2016-Present
Team Leader – Exploration, Equinor, 2017-2020
Senior Applied Geologist, BP, 2000-2016
Senior Exploration Geologist, Vastar Resources, 1995-2000
Staff Geologist, ARCO, 1982-1995
HGS Service
North American Exploration Group - Chairman, 1998-2000, Co-chairman, 1996-1998, Arrangements Chairman, 1991-1993
Member, 1982-Present
Candidate Statement
I am honored to be invited to stand for election as Secretary for the HGS Board and serve the Society once again. While my service to professional societies throughout my career has been focused mainly on the national level, I have been an ardent supporter and member of the HGS throughout, and represented our local geoscience community as a HoD Delegate for more than 15 years. On a personal level, I have served on the Boards of several cultural and philanthropic organizations, in a variety of positions including Secretary, so I am confident that I can satisfactorily perform the duties of HGS Secretary.
Although I still consider myself a petroleum geologist, my recent focus on addressing global energy poverty by providing educational experiences to university students has broadened my appreciation for the impact that we geologists can have within our communities. I have also seen firsthand the talent and passion that exists within geoscience and engineering students, particularly those internationally, to address energy access and availability issues in their communities regardless of source – hydrocarbons, coal, LNG, geothermal, and other alternatives. It gives me great hope for the future of our profession and reinforces my desire to grow HGS student and young professional membership.
I joined the HGS when I began my career in Houston, recognizing the value that HGS membership provides – exposure to the learnings shared by experienced members, learning about the geology and economic potential of basins around the world, the opportunity to build a network across the industry, and now, as an Emeritus member, mentoring and encouraging our young professionals to become active members of the HGS. As a member of the HGS I have had the opportunity to meet many industry legends and gained many friendships over the years, and I would welcome the opportunity to again serve my fellow Members as HGS Secretary.
I am honored and excited to stand for the role of HGS Treasurer-Elect. Having previously served as Director and Vice-President earlier in my career, I am eager to continue giving back to this remarkable organization that has been instrumental in shaping my professional journey. After spending time working outside of Houston, this opportunity to once again serve HGS feels like coming full circle.
The role of Treasurer-Elect aligns closely with my experience, particularly my tenure at Shell, where I honed my skills in leadership, decision-making, and had P&L accountability for the Appalachia asset. I am an organized, high-energy individual with a passion to lead and drive meaningful impact”. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to supporting the HGS and AAPG communities by contributing my time, talent, and resources to foster professional growth, collaboration, and improve membership value.
Having recently taken early retirement from Shell, I am now pursuing a variety of interests, including consulting, coaching, and cherishing time with my high-school twins before they embark on their college journeys. This new chapter has reignited my enthusiasm to serve HGS with fresh energy and focus.
As Treasurer-Elect, I aim to strengthen HGS’s financial foundation to ensure we continue offering outstanding technical content, continuing education, scholarships, and vibrant social networking opportunities for all members—new and longstanding. HGS has provided me with the foundation for a fulfilling and successful career, and it would be my great privilege to give back to our proud geological society and community.
Education and Certification:
MS Geology,
Texas A&M University
BS Geological Sciences, SUNY Geneseo
ICF Executive Coach, Coach Rice Executive program, Rice University
APM Chartered Project Professional
Professional Experience
Professional Experience:
2021 –
2024 GM Innovation & Improvement, Shell, Upstream & Deepwater
2018 – 2021 GM Business Transformation / BA to EVP, Shell Global
Exploration
2011 – 2018 Exploration & Development Manager, Shell, Appalachia
2009 – 2011 Team Lead, Shell, Mid-Bossier / Haynesville
2008 – 2009 Strategy & Portfolio Advisor, Shell, Americas Exploration
2002 – 2008 Senior Exploration Geoscientist, Shell – Brazil, Alaska
1998 – 2002 Exploration Geoscientist, HESS – Gulf of Mexico, North Dakota
HGS Service:
Member since
1999
Vice-President, 2006 - 2007
Director, 2003-2005
HOD Delegate
Founder and Chair of NeoGeos young professional network, 1999
Chair and member of multiple committees, 2000s
Other Professional Associations:
Reynolds is a longtime member of AAPG, and has served in leadership and volunteer roles, beginning with President of the Texas A&M AAPG Student Chapter, and more recently as VP and President of 2 AAPG divisions (DPA, EMD), the Advisory Council, and the Reimagine Committee. She has also served as Chair and member of multiple AAPG and HOD committees and 2011 ACE Technical Program. She is also an active member of the Association of Project Management (APM) and the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Education
MBA, University of
Texas
MS Geology, University of South Carolina
BA Geology, Colgate University
Professional
Affiliations
Energy: Exxon USA, GFI Oil and Gas, Salamander Energy
Energy Finance: CS First Boston, Bear Stearns, Wachovia Securities, Ironman
Energy Capital, BTM / KingsRock Advisors
Biography
Mr. Bishop has spent
his entire career in the energy industry. After earning a BA Geology from
Colgate University and a MS Geology from the University of South Carolina he
joined Exxon USA’s Gulf of Mexico exploration division. At Exxon, Mr. Bishop
developed numerous exploration prospects in the Gulf of Mexico and supervised
critical offshore drilling and evaluation procedures. He was a member of Exxon teams that made
several significant discoveries including
the 250 MMBOE Ram/Powell field.
After earning an MBA Finance at the University of Texas, Mr. Bishop went to Wall Street where he was a member of CS First Boston’s and Bear Stearns energy teams which transacted international and domestic mergers and acquisitions and brought several emerging energy companies public. Mr. Bishop then returned to Houston where he continued to raise capital and facilitate mergers, and asset acquisitions and sales for numerous exploration and production companies under the First Union - Wachovia brand. He then joined a Houston and later London-based independent and successfully raised private equity capital and a development facility for projects offshore Thailand and Indonesia from a consortium of international banks. With those projects completed he then helped manage a family of energy private equity and hedge funds. In recent years, Mr. Bishop has been providing independent advisory services to energy clients.
Why I Want
to Serve the HGS
I am honored to be
considered for the role of Treasurer of the HGS. I am a fifteen-year member of
the HGS and have been involved in committees and active in various talks,
events, seminars and representing the HGS at conferences. I am eager to give
back to the Society and members and to contribute to a vibrant professional
environment for geoscientists in Houston. I have the skills and capabilities to
excel at the Treasurer role.
Besides my involvement with the HGS, I am active in many geology and energy related organizations including the AAPG, SIPES, TIPRO, Houston Producers Forum, Houston Energy Finance Group, and Energy Prospectus Group.
In my spare time I enjoy skiing, ski racing (when available), biking, hiking and golf.
Sharma earned his Master’s degrees in Geology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Texas A&M University, and an MBA from Rice University. He worked as a Geologist and held technical and leadership positions in the upstream oil and gas and midstream companies for 38 years, in Houston and internationally. Currently, he is a Founder/Director of AKD Professional Solutions Inc., serving primarily the upstream oil and gas industry.
He has been a member and a volunteer with HGS for 25 years, an active Member of the AAPG( 30 years), and a delegate with the AAPG HoD. He served on Continuing Education and International Exploration Committees, organized and chaired three workshops (Geopressures, Coal Bed Methane, and Reservoir Modeling, 2000), co-chaired the International Business of Exploration Symposium (2000), and received the Rising Star award (2000). Served as Session Chair for GCAGS and AAPG ICE. He now serves as Chair of the Memberships Committee. He has been a Guest Speaker at HGS and GSH.
Sharma's expertise lies in subsurface reservoir modeling, rejuvenating mature fields, and offshore Geohazards. He was associated with several deepwater field developments, exploration appraisals in GoM, deep-water Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and the South China Sea, and exploration for stranded gas resources in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Sharma’s recent work includes Geomodeling for EOR in mature oil fields in Miocene syn-rift clastics and carbonates, Gulf of Suez, Egypt, addressing subsurface heterogeneity of Mishrif Carbonates in Southern Iraq, reservoir modeling of HPHT fields in offshore East Malaysia and Borneo, heavy oil development in Powder River Basin, tight oil and gas, and CBM in Greater Green River basins.
Sharma loves teaching and taught at Lone Star and San Jacinto colleges as an Adjunct Professor. He taught classes for AAPG/SEG in the US, the Middle East, Asia, and Mexico on Reviving Mature Fields. High-resolution Sequence Stratigraphy and Deepwater Depositional Environments. Visit the AAPG Learn Blog on Sharma's expertise. Sharma is passionate about Earth Observation, and the use of Satellite Imagery and data in managing natural resources and planning.
Mr. Sharma is a Certified Geologist with the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (#12543). He volunteers with the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston, the Eternal Gandhi Museum of Houston, and as a KEYS Mentor with Katy ISD. He lives in Katy. Post-Harvey, Sharma spent more time with Fort Bend County on contingencies for future flooding behind the Barker and Addicks reservoirs, and the improvement of the Buffalo Bayou drainage system.
Why do I want to be a Candidate for the Executive Board?
Education
M.S. Geology, Texas A&M – Kingsville - 2000
B.S. Geology with a minor in Mathematics, Texas A&I University – 1993
Licensure
Texas Licensed Geoscientist – Geology 2003 to Present
Louisiana Licensed Geologist - Geology – 2013 to Present.
Mississippi Licensed Geologist – Geology – 2025 to Present
TCEQ Corrective Action Project Manager – 2005 to Present
Employment
Senior Project Manager – LJA Environmental Services 2025 - Present
Chief Geologist Terrain Solutions Inc 2010-2025
Chief Geologist Lone Star Environmental 1997-2010
Staff Geologist LSI Environmental 1996-1997
Houston Geological Society Officers or Committees Activities
Houston Geological Society Environmental and Engineering Committee – Chair 2007-Present
Houston Geological Society Groundwater Hydrogeology Short Course – Committee Member 2019
Houston Geological Society Big Bend State Ranch Field Trip – Co-Chair 2019
Houston Geological Society Surface Faults of West Houston Field Trip - Committee Member 2019
Houston Geological Society Flooding in Southeast Texas: The Science Behind the Floods Conference – Committee Member 2018
Houston Geological Society (HGS) – Secretary 2011-2012
Houston Geological Society Environmental and Engineering Committee – Treasurer 2006-2007
Houston Geological Society Coastal Subsidence Conference – Committee Member 2005
Other Geological Society Associations or Committees
American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) – Board of Director 2016 to Present
Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG) – Secretary 2021-2023
Texas Association of Professional Geologists – President 2006-2018
Geo-Gulf – Session Chair - 2015
Geo-Gulf – Session Presenter – 2014
Candidate Statement
I have been a member of the Houston Geological Society since the Late 1990’s as I was finishing up college. In 2005, I got involved volunteering with several committees; Environmental and Engineering Group and Continuing Education. Through that time, I got to meet a lot of people who expanded my knowledge of not only my specific field of geology but the greater world of geology. I understood the value of being involved in a Professional Society. I have served on statewide organizations relating to professional licensure, continuing education and involved with hosting conferences for the geological profession. That experience will help me be a part of the Board for the Houston Geological Society. It was a privilege to see the HGS turn 100.
I am running to be Editor Elect of the Houston Geological Society to serve this professional community. Throughout my years of service and leadership, I have valued professionalism, and collaboration—qualities that are critical in producing a publication that reflects the technical excellence and integrity of our members. As Editor Elect, I will work to highlight meaningful geological work and encourage member contributions. We need contributions from all sectors of the profession so that the HGS bulletin can be the premier publication of a local geological society. Also I want to ensure our publication remains a trusted and engaging resource for geoscientists across the Houston region and beyond. During the time as Editor Elect, I will be engaging and learning what it is needed to be Editor of the Houston Geological Society Bulletin. While this is a position that is held by an individual, I will view as a position in which it is a team effort to make it happen. I ask for your support.
I am honored to stand for the position of Director at the HGS. I will bring my 35 years of business experience to the Executive Board and strive to make the HGS economically profitable, scientifically relevant for all HGS members … and fun!
The critical strength I can bring to the HGS is a strong understanding of the financial challenges we face as a professional society, and HGS’s need to continue to grow its outreach and appeal to all geoscientists.
My executive experience ranges from small independents to "big oil companies" to investment banking. I have held the positions of Exploration Manager at Marathon Oil Company, Exploration Vice President at Roxanna Oil Company (a local Houston independent oil-and-gas company founded by the late, great Maryln Downey), and Senior Vice President and Chief Geologist at Goldman Sachs here in Houston.
I am an active member of HGS. I actively participated in the Continuing Education Committee by teaching HGS classes and doing the logistical minutiae of soliciting new teachers for HGS classes, finding event venues, and even picking up the bagels and coffee for the class's morning breakfast.
I have received the HGS President’s Award and the HGS Chairman’s Award for my service to HGS. I have also received the dedicated Service Award from the AAPG and the West Texas Geological Society.
I currently run a consulting company. I am an angel investor in a major domestic start-up where we aspire to drill some very important wildcat wells in the Gulf Coast. I like to look at deals and participate in oil wells. I also generate my own prospects for fun and, rarely, for profit.
THANK YOU!
Biography:
I am a Houston native so it’s not too surprising that I got drawn into the oil business. While still an Aldine High School student, I managed to get a job working in the computer room at SeisData Services, a small acquisition and processing company in the Greenspoint area. I was pretty intrigued by everything that I was learning about the O&G business, but after just one day walking around my first OTC and I was hooked! All the cool hardware, the technology, people from all over the world in attendance…
I’ve been fortunate to have a satisfying career in this business and a lot of that has been due to the great work by all of the past volunteers at HGS. And now I’d like to return the favor and give back to the Society by serving as a Director on the Board. This will be a chance for me to continue paying back and paying forward. Up to now, most of my volunteer work has been related to the University of Houston Geoscience department where I received my degrees. After graduation, I was active in the U of H Geoscience Alumni Association (UHGAA) helping to organize our monthly lunches, guest speakers and Happy Hours. Over the years on the academic side, I served as a poster judge at the annual Robert E. Sheriff Lecture event recognizing outstanding student research work. More recently I was invited to serve three terms on the College of Natural Science’s Dean’s Advisory Board where members met with students, faculty and the Administration to discuss the workforce needs of the Energy industry and how the university could maximize student readiness to meet those needs. Meeting and mentoring the students was such a positive experience that my wife and I decided to endow the Leslie and Alan Wong Scholarship to support geoscience students.
Now I would like to apply my volunteer efforts to the HGS. Our industry is facing a critical time that is affecting those in all phases of their careers. Experienced workers, those newer in their careers and students hoping to join the industry are all facing a rapidly evolving, yet simultaneously contracting, industry. But we don’t have to face the challenges alone and that’s where I believe HGS can play a part. There is so much that we can do to support the industry and each other by maintaining an active and engaged Society. Personally, I have been a member since 2003 and participation has helped my career tremendously. HGS has helped me build a professional network through educational events, technical talks and trade shows that have made me a better geoscientist. The camaraderie of the social events has helped me endure some of the tougher times over the years because of the support and encouragement from other members, honestly some of the nicest and smartest people that you’d ever want to meet, many who have become real friends. So I would like to offer my service to keep the HGS the vibrant, professional and cultural center of our profession. The Society has done a lot for me and I want to contribute to making sure that HGS continues to provide that same support for coming generations of leaders and students of the geosciences. And I want to make sure that Houston remains the center of the geoscience world.
Background:
I got my BS and MS in Geology-Geophysics from the University of Houston and was lucky to start work right away at The Woodlands Geophysical Group, which later became part of PGS. There I spent time working in Data Management and Multi-Client Data Sales for over 20 years and where I was lucky to gain international experience in South America, Europe and Asia. Since PGS, I have worked in Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) with Kore-Optics, the mid-Stream sector with Rosen, back to multi-client data with Tobin and Wood Mackenzie, and most recently returned to data management with Viridien.
When I’m not trying to save the world from badly managed G&G data, you can find me playing with my dog Kimi Räi-canine, doing DIY renovation projects fixing up my 85 year-old house in the Heights or in my workshop where I’m restoring a race car from the Indy 500.
STATEMENT
The Houston Geological Society has been an important part of my professional journey, offering a platform for technical exchange, mentorship, and meaningful connections within the geoscience community. Through participation in technical talks, student-focused initiatives, and conference presentations, I have come to value the Society not only as a forum for knowledge, but as a community that shapes careers and long-term growth.
I envision an HGS that continues to uphold its technical excellence while also evolving in how we prepare and involve the next generation of geoscientists. As our profession integrates new technologies, digital tools, and interdisciplinary approaches, HGS can build upon its strong foundation by further supporting the development of transferable skills that are not always explicitly taught in university curricula. Equally important to me is strengthening leadership development at early stages, creating clear opportunities for students and early-career professionals to take on meaningful responsibilities within the Society. These efforts together, combined with active collaboration between experienced members and newer professionals, will help ensure that HGS remains relevant, dynamic, and forward-looking.
My professional path reflects a consistent commitment to service and mentorship driven by collaboration. From serving as an elected student representative early in my academic career to mentoring university students and early-career professionals, I have always sought opportunities to contribute beyond my primary role. Through this journey, I have gained awareness of the operational effort and financial challenges required to sustain meaningful programming. Having seen this firsthand, I look forward to bringing that perspective to help the Society continue growing through creative thinking and a financially smart approach to sustaining our programs.
It would be an honor to serve as a Director of the Houston Geological Society and to contribute responsibly and actively to its continued growth.
ANA VIELMA - RESUME
EDUCATION
• Ph.D. in Geology – University of Houston (UH, 2025)
• M.S. in Geological Sciences – Central University of Venezuela (UCV, 2014)
• B.S. in Geological Engineering – Los Andes University (ULA, 2009)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Business Development Manager – Petricore North America 2025 – Present
Technical sales and client development for laboratory analysis
• Industry Internships: 2021 – 2025
Diamondback Energy, Chevron, OXY, Aramco
• Doctoral Researcher & Teaching Assistant – University of Houston 2019 – 2025
Petroleum geochemistry and data sciences research
• Youth Care Worker – Southwest Key Programs 2018
Vocational instruction and structured mentorship for youth
• Geologist – Ministry of Oil & Gas (Venezuela) 2010 – 2016
Exploration review and regulatory oversight
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• Houston Geological Society (HGS)
• Geophysical Society of Houston (GSH)
• American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
• Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts (SPWLA)
• Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM)Geological Society of America (GSA)
• American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG)
LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
• Elected Student Representative, Engineering College Council, ULA, 2007-2009.
• Member, Student Research Conference Committee, UH, 2022.
• Member, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Student Committee, UH, 2021-2022.
• First intern member of Chevron’s professional society network, SOMOS LatinX, 2023.
• Panelist, GSA Sedimentary Geology Division Careers Webinar, 2026.
• Panelist, HGS Student Expo Fireside Chat, 2023.
• Judge, Science and Engineering Fair of Houston (SEFH) and Dobrin Lecture GSH/UH.
• Session Chair, IMAGE 2025.
• HGS and AIPG booth volunteer.
• Speaker and presenter at national and international conferences (e.g IMAGE, GSA).
• Active participant in monthly technical talks and professional networking events.
• Teaching Assistant, teaching, assisting, and mentoring undergraduate students, UH.
• Recorder, Gulf Coast Hydrogen Ecosystem Conference, UH Energy.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
• Best Poster Innovation Award, HGS Student Expo, 2025.
• 2nd Place, Best Poster Presentation (Sr. Geologist Category), HGS Sheriff Lecture, 2024.
• National Professional Society Travel Grants, Geological Society of America and Society for Sedimentary Geology, 2024–2025.
• Scholarship for Outstanding Graduate Work in Geology, University of Houston, 2020.
• Cum laude, B.S. in Geological Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes (ULA), 2009.
• Outstanding Student Award, College of Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, 2008.
• Order “Luis María Rivas Dávila” – Best Student, Geological Engineering Program, Universidad de Los Andes, 2004–2008.
Amanda is a dedicated exploration geologist with a strong passion for volunteering. Amanda has contributed significantly to the growth and success of major energy companies. She is currently serving as an exploration geologist at TotalEnergies and she spent five years at Hess Corporation, where she gained valuable hands-on experience in exploration, development, and operations across a variety of basins.
In addition to an exciting professional career, Amanda has been deeply committed to volunteerism and professional development within the geoscience community. A longstanding member of the Houston Geological Society (HGS), Amanda has served on the Student Expo Committee for over seven years, culminating in leadership roles as Vice Chair (2020) and Chair (2021-2023). During this time, she helped orchestrate one of the most impactful student-focused events in the country that also bolstered the HGS balance sheet. Additionally, Amanda served as Secretary on the HGS Board of Directors from 2022 to 2023, contributing to the membership and governance of the society.
Recognizing her dedication to the geological community, Amanda was honored with a position in the AAPG House of Delegates, where she will serve from 2023 to 2026, advocating for the interests of gulf coast geoscientists and the future of the profession. Amanda is also a member of the IBA Committee, where, as Education Coordinator, she organized foundational seminars that supported students worldwide in their pursuit of careers in the petroleum, geothermal, and CCS industries.
In addition to these roles, Amanda is passionate about community outreach and education. She organized the AAPG Buffalo Bayou Educator’s Hike, a program that provides K-12 teachers in the Houston area with valuable resources and tools to enhance their teaching of geoscience and environmental topics in local classrooms.
With a commitment to professional excellence and service, Amanda continues to make meaningful contributions to both the energy sector and the broader geoscience community.
