The Department of Geology and Environmental Science Senior Distinguished Alumni Award was established to recognize and honor the outstanding achievements of our younger alumni. The award highlights the diversity and quality of the contributions our younger alumni have made to the enrichment of our profession. The department is especially pleased to award Dr. Cheryl J. Hapke the 2023 Department of Geology and Environmental Science Senior Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dr. Cheryl Hapke is a coastal geologist with more than 25 years of experience studying coastal evolution and coastal change processes in a variety of geomorphic settings. Dr. Hapke worked for several decades with the U.S. Geological Survey as a research scientist, and now is a senior consultant in coastal resiliency with Integral Consulting. She also has an appointment as a research professor at the University of South Florida, College of Marine Science. Her current research focuses on coastal vulnerability and sea-level rise adaptation, developing new tools and approaches to evolve the science of coastal hazards and risk. She has authored over 80 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and technical reports, and served as a subject matter expert on coastal change hazards to local, state, and federal agencies, and international groups. She was selected as the 2020-21 Jahn’s Distinguished Lecturer by the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists and also received a Presidential Citation from the Association in 2021.