Former students establish professorship to honor earthquake expert
Some students express their appreciation for their teacher with simple gifts—homemade cookies, or an apple on the desk. But former students of emeritus geology professor Bob Yeats felt so strongly about the impact he had on their lives, they helped raise $500,000 to start an endowed professorship in his honor.
“Bob Yeats was a tough teacher of challenging subjects, and he truly provided us with the practical aspects of science,” said Gary Blackie, the current president of Bois d’Arc Energy, LLC. “He was one of the professors who taught me the most, and I am glad to help recognize him with this professorship.”
Yeats, who remains an active researcher even in retirement, is a leading West Coast earthquake expert. He is particularly well-known for his work on the fault that caused the disastrous 1994 Northridge earthquake in California’s San Fernando Valley. During a 36-year career at OSU and at Ohio University, Yeats mentored more than 50 graduate students, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in science and industry. More than 30 alumni and colleagues of Yeats made pledges and gifts to launch the professorship.
“I am humbled that my name is attached to this position, and I consider it a great honor,” said Yeats. “Working at OSU following a decade at Ohio University has been the high point of my career, and I’m especially thankful for the great students who threw in their lots with me at a critical time in their lives.”
The Robert S. Yeats Professorship of Earthquake Geology and Active Tectonics will help support a faculty member who will build on Yeats’ legacy and further strengthen OSU’s research in earth hazards. OSU is home to a cluster of world-leading scientists, engineers and public policy experts specializing in tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods and other natural disasters.
Learn more about endowed positions at OSU
