Citation by Alicia Kahn
Jennifer has been the backbone of Career Services at GSA since 2006, running programs and coordinating volunteers. She runs short courses, field courses, panels, resume workshops, and luncheons; often with 10s of events overlapping, all while managing the GeoCareers lounge area that is open for students throughout the annual GSA meetings. The “ease” with which she performs these tasks is characterized by her ready smile and willingness stop and answer any questions. It is the combination of her personability, her organization, her enthusiasm, and the very magnitude of events she runs that make her an absolute force. This is not just a job for Jennifer but a passion and one that she overachieves in every day. GSA and the geologic community benefit from the loyalty that Jennifer engenders in her volunteers and the students who return year after year to work with her or benefit from her superbly run programs.
Response by Jennifer Nocerino
Between working for GSA, AGU, and teaching in graduate school, I have spent more than 30 years working with students. My 16 years at GSA have given me the opportunity to work with some of the brightest and kindest students I have ever had the pleasure to interact with. From mentor programs and career workshops, to short courses, our students have repeatedly thanked me. I would not be able to help our students without the multitude of professional GSA members I see sitting in this room. I’m sure I have reached out to each one of you at some point to serve as a mentor, sit on a panel, or teach a short course. The willingness of everyone in this room to volunteer their time year after year has been amazing. Your kindness and graciousness make my job easy. I thank each one of you for volunteering your time to our next generation of geoscientists. I thank you all for being such a pleasure to work with. I thank you all for being a part of our community. Finally, a special thank you to my family for your understanding that my travel schedule and late nights allow me to help a phenomenal group of young people.