Beyond all the challenges of 2021, this year also marked the retirement of Prof. Bud Wobus, bringing his storied, fifty-five year teaching career at Williams to end. Bud’s career and contributions were honored at both our annual department picnic in late May and again at the college’s Senior Celebration graduation ceremony in early June.
At the May picnic, the Alumni Office presented Bud with a book of photos collected from his 55 year tenure at the college, as well as special, framed picture from the first Alumni Travel Study trip, which Bud led. The book and photo were presented by Geos alumni Mike Rodriguez ’17, who is, unsurprisingly, one of Bud’s former students. The department was also very proud to publicly announce – and very pleased to surprise Bud with the news – that the rock garden and outdoor teaching space adjacent to our new home in Wachenheim Science Center will bear his name: The Bud Wobus Rock Garden. More information on the rock garden can be found here.
During the Senior Celebration, President Maud Mandel, praised the longevity of Bud’s commitment to the college, his pioneering efforts to involve undergraduates in original research, and his extensive body of research on the geology of his beloved southern Colorado mountains.
No surprise to any of us who know him, Bud refuses to slow down in retirement. Working from the same office in Clark Hall that he has occupied for decades, Bud is continuing his research on Colorado geology and has also begun work on book about the same subject.
Beyond our department, Bud’s contributions to the geoscience research and teaching are also being recognized by the Geological Society of America, who will host topical session in his honor at the 2021 Annual Meeting. Learn more about the session here.
Megamenu Social