Connor is a 2013 graduate from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology- Geography. While at Ohio University, Connor was a forecaster at Scalia Lab as well as the Vice President and Events Coordinator for the Ohio University chapter of the American Meteorological Society. His research at Ohio University involved working with the National Weather Service in Charleston, WV to examine a tornado outbreak in southeastern Ohio using a lightning jump algorithm.

Connor graduated with a Master’s in Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT) in 2015. At SDSMT, he was a graduate research assistant in the storm penetrating A-10 aircraft research group and developed a surface hail size model to aid mission guidance using NCAR’s TITAN software suite.

Connor completed his Ph.D. at University at Albany, State University of New York and was a Project Research Assistant at the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC). His research at the ASRC involved the analysis of dropsonde-derived vertical velocities in tropical cyclones and the design/development of a prototype vertical velocity dropsonde for use in hurricane research. He participated in the 2015 Tropical Cyclone Intensity experiment funded by the Office of Naval Research. His prototype dropsondes were used as part of the 2019 DAWN Lidar verification campaign. While in New York, Connor was an adjunct faculty member at SUNY Schenectady, where he taught College Mathematics.

Connor is currently a Research Associate at the University of Colorado–Boulder in the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences department. His current research involves the analysis of convective initiation during the 2018–2019 RELAMPAGO–CACTI project and high-resolution simulations of convection interacting with terrain using large-eddy simulation models.

Outside of work, Connor enjoys traveling with his wife (Brianne–NCAR Associate Scientist), playing with his son (Carter), playing soccer and guitar, watching sports, and, of course, rooting for the Bobcats!

Biography

Gwen is a junior double majoring in meteorology and geology. She is from Buffalo, NY and therefore loves snow, snow-related activities, and wings. In her free time, Gwen likes to explore the outdoors and collect a lot of heavy and largely boring-looking rocks. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in hydrology or paleoclimatology, preferably somewhere that is cold and has a Tim Horton’s.

Hallie Dusselier graduated from Ohio University with a Masters in Meteorology in 2016. During her time at OU, Hallie studied Antarctic climatology under Dr. Ryan Fogt. Hallie was also an active member of OUCAMS during her two years. Shortly after graduation, Hallie started a job at the National Weather Service in Omaha, Nebraska. Since starting with the National Weather Service, Hallie has learned and grown in her first love of operational forecasting, but has also enjoyed the opportunity to begin to step up and utilize her climatological background in the office.

Nate started his educational path at Ohio University when he transferred there during his junior year. After getting involved with the meteorology club his first year, he was elected Outreach Chair. This allowed him to become more involved with the members of the meteorology program, but more importantly, he, along with members of the club, were able to invest time in the community through various outreach activities. After graduating in 2013, Nate received the opportunity to volunteer with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio. Realizing that he needed more experience to begin his career in the NWS, he applied to the Ohio University graduate program. He was accepted and received the Associate Director position for the Scalia Lab.

Under Dr. Jana Houser, he researched the potential role surface roughness and changing elevation might play in the evolution of tornado intensity. After the amazing two-year graduate school adventure, he applied for multiple meteorologist intern positions for the NWS throughout the country. He was fortunate enough to receive a position in Jacksonville, Florida where he continues to progress in his career. He is incredibly thankful for the people and experiences at Ohio University, which allowed him to pursue this path of success. If any student ever has any questions about a career in the NWS, they can reach him at nate.mcginnis@noaa.gov.

While at Ohio University, Marshall served as the Fundraising Chair for OUCAMS his junior and senior years. He received a B.S. in Meteorology/Geography in spring 2017. He is currently pursuing an M.S. in Atmospheric Science at the University at Albany (UAlbany), SUNY. With advisory by Dr. Lance Bosart, Marshall’s thesis research is focused on investigating the large-scale extratropical-tropical interactions that lead to high-impact anomalous dry season Caribbean rainstorms. He is also employed by UAlbany as a teaching assistant during spring and fall semesters, as well as a research assistant during the summer. After he receives his M.S., Marshall will either continue his education or enter the job market with hopes of employment by the National Weather Service—whichever direction the flow of atmospheric knowledge and opportunity carries him.

Marshall enjoys running, playing piano, and cooking in his spare time.

Over my 4 years at OU I spent majority of time studying and participating in OUCAMS. My first two years were semi-involved in OUCAMS, but the last 2 I was a lot more involved. I tried volunteering for as many events as possible, as well as balancing my time spent working at Scalia Laboratory for Atmospheric Analysis. After my first year learning about basic Meteorology, we started to forecast Sophomore year and I fell in love with it ever since. I’ve always been the type of person who was curious and always wanted to know how things worked and why.

Forecasting was one of those things that got me extremely excited and I always looked forward to seeing my predictions fold-out, and why/why-not my predictions happened. I also kept a weather journal for three years. I seemed to have good intuition for forecasting as well, which helped when forecasting for WxChallenge. I participated in WxChallenge for 3 years, got top 200 my 2nd year overall and right around top 100 my last (senior) year overall as well. Junior year I tried applying for the lead forecasting position, and at the time Scalia Lab only had two positions available. The Lead Forecaster and the Web Master. Unfortunately a very good senior forecaster was selected for the Lead Forecasting position, but Dr. Fogt and Nate Mcginnis (Associate Director of Scalia Lab) suggested opening a new position called the “Intern Forecaster”. They asked me if I wanted this position and I was more than happy to accept this role. I’ve never been so grateful for anything at OU as I have for this position and then taking on the role as Lead Forecaster my senior year.

Towards the end of senior year I had some personal issues arise and when senior year ended I took one year off to just work. This Fall/Winter, of 2018, I plan on looking for a Operational forecasting position and/or working for a Private Sector company. I saved up a lot of money to build a PC that I can possibly use for a Remote forecasting position as well. I am leaving my opportunities open for my job position, but mainly looking for a Forecasting position.

Simone Lewis graduated from OU in 2003 as a Geography-Pre Meteorology Major, with minors in math and physics. She then went to Ball State for her M.S. degree in 2005, and while there, did a summer internship with the NWS Indianapolis office. Simone then entered the National Weather Service in 2006 at the Boise, Idaho office, moving to her current position as General Forecaster at the Charleston, WV office in 2009. She has been a part of numerous events while in the weather service, including forest fires, flooding events, and Bridge Day. Outside of weather, Simone enjoys hiking/nature, history, and exploring graveyards.

Kevin Thiel graduated Magna Cum Laude as a Meteorology Major with Honors and a Mathematics Minor in 2018. Throughout his time at Oho University, Kevin was involved with numerous activities on campus, including Hall Council President, Resident Assistant, OU WxChallenge Tournament Champion, OUCAMS Outreach Chair, Scalia Lab Webmaster, and the first person to be elected OUCAMS President twice (even with his excessive puns).

As a sophomore, Kevin began forecasting for the Scalia Lab in the GEOG 3040 Forecasting Practicum, and a few months later was selected as the Scalia Lab Webmaster, which he held for two years. He walked into the position with no website design and management experience, but was able to move the website for the first time in 25 years. Once this was done, new products such as the Radar, Climate Analysis, Hocking River, Satellite, Social Media, and Winter Weather Analysis pages were built, along with a redesigned Technical Forecast page. Kevin also installed analytics across the entire website, and created quarterly analytics reports to increase traffic and page views. In his final semester, Kevin moved the OUCAMS website to the AMS servers with a total redesign along the way, and worked closely with Red Tail Design for the most recent version of the Scalia Lab website.

Academically, Kevin selected as part of the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program in 2016. He then completed a research project with the National Weather Service in Miami, FL during the summer of 2017, titled Relating Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor and Dual-Polarization Products to Lightning and Thunderstorm Severity Potential. After his Hollings project was finished, he presented his work at the AMS 98th Annual Meeting. Kevin then continued his research as an undergraduate honors thesis, with Dr. Jana Houser serving as his advisor.

Amongst everything Kevin did at Ohio University, he absolutely loved being a part of OUCAMS, taking on leadership roles in the chapter beginning his Freshman year. He helped lead OUCAMS to AMS Chapter Honor Roll in 2016 and 2017, the Edwin L. Kennedy Community Service Award in 2017, and the OUCAMS banner to place in the AMS Chapter Banner Contest in 2018 (3rd place). OUCAMS was more than just a club, resume builder, and networking tool, it was like a second family. The friendships he built are what he cherished the most, and he encourages anyone to be involved in their local AMS Chapter, especially OUCAMS!

Kevin is currently a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing his Masters degree in Meteorology. He hopes to one day acquire his PhD in Meteorology, and enter the field of academia/research, with the prospects of developing operational products for forecasters to better protect life and property, or continue into lightning research and serve as a professor at the university level.

“Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions/advice. I’m always willing to help out a fellow Bobcat!”

Alex was an undergraduate at Ohio University from 2013 to 2017 and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Meteorology. During his time at OU he was involved with many musical groups; the Singing Men of Ohio, the Picardy Thirds (a cappella group), and University Band. He worked along side former visiting assistant professor of Meteorology, Scott Reinemann, on his senior thesis titled The Microscale Effects of Mountainous Environments on Temperature and Humidity on the Snake Range. He is currently working as a forecaster/consulting meteorologist for Neoweather LLC located in Northeast Ohio.