Wayne State remembers John M. Zawiskie
John Mark Zawiskie was an alumnus and joined the Department of Environmental Science and Geology at Wayne State University as an assistant professor (tenure track) in 1983 and continued until 1986.
In 1987, he joined the department as Adjunct faculty and continued in that position until Winter 2020. John had done extensive work as a field geologist and paleontologist in many places around the world, including Antarctica (including the South Pole), Patagonia in Argentina, Canadian Shield, Australia (Tasmania), Utah, Wyoming and Michigan. John was a wonderful colleague, mentor, authentically enthusiastic and passionate teacher and friend - a legend within the Department of Environmental Science and Geology at Wayne State University.
He consistently went above and beyond to share his vast knowledge with others and to support students and remove barriers to their success. Despite his brilliant achievements in scholarly research, he is perhaps best remembered for his personality and his kindness -he made time for everyone. He took time to inspire, teach and mentor students as well as many members of the community, and was a very passionate and excellent teacher with a high quality of teaching.
The department is in the process of creating an endowed fund in John Zawiskie's memory that will financially support students attending geology field camps, and conferences for those presenting their research. As you know, this is an important experience for both undergraduate and graduate geology students.
As it has been over a year since we held a virtual memorial ceremony in memory of John, we ask you to consider your first or an additional or multi-year donation toward helping us reach our goal of endowing a Zawiskie Memorial Scholarship and cement a permanent impact in John's memory. Such an endowed fund would continue John's tradition of connecting students to opportunities for personal and professional growth. We have raised $5,000 already and need to raise an additional $20,000 to permanently endow the John M. Zawiskie Memorial Support Fund in Geology; which would provide the department's students with support every year in perpetuity and ensure there will always be departmental funding for student field camp and conference experiences.
Please consider making a one-time gift or recurring annual gift and help us to reach our goal.