Christina "Tina" Neal is a

volcanologist A volcanologist, or volcano scientist, is a geologist who focuses on understanding the formation and eruptive activity of volcanoes. Volcanologists frequently visit volcanoes, sometimes active ones, to observe and monitor volcanic eruptions, col ...

and an honoree for the

Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals Samuel ''Šəmūʾēl'', Tiberian: ''Šămūʾēl''; ar, شموئيل or صموئيل '; el, Σαμουήλ ''Samouḗl''; la, Samūēl is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the bib ...

. Neal was the Scientist in Charge at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory from 2015 to 2021. Neal took over as the director of the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Science Center on May 9, 2021.

Education

Neal is a native of Connecticut and graduated from

Brown University Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...

in 1980 with a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in geological sciences. In 1986, she received a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in geology from

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...

Career

From 1983-1989, Neal worked for the

United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...

at the

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is an agency of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and one of five volcano observatories operating under the USGS Volcano Hazards Program. Based in Hilo, Hawaii, the observatory monitors six Hawaiian volcanoe ...

. In 1990, she joined the newly established

Alaska Volcano Observatory The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is a joint program of the United States Geological Survey, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (ADGGS). AVO ...

in Anchorage, Alaska, where she monitored eruptions in the

Aleutian arc The Aleutian Arc is a large volcanic arc in the U.S. state of Alaska. It consists of a number of active and dormant volcanoes that have formed as a result of subduction along the Aleutian Trench. Although taking its name from the Aleutian Islands ...

and investigated of the eruption history and volcanic hazards along the

Alaska Peninsula The Alaska Peninsula (also called Aleut Peninsula or Aleutian Peninsula, ale, Alasxix̂; Sugpiaq: ''Aluuwiq'', ''Al'uwiq'') is a peninsula extending about to the southwest from the mainland of Alaska and ending in the Aleutian Islands. The ...

and the eastern Aleutians. In 1998, Neal took a two-year posting at the

United States Agency of International Development The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 bil ...

in Washington, DC as the first USGS geoscience advisor to the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, where she assisted with and reviewed hazard mitigation programs for several countries, including Thailand, Nepal, Ecuador, Colombia, and Kazakhstan, among others. She returned in 2000 to the

as a staff geologist, mapping and studying active Alaskan volcanoes. In March 2015, she became the Scientist in Charge at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. In 2019, Neal and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Team was a Science and Environment finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. Neal became the director of the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Science Center on May 9, 2021. Among her other duties, she manages the National Volcano Early Warning System.

References

External links

Interview with Neal from Oregon State's Volcano World

USGS profile
Volcanologists United States Geological Survey personnel Living people Year of birth missing (living people) {{Scientist-stub