Carla Koretsky

Carla Koretsky is a Professor of Geosciences and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University. She holds dual affiliations with the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences and the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Her academic career spans over three decades, with a Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Johns Hopkins University (1998) and a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis (1992), where she graduated cum laude with minors in Economics and Music Performance.

Her research focuses on aqueous and biogeochemical processes, particularly the interactions between contaminants and natural waters/sediments. Notable projects include studies on road salt impacts on lake ecosystems, surface complexation modeling of metal adsorption, and collaborative efforts to advance STEM equity. Her work has been supported by over $1M in grants from agencies like the NSF and DOE.

• Education: PhD (1998), MA (1995) – Johns Hopkins University; BA (1992) – Washington University in St. Louis
• Awards: NSF CAREER Award, Geochemical Society Distinguished Service Award, Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award
• Leadership Roles: Dean of College of Arts and Sciences (current), Past Dean of Lee Honors College

Recent scholarly contributions emphasize institutional leadership and equity initiatives, including cross-institutional mentoring programs and bias reduction in academic evaluations. Her research bridges environmental geochemistry with societal challenges, such as urban water quality and sustainable infrastructure practices.

Dr. Koretsky has mentored numerous students through field-based courses and research projects, fostering hands-on learning in environmental geochemistry. Her lab integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining field observations with laboratory experiments and computational modeling to address complex environmental systems.