Margaret M. Yacobucci

Dr. Margaret M. Yacobucci is a Professor of Geology in the School of Earth, Environment & Society at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), where she has served since 1999, progressing from Assistant Professor to her current rank of Professor (achieved in 2015). She holds a Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard University (1999) and an A.B. in Geophysical Sciences from the University of Chicago (1991).

Dr. Yacobucci's research spans two primary domains:

• Paleobiology of Cephalopods: Focusing on ammonoid evolution, biodiversity patterns, and responses to environmental change during the Cretaceous period, particularly investigating how ancient marine organisms responded to greenhouse climate conditions.
• Equity in STEM: Examining gender biases in academia, developing inclusive leadership practices, and creating allyship programs to support women and underrepresented groups in scientific fields.

Her work bridges traditional paleontological research with contemporary social issues in science, demonstrating how understanding past climate change can inform our response to current environmental challenges while simultaneously working to make scientific communities more inclusive and equitable.

Dr. Yacobucci's scholarly output reveals a clear progression from purely paleontological research toward increasingly interdisciplinary work that connects fossil studies with modern climate concerns and social justice issues in science. Her recent publications show a strong emphasis on understanding how ancient marine ecosystems responded to climate change, while simultaneously addressing systemic barriers faced by women and minority scientists.

Scientific Recognition

• Fellow of the Paleontological Society (2020)
• BGSU Faculty Senate Distinguished Service Award (2020)
• BGSU Women of Distinction Award (2016)

As an academic advisor, Dr. Yacobucci has mentored over 60 undergraduate and 20 master's student research projects. Her current grant portfolio includes significant funding from the National Science Foundation, notably as Lead PI for "BGSU ALLIES: Building Inclusive Leadership Practices and Policies to Transform the Institution" (NSF ADVANCE-Adaptation project, Award No. 1760389, 2018-2023) and Co-PI for research on "Associations between Climate Shifts and Ammonoid Turnover" (NSF Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology project, Award No. 2129629, 2022-2025).

Dr. Yacobucci leads collaborative research teams focused on both paleontological investigations and institutional transformation for greater equity in STEM. Her work with the Paleontological Society as "This IS PS (Inclusive and Safe) Liaison" and with the Geological Society of America as "RISE (Respectful, Inclusive Scientific Events) Liaison" demonstrates her commitment to creating more inclusive scientific communities.