Devin Levang
Devin Levang began his graduate education in the fall of 2020 with a focus on structural geology and is set to finish up his master’s thesis on the magnetic fabric of the Southern Iberian Shear Zone this summer with Dyanna Czeck advising. Prior to UWM, Devin graduated with a B.S. in geology from Sonoma State University in California. After an initial false start in undergrad and nearly a decade of working odd jobs, Devin jumped on the junior college route, taking online and night classes while completing a transfer track to Sonoma State. At SSU, Devin worked with Professor Owen Anfinson on the detrital zircon geochronology and sediment provenance of the Andrée Land Basin in Svalbard, Norway. Aside from geology, Devin enjoys watching baseball, listening to records, and being in the outdoors – whether that be hiking, camping, or fishing. Devin is excited to share not only his love of rocks and the processes that shape them with our GO FoRWARD students, but also his experience as an example that there are all sorts of different paths one can take to move forward in their academic career.
Jake Potter
Jake started his Masters degree in 2020 during the fall semester and is working with Dr. Victoria McCoy on the functional morphology of the Tully Monster. He just defended his Masters thesis, and will transition to a PhD focusing on more complicated fluid modeling for the Tully Monster’s swimming mechanics. Before starting grad school at UWM, Jake was a Biology and French double major at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He originally planned to be a microbiologist studying astrobiology before helping Dr. Amanda Falk with paleontology field work in 2018. Jake was immediately hooked on paleontology and started research on Sharovipteryx mirabilis’s gliding capabilities as an undergraduate John C. Young Scholar. Apart from his paleontology research, Jake also conducted research on humanities topics like environmental existentialism, Finnish design, and Polynesian cultural restoration after colonialism. Jake is excited to share his passion for paleontology this summer as a GO FoRWARD mentor and hopes to encourage underrepresented students to embrace interdisciplinary approaches in the geosciences and in other fields. Apart from being a student, Jake enjoys driving, cooking, baking, and drawing.