Olivet Nazarene University

Charles Carrigan

Charles Carrigan joined the Olivet Nazarene faculty in 2004 after working on his doctoral degree in geology at the University of Michigan. He teaches courses in mineralogy, petrology, natural resources and environmental issues, geochemistry and structural geology. He enjoys working with students and helping them succeed in the classroom, the laboratory and in life. He has led several field trips to geologically interesting sites in Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, and Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Carrigan's research applies the principles and techniques of chemistry to the study of Earth processes. His research focuses on geochronology, isotope geochemistry and mineral reactions to unravel problems in plate tectonics. He is especially interested in the genesis of igneous and metamorphic rocks, the history of tectonic plate motion and mountain building. His master's thesis was on basement rocks of the southern Appalachians, and for his dissertation research he traveled to the eastern Alps of Bulgaria. He has regularly worked with students in the summer undergraduate research program at Olivet.

He has also published numerous abstracts at geologic conferences, served as a conference session co-chairman, and both published and reviewed articles for professional Earth science journals.

Dana, his wife, works with the Olivet radio station Shine.FM in donor relationship development. They attend College Church of the Nazarene and have a young daughter, Carly.