Kari LaPierre
Degree Held:
B.S. magna cum laude with honors in Geology, minor in Outdoor Studies, St. Lawrence University, 2019
Degree Sought:
M.S. Earth Sciences
Advisor:
David McWethy
Preferred Email Address:
Research and Professional Experience:
Senior Honors Thesis, OBSERVATIONS ON CRAYFISH PREDATION IN NORTHERN NEW YORK
- Presented research at the St. Lawrence University Festival of Science (Spring 2018)
- Poster presentation at the annual Geological Society of America conference in November 2018
Paleontology Intern, New York State Museum, Albany, NY, June 2018-August 2018
- Organized and properly housed specimens in the Paleontology collection, incorporated donations
- Created new specimen label template and implemented its use in the collection
- Worked with museum colleagues to coordinate the New York State Earth Science Teachers Workshop
- Obtained price quotes on materials to be purchased for the Teaching Collection
- Worked in the field collecting specimens
- Developed information sheets about important paleontological sites
Climbing Wall Co-Manager, Munro Family Climbing Wall, Canton, NY, September 2016-May 2019
- Create staff schedules and plan events
- Perform wall maintenance and design, set, and grade climbing routes
- Interview and train new staff members
- Run climbing wall social media accounts and respond to emails and event requests
Guide, St Lawrence University Outdoor Program, Canton, NY, May 2017-May 2019
- Co-led a ten-day climbing trip to Joshua Tree National Park, California for 13 people
- Planned and prepared itineraries, food, and gear for trips ranging from 3 to 20 participants
- Independently managed groups of peers on trips
- Taught technical climbing skills to trip participants
- Led discussions on modern outdoor recreational ethics in the climbing community
Field Course Teaching Assistant, October 2018
- Co-led a week-long field course to the Colorado Plateau region alongside Dr. Jeffery Chiarenzelli
- Planned group gear and travel logistics
- Helped execute field exercises and answered student questions
Teaching Assistant, St. Lawrence University Geology Department, Canton, NY, January 2017-May 2017
- Teaching Assistant for Dynamic Earth and Historical Geology (on-campus courses)
- Led review sessions catering to all learning styles
- Graded student’s exams and other assignments in a timely manner to department grading standards
- Addressed student’s questions and clarified difficult concepts and ideas using both verbal and visual methods
Publications:
LaPierre, K. and Nagel-Myers, J. 2018. Observations on crayfish predation in northern New York. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 50, No. 6
Honors and Awards:
- Charles B. Scanlon Award, 2019
- Travel Grant, August 2018
- Internship Fellowship, May 2018
- Sigma Gamma Epsilon Honor Society, 2017-2019
Certifications:
Wilderness First Responder
- Completed five-day course to obtain certification, recertified June 2019
- Certified to administer medical treatment in a wilderness setting
- CPR and First Aid certification included in WFR certification
American Mountain Guides Association Certified Lead Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI)
- Completed 20-hour program to obtain nationally recognized certification
- Certified to instruct beginner to advanced climbing skills including lead climbing in a climbing gym setting