ATU’s Patton Earns National Award for Service – Arkansas Tech University

Arkansas Tech University faculty member Dr. Jason Patton has earned the 2024 Charles R. Sherman Award from the Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG).

Named for the first president of ASBOG, the Sherman Award recognizes organization leaders for meritorious service and mentoring through their involvement with ASBOG.

ASBOG has worked since 1990 to support common interests among state boards of geology related to reciprocity, examinations, policies and procedures. The primary function of the organization is to create and administer the national licensing exam for geology.

Patton, ATU professor of geology, served on the ASBOG executive committee from 2018-22 and was the national organization’s president in 2021. He participated in the 2023 ASBOG task analysis survey workshop, the 2023 ASBOG gap analysis workshop and the 2024 ASBOG item writing workshop. He currently supports the organization by serving as chair of the examinations committee.

Additionally, Patton has participated as a subject matter expert at 18 ASBOG Council of Examiners workshops since 2015, he has provided leadership for the ASBOG strategic planning process and he has represented ASBOG in professional outreach through Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists webinars and Geological Society of America sectional and national meetings.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award from ASBOG,” said Patton. “Volunteering with this national organization for nearly 10 years has been both immensely rewarding for myself and truly beneficial for our students. Collaborating closely with some of the most respected geologists in the country has enriched my own understanding and allowed me to bring invaluable insights back into the classroom. As a result, over the last few years we have redesigned our geology curriculum to better prepare our students for the geology licensure exam upon graduation. I am grateful for this recognition and look forward to continuing my work with ASBOG for many years to come.”

A member of the ATU faculty since 2008, Patton holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas Tech, a Master of Science degree from Murray State University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Arkansas. He was appointed to the Arkansas Geological Survey in 2020 and has previously served the State of Arkansas on the State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists.

Patton has worked with his ATU geology faculty colleagues to reshape their program’s curriculum to ensure that graduates are prepared for emerging career opportunities related to the discovery and recovery of critical elements such as lithium.

As a result, the name of the credential offered through the program is now the Bachelor of Science degree in geosciences. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median pay for geoscientists in the United States in May 2022 was $87,480.

Learn more at www.atu.edu/bioearthsciences/geology/index.php.