Leadership Team

Growing up among the volcanic Cascade Mountains of Oregon, Brennan van Alderwerelt has long fostered a deep love and appreciation for the many majesties of the Earth, and his main goal is to bring some of that passion for the natural world into your life!

Dr. Brennan received a bachelor’s degree in Physics from UC Davis in 2010, worked for the California Department of Water Resources for a while, then eventually completed his PhD in Geoscience at the University of Iowa in 2017. He joined the Auburn Department of Geosciences as a lecturer in January 2019 and teaches courses in introductory Earth science, geochemistry, environmental geology, mineral resources, and geologic field mapping.

He is committed to student engagement at Auburn, serving as the Undergraduate Program Officer, advising the student GeoClub, leading outreach and recruitment efforts, and advocating for better representation of all types of people in the geosciences. Dr. Brennan’s geologic research mainly focuses on understanding the origins of volcanoes along subduction zones, but he has also worked on a wide variety of projects, from estuary ecosystem health to the formation of Martian volcanic sands! Along with his love of the outdoors, Dr. Brennan also enjoys gardening, traveling, playing synthesizers, kickin’ it with cats, riding his bike, and hanging out with his dog.