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Leading the way in supporting Earth science education

Oklahoma Geological Foundation is led by an all-volunteer board of directors. Our board includes individuals working in STEM fields in Oklahoma, retired professionals, and community members who are passionate about science education and student achievement. 

In addition to our board members, we have multiple committees with additional volunteers who work to advance the mission of our organization and increase opportunities for Earth science education in Oklahoma. 

Interested in serving on the board or volunteering for a committee? 

Board of Directors

Joel A. Alberts is currently a self-employed Petroleum Geologist residing in Edmond, Oklahoma.  A 1980 graduate from the School of Geology at the University of Kansas, he has been continually active in the petroleum business for 40 years.  Currently, he is involved in exploration for oil, gas and Rare Earth Elements in numerous play types including both unconventional resource plays as well as conventional projects.  His professional experiences consist of exploration, exploitation, operations including geo-steering, and acquisitions/divestitures with both public and private companies.  He is a Certified Petroleum Geologist through the Division of Profession Affairs (DPA) of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and is a licensed geologist in Texas and Kansas.  

His professional activities include  Advisory Committee for AAPG, former councilor for DPA of AAPG, board member Geology Associates Advisory Board-University of Kansas, Board member and Secretary of the Oklahoma Geological Foundation, Chair of the Oklahoma City Geological Society Field Trip Committee, member of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists and several other committee positions.  

Michael Bone began his career in 2008 with Chesapeake Energy, an Oklahoma oil and gas company.  After leaving the company in 2015, he founded B1 Exploration, a geological consulting firm in Oklahoma City.  Mr. Bone is a managing partner of Glacier Energy, which specializes in oil and gas investments.  He currently works at Lowe’s in Edmond, Oklahoma as a Department Supervisor.   Mr. Bone earned his BS in Geology at Middle Tennessee State University and his MS in Geology and Geophysics at the University of Memphis.  

Michael has always had a passion for teaching and learning Earth Science.  He joined the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Geological Foundation in 2016 to advance that passion for all Oklahoma schools.   He has served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma City Geological Society, and on the House of Delegates for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.  He has served as Vice Chair on the Oklahoma City Chapter of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists.  Michael is a Director of Esteem Education, a non-profit Earth Science education company.

Michael enjoys sharing his knowledge and love of the Earth Sciences.  He especially enjoys travelling with his family and pointing out “geological fun facts” at any given moment along the journey.  He enjoys swimming, the culinary arts, and low-key evenings with his friends and family.

Thomas C. Cronin is currently President and CEO of K. Stewart Exploration LLC. Mr. Cronin’s Oil & Gas career started in 1970, as an exploration geologist with Union Oil of California in Oklahoma City. He worked for several small independent oil and gas companies after leaving Union Oil in 1972, and in 1975, Mr. Cronin became Vice President of Exploration for Hoover & Bracken, subsequently becoming President of the public company Bracken Energy in 1981. In 1985, he formed K. Stewart Petroleum, where he served as CEO and President. 

Mr. Cronin holds a BA Degree in Geology from Southern Methodist University and an MS Degree in Geology from Texas Tech University.

He is a Certified Petroleum Geologist with the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, a member of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, and a member of the Oklahoma City Geological Society, where he has held numerous positions, including Shale Shaker Editor twice and President. He was Technical Program Coordinator of the AAPG-SEPM National Convention held in Oklahoma City in 1978. He has held various positions in the AAPG Mid-Continent Section, serving as Chairman of the 2017 AAPG Mid-Continent Section Convention. Mr. Cronin has received numerous Certificates of Appreciation from the Oklahoma City Geological Society, as well as the Outstanding Member Award, and in 2019, received the Honorary Member Award. 

Mr. Cronin served as a Board Member and Past President of the Downtown Central Branch YMCA and Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City and currently is on the Board of Advisors of the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center. 

Mr. Cronin joined the Oklahoma Geological Foundation as a Director in 2003, and became Chairman of the Foundation in 2005, a position he currently holds.

Lawrence (Larry) Davis is Senior Advisor and Chief Scientist at MAP Royalty, Inc., a Palo Alto based energy investment company. He assumed this role after stepping down as President and Managing Director of MAP’s natural gas activities. Prior to joining MAP, he served as President of Enernet, Inc., an oil and gas consulting and management firm located in Oklahoma City, through which he acted as MAP’s principal acquisition agent from 1998 through 2002. Prior to Enernet, Mr. Davis worked as a petroleum geologist for Terra Resources, DAB Limited, and the Getty Oil Company. 

Mr. Davis holds a BA with High Honors in Archaeology and Geology from Wesleyan University, an MS in Geology from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the University of Oklahoma. 

Mr. Davis is a Certified Petroleum Geologist and a Certified Professional Earth Scientist. Mr. Davis is currently on and the immediate past Chair of the Alumni Advisory Board to the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Michigan. He is a former National Director of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists. Mr. Davis is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Society of Professional Evaluation Engineers, Society of Professional Well Log Analysts, Geological Society of America, and Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists. He is Director and Treasurer of the Oklahoma Geological Foundation and a Trustee Associate of the AAPG Foundation. Mr. Davis is Director of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the incoming president of the Oklahoma Metropolitan Library Endowment Trust and is a past-President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City as well as Temple B’nai Israel in Oklahoma City.

Devin Dennie is Geoscience Manager over the Powder Basin and Williston Basin (Rockies) Business Unit, at Devon Energy Corporation, in Oklahoma City, OK. He has a PhD in Geology and Geophysics, MS in Geology from University of Oklahoma, and Texas Christian University. He has been with Devon for 16 years as both geologist and manager and has worked both North American and International petroleum plays and prospects, including all major basins in the United States.

In addition to his oil and gas endeavors, Devin has also been a writer, director, and on-camera personality in a series of educational and entertainment videos, television series, web series and films about Earth and Earth Science since 2001. These productions include multiple international award-winning documentaries on Earth Science for kids, and two popular YouTube/web series. He can be seen currently on camera as a guest expert on Discovery’s Science Channel on the “What on Earth?” and “Strange Evidence” cable television shows. Devin has also authored two popular children’s books about rocks, minerals and geology published by Penguin/Random House (Dorling Kindersley) of London, England, and has edited or advised on others in circulation. One of these books, “My Book of Rocks and Minerals” was the #1 “Children’s Nature Book” on Amazon.Com by sales from 2017-2019.

Devin has four children, aged 10-16, and lives with his wife, Elizabeth in Piedmont, Oklahoma.

Frank Gagliardi joined the Oklahoma Geological Foundation’s Board in July 2014.  Frank started his career as a well-site geologist in 1979 working on and offshore Gulf Coast.  Having grown up in western Pennsylvania it was a cultural shock working with the crews in southern Louisiana and Texas, but he fell in love with the people, petroleum geology and prospecting for oil and gas. He retired from Chesapeake Energy as Vice President of Geoscience Technology in 2019. 

Frank worked as a Petroleum Geologist for Dominion Resources/Louis Dreyfus, Williford Energy and Hawkins Oil and Gas.  Currently, he is Operating Manager and owner of Harbor Resources LLC.

Mr. Gagliardi holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pennsylvania and a Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University.

Mr. Gagliardi is a Certified Petroleum Geologist through the AAPG Divisional of Professional Affairs. He has served on the AAPG Ballot Committee, AAPG House of Delegates from 1993-2001 and as an alternate House Delegate from 2008-2011.  He is a member of the Tulsa Geological Society (serving as past-president 1995-96), Oklahoma City Geological Society, Kansas Geological Society, and Society of Professional Well Log Analyst.  Frank received the 1999 Certificate of Merit Award from the AAPG in recognition of his continuing service to an affiliated society of the AAPG Mid-Continent Section.

Frank enjoys spending time in nature kayaking and hiking.  He is an avid gardener with a working farm.  

Michael Hale joined the Oklahoma Geological Foundation’s Board of Directors in December 2021.  He has been a geologist in the oil and gas industry since 2008, working for several Oklahoma City companies, including Sandridge Energy and Ascent Resources.  Most recently, he has served as Vice-President of Exploration for Novo Oil & Gas, LLC since 2018.

Michael was born in Binghamton, nestled in the rolling hills of southern New York. As a child, he would often go fossil hunting and camping, which he credits for igniting his passion for nature, geology, and paleontology.  When he was 10 years old, he moved to Raleigh, North Carolina.  He attended undergraduate and graduate school at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, North Carolina earning his Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Geology. At ECU, Michael was awarded the C.Q. Brown Scholarship.  In addition, he collaborated with Senior Scientists from the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (Washington D.C.) for three years on a Petroleum Research Grant  Fund.  Not only was this an amazing opportunity for his career, but it also gave him the opportunity to explore the museum every day after work!

When Michael is not working, he likes to occupy his free time playing with his two daughters, reading, hiking, playing soccer, and traveling. 

Terry L. Hollrah joined the Oklahoma Geological Foundation’s Board of Directors in October 2013.  He is a true Oklahoman having been born in Enid, Oklahoma and was raised on a wheat and dairy farm where he now serves as a Member Manager of Hollrah Farms LLC, which has been a family entity for over 129 years.

He attended Oklahoma State University and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology in 1975 and a Master of Science Degree in Petroleum Geology in 1977.  Terry currently serves on the Boone Pickens School of Geology Advisory Board at OSU.

Mr. Hollrah was employed by the Thomas E. Berry Operating Company while attending college and was later hired by Union Oil Company of California in 1977 as an exploration geologist in the Oklahoma City office.  In 1979, he joined Samedan Oil Corporation as a Division Geologist before becoming an independent/consultant in 1981.  As an independent, he was a well-site geological consultant for various companies on over 135 wells in Oklahoma.  In 1991, Terry established Hollrah Exploration Company as an operating oil and gas exploration firm while continuing to work as a geological consultant.

Terry has been a member of AAPG for over 47 years and is a Certified Petroleum Geologist with the AAPG Division of Professional Affairs for 37 years.  In recognition of his many years of committee services to AAPG, he has received the Distinguished Service Award and Honorary Membership. Mr. Hollrah served twice on the AAPG Executive Committee as Treasurer and as Chairman of the House of Delegates.  He has been a long-time member of the AAPG House of Delegates and has received the House Recognition of Service and their highest award as Honorary Member of the House of Delegates.

Mr. Hollrah served as the AAPG Division of Professional Affairs Vice-President in 1993, President-Elect in 1994, and as the DPA’s youngest President in 1995.  He has received the DPA Distinguished Service and the DPA Honorary Member Awards.

He has been an AAPG Foundation Trustee Associate since 1997 and he currently serves on the national AAPG Insurance Committee. In the past, he has served on the DPA Governmental Affairs Committee and as Chairman of the AAPG Investment Committee. Hollrah is a 32-year member of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists where he has served as Chapter Chairman, on the National Board of Directors for SIPES and is the current Treasurer of the Oklahoma City Chapter.

Born in Stillwater, Lanny Holman is a true native Oklahoman.  He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from Oklahoma State University and has over forty-five years of experience in oil and gas exploration. His many years of expertise came from previous employment with Sun Oil Company, Tenneco Oil Company, Louisiana Land & Exploration Company, Mewbourne Oil Company and later becoming a Geoscience Manager for Chesapeake Energy Corporation. Subsequently in 2013, along with three partners, he established a new exploration company, Red Mountain Energy, LLC.

Mr. Holman is a long-time member of the Alumni Advisory Board of the Boone Pickens School of Geology at Oklahoma State University where he has served as a Director and Chairman. He is a member of several geological organizations including: the Oklahoma City Geological Society, Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the AAPG Division of Professional Affairs where he is a Certified Petroleum Geologist.  As a member of AAPG, Mr. Holman served as a House Delegate for over eighteen years and has served on several other AAPG committees, both at the local and national levels.

In 2021, Lanny received the Honorary Membership Award from the Boone Pickens School of Geology.  Mr. Holman was elected as a Director with the Oklahoma Geological Foundation in 2016 and currently serves as Chairman of the Auction Committee. 

Mr. Holman has a strong interest in furthering education at the elementary, secondary, and higher education levels with an emphasis in the Earth Sciences.  He enjoys gardening, landscaping and has a passion for collecting mineral specimens.  Additionally, he is a member of a traveling club and sports car association.  

Dr. Camelia Knapp is Professor and Department Head of the Boone Pickens School of Geology at Oklahoma State University.  She received B.S. & M.S. Degrees from the University of Bucharest, Romania in Geophysical Engineering, and her Ph.D. Degree from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York in Geophysics and Tectonics.

Dr. Knapp is a past-Director of the Earth Science and Resources Institute, and former Professor of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment Department at the University of South Carolina.

She has received numerous Awards and Fellowships including the Fullbright Scholarship, BP Amoco Caspian Fellowship, University of South Carolina Rising Star, and the Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award.

Dr. Knapp joined the Oklahoma Geology Foundation in 2020 as a Board Director and holds several other Society Memberships including AAPG, SEG, and the GSA.

J. Mark Lester joined the Oklahoma Geological Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2009 and has served as Chair of the Legends Committee since 2012. Mark earned his B.S. in Engineering Geology in 1975 and his M.S. in Geophysics in 1977, both from Purdue University. Mark spent his entire career in oil & gas exploration and managed the Geoscience Department at Chesapeake Energy Corp. from 1989 till his retirement in 2010. He continued working as a consultant in the oil and gas industry for several years and now manages investments for two family LLCs.

Over the years Mark has been involved with several philanthropic Boards, including the Oklahoma School of Science and Math, the Oklahoma Arts Institute, and deadCenter Film. Mark has served on Purdue University’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) Advisory Board and Purdue’s College of Science Dean’s Advisory Board, as well as being an “Old Master” at Purdue. 

Mark is a longtime member of AAPG, SEG and the OCGS. For his career accomplishments and dedication to Purdue University, Mark has been honored as an outstanding alumnus by the EAPS Department as well as the College of Science. 

In his spare time, Mark enjoys hiking, bicycling, snow-skiing, and spending time with his family.

Larry Lunardi is Director of School Services for the Oklahoma Geological Foundation and coordinator for the Rock, Mineral, and Fossil Collection Program. Since 2016 this program has provided over 195 Oklahoma schools and organizations with museum-quality specimens to enhance K-12 Earth Science education.

Larry graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS and MS in Geology and worked in the energy business for the next 35 years as a Geologist and Geophysicist. Since retiring from Chesapeake Energy in 2013, as VP of Geophysics, Larry volunteers as an Earth Science guest speaker in Pre-K through High School science classes all over the state of Oklahoma.

His interest in Earth Science was sparked by his 8th grade science teacher in Chicago, including the inspiration behind the Rock, Mineral, and Fossil collection program.

Mr. Herb Martin joined the Oklahoma Geological Foundation’s Board of Directors in April 2019. He retired from Devon Energy in 2017 after a 35-year career with Devon and Pennzoil.  After beginning his career in prospecting the Gulf Coast Basin, Herb had varied positions in exploration, development and business development across the globe, prior to taking his first management position.  His various management positions included stints across the range of oil and gas leadership, but most enjoyed leading Exploration and Technical service efforts.

In retirement Herb has focused his energy helping advance critical issues important to him and his family – education, hunger, and social equity. He
was born in Pottsville, PA and grew up in Alabama and Illinois, graduating high school in Fort Payne, AL. He earned a BS in Geology from Auburn University in 1979 and an MS in Geology from Louisiana State University in 1985.  The degree from LSU was highlighted by his work on a team that helped catalog the fossil record from one of the most outstanding outcrops in Louisiana, now lost to channelization and sediment cover.  Louisiana summer nights camping…not such a highlight!

He is a member of the Oklahoma City Geological Society and the AAPG, is a registered Professional Geologist in Texas and is a Certified Petroleum Geologist with the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.  While at Devon, Herb was a member of the Corporate Advisory Board (CAB) for the AAPG. He also served on the Board of Directors for the OKC Geological Society.

A commitment to Auburn University led to continuing membership on the College of Sciences and Mathematics Leadership Council, and membership in the Petrie Society.  He is also vice-chairman of the Geoscience Alumni Board at Auburn.

Other significant personal interests include a lifelong affiliation with Boy Scouts usually in a leadership role. He also has been involved in coaching youth sports, church leadership and served on the Board of Directors for the Energy Employees Federal Credit Union.   

Dr. Molly Yunker joined the Oklahoma Geological Foundation’s Board of Directors in December 2020. She has been the Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Oklahoma Geological Survey since August 2017.

Molly’s passion lies at the intersection of Geology and Education. She grew up in Rochester, NY, and attended Case Western Reserve University where she earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Geological Sciences. She earned her Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Michigan, where she studied the design and development of science curricula that integrates the outdoor learning environment. Molly spent two years as a Fulbright Scholar and postdoctoral researcher in Israel and was honored to be able to help lead workshops in Argentina to a group of teachers from Uruguay and Paraguay. She has worked collaboratively with scientists, researchers, educators, and the public to bring earth science concepts to people of all ages, in a variety of contexts – she even worked in a cave for a year!


In her free time, Molly loves to be outdoors – visiting new places and eating, canoeing, camping, and hiking. She is a doula, a breastfeeding counselor, a Meals on Wheels volunteer, and enjoys water coloring, reading, gardening, and spending time with her husband, son, and puppy.

Join a Committee

We have lots of great committees for you to join! 

Auction, Chair – Lanny Holman

Audit, Chair – Lawrence Davis

Communications, Chair – Frank Gagliardi

Donor & Sponsor Development, Chair – Michael E. Hale

Finance, Chair – Lawrence Davis

Girl Scout, Chair – Molly Yunker

Grants & Awards, Chair – Molly Yunker

Governance, Chair –  Joel Alberts

Legends, Chair – J. Mark Lester

More! Rocks in Your Head, Chair – Frank Gagliardi

Program Development, Chair – Herbert G. Martin

Publications & Marketing, Chair – Terry L. Hollrah

School Services, Chair – Larry Lunardi

STEM Outreach, Chair – Devine Dennie

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