Katie Sweeney JD, AASG Pick and Gavel Award 2026 recipient

The 2026 AASG Pick and Gavel Award has been presented to Katie Sweeney, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the National Mining Association, by AASG President and Colorado State Geologist Matt Morgan. Katie has been a respected advocate for the essential role of mining, and a good friend of AASG, for many years. The award honors people who have made significant contributions to advancing the role of geoscience in public policy and who have supported AASG’s goals in government affairs. Thank you for your ongoing service, Katie!

Walter A. Anderson, State Geologist of Maine from 1978 to 1995

Walter Anderson died on February 15, two weeks before his 96th birthday. He was born in Worcester MA in 1930, and studied geology at UMass and Rochester. In the 50s and 60s, he worked for Texaco in Houston. In 1968, he joined the Maine Geological Survey as Assistant State Geologist. He served as State Geologist from 1978 until his retirement in 1995. Walter worked with great integrity, as he built and broadened the Survey for the immense benefit of the people of Maine. He was very active in AASG, and led an active service in geology during retirement. He will be missed.

Mimi Garstang to receive Missouri State honorary doctorate

Missouri State University will grant its 25th honorary doctorate to alumna Mimi Garstang. “Mimi is deserving of this doctorate because she is the embodiment of Missouri State’s public affairs mission,” said the selection committee chair. “She has done so much for the field of geology and the state of Missouri.” In 1972, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in geology from what was then Southwest Missouri State University. In 1978, she joined the Missouri Geological Survey. She rose through the ranks and made history as the first woman to serve as state geologist of Missouri and director of the Missouri Geological Survey in 2000 – a position she held until 2008. Congratulations, Mimi!

- Missouri State

Ed Murphy to complete his time as North Dakota State Geologist

Edward C. Murphy will soon complete his time as Director of the North Dakota Geological Survey, a position he has held since 2004, when he was successor to John  Bluemle. Ed earned his B.S. in 1979 and his M.S. in 1983 in Geology from the University of North Dakota. He has worked as a geologist for the North Dakota Geological Survey for 46 years. Ed grew up in Bismarck as the son of a petroleum geologist. The position has been advertised. Well done, Ed!