Karen Berry named Colorado State Geologist

Karen Berry has been appointed as Colorado State Geologist and Colorado Geological Survey Director. Berry has served as interim director of the Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) since 2013. CGS joined Colorado School of Mines that year after the state of Colorado transferred CGS to the university. CGS is located on the Mines campus at 1801 19^th St., in Golden.

“Karen’s experience and leadership were instrumental in ensuring the successful transition of the Colorado Geological Survey to Mines,” said Mines President Bill Scoggins. “I am confident that with Karen at the helm, CGS will continue to achieve even greater levels of excellence."

Berry has worked for CGS since 1999 where she has held positions including engineering geologist, land use program manager and deputy director.

“Together, Colorado School of Mines and the Colorado Geological Survey have provided more than two centuries of service to Colorado. I look forward to strengthening the partnership between Mines and CGS for the benefit of the state and earth resources education and research,” Berry said.

Prior to her time with CGS, Berry worked as an exploration geologist for Petro Lewis in Texas, engineering geologist for CRS Sirrine in Arizona, geotechnical reclamation specialist for the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board and county geologist for Jefferson County.

Berry is a Professional Geologist in Colorado and Wyoming; a certified Professional in Storm Water Quality and a certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control by EnviroCert International; and a Certified Planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association.

She serves on number of boards and commissions including the Colorado Advisory Committee, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Western States Seismic Policy Council and Jefferson Conservation District.

Berry earned her bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from Mines in 1982. She has completed graduate courses in geotechnical engineering at the University of Colorado-Denver as well as coursework in Geographic Information Systems from Metropolitan State University of Denver.

[taken from CSM news release]