Dr. Caroline Whitehill, the new science and public broadcasting teacher at Patagonia Union High School, has taught for over 20 years at a multitude of colleges and universities including Vanderbilt, Stanford, and currently Pima Community College. This is her first year teaching at the high school level.
“I really enjoy teaching and living in Patagonia,” she said in a recent interview. “The students are great.”
Dr. Whitehill graduated from Louisiana State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Geology/Geophysics/Archaeology. She received her Master’s in Geology/Archaeology at Vanderbilt, and earned her Ph.D. in Structural Geology and Tectonics at Stanford.
Outside of teaching, Dr. Whitehill has worked as a consulting geologist and research scientist for a wide range of projects, including a two-year turn with the United States Geological Survey in the Earthquake Hazards Group at Menlo Park, CA. She also received a Fulbright scholarship to work in Colombia, where she focused on science education, technology transfer, and computational sciences as applied to geohazards.
As an active Sky Islands Tourism Association board member, Dr. Whitehill has begun the process of starting a rockhounding, gem, and mineral club based at her shop, EARTHspace at Plaza de Patagonia. Her ultimate goal is to build a “Volcano Club”- a science and technology club – here in Patagonia. She has also been teaching the broadcasting class how to run the “Howl ‘n’ Growl” broadcast that is shared with the students weekly during morning nutrition sessions.
“The past few years have made it very hard for kids all over the planet to thrive,” Dr. Whitehill said. “Our jobs [as teachers] are to approach each day with fresh eyes and bright ideas to help each of these students become the best versions of themselves.”