Alice Hoersch, Ph.D.

Dr. Alice Hoersch was appointed Executive Assistant to the President in 1993, having started her career at La Salle University as assistant professor of geology in 1977. Currently a full professor, Dr. Hoersch also served as Director of Development and External Affairs for La Salle’s Institute for the Advancement of Mathematics and Science Teaching (1995–2001). Her previous years of educational leadership include a seven-year tenure as Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (1986–93). Dr. Hoersch also has experience as a visiting lecturer in the Department of Geology at Bryn Mawr College, from which she graduated in 1972. In addition, she served on her alma mater’s Alumnae Association Executive Board and is involved in numerous fundraising activities. She is a member of the Geological Society of America, the Philadelphia Geological Society, and Project Kaleidoscope, an organization devoted to improving undergraduate science education. She serves or has served on the Board of Trustees at Iona College and on its Executive and Presidential Search Committees. She is currently the Chair of its Academic Affairs Committee. She has also been a member of visiting teams for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Dr. Hoersch earned both a Master of Arts (1974) and Ph.D. (1977) from The Johns Hopkins University.
Areas of Expertise
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Optical Mineralogy, Geochemistry
Education

Ph.D.
The Johns Hopkins University

M.A.
The Johns Hopkins University

A.B.
Bryn Mawr College

Teaching
Geo 204 – Optical Mineralogy
This course is designed to prepare students for the study of materials using a petrographic microscope. Topics covered include the elementary principles of crystal optics, familiarization with the microscope, and mineral behavior in transmitted/polarized light. By the end of the course students are able to readily identify the major rock-forming minerals in thin sections and in grain mounts. In addition students learn how to find the necessary information to identify an unknown and perhaps never studied mineral. Students also explore topics in environmental mineralogy, including those involving mine wastes, landfills, nuclear waste, the atmosphere and the human body.

Geo 305 – Environmental Geochemistry
This course covers the origin of organic and organic pollutants in the terrestrial environment, the chemical processes that affect their fate and transport, the analysis of water and wastewater, and remediation techniques used to clean up sites.

Geo 401 – Igneous Petrology
This course is a review of the origin of the different igneous rock types based on the latest chemical, petrographic, and geophysical evidence.  It emphasizes the descriptive analysis of igneous rock composition and textures, interpretation of those compositions and textures, interpretations of igneous phase diagrams, and determination of cooling histories of common igneous rock types based on petrographic and phase analysis.

Geo 402 – Metamorphic Petrology
This course is a review of the origin of metamorphic rocks with a look at the physical, thermodynamic, and geochemical processes concerned with mineral recrystallization.  There is a detailed thin-section examination of various metamorphic zones.
Research
Geology of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Geothermometry using Grain Size Analysis of Chert Nodules
Articles
Crawford, M.L., Crawford, W.A., Hoersch, A. L. and Wagner, M.E. (1999) Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Tectonics: Selected rocks of the Piedmont Upland in The Geology of Pennsylvania, C. H. Shultz, ed., Pennsylvania Geological Survey and Pittsburgh Geological Society, p. 28-35.

Crawford, M.L., Crawford, W.A., Hoersch, A. L. and Wagner, M.E. (1999) Structural Geology and Tectonics: Piedmont Upland in The Geology of Pennsylvania, C. H. Shultz, ed., Pennsylvania Geological Survey and Pittsburgh Geological Society, p. 234-241.

Crawford, M.L., Crawford, W.A., Hoersch, A. L. and Wagner, M.E. (1999) Geologic History: Precambrian in The Geology of Pennsylvania, C. H. Shultz, ed., Pennsylvania Geological Survey and Pittsburgh Geological Society, p. 414-417.

Smith, D.L., Hoersch, A.L. and Gordon, P.R. (1995) Problem-based learning in the undergraduate geology classroom: Journal of Geological Education, vol. 43, p. 385.
Hoersch, A.L. and Crawford, W.A. (1988) The Mine Ridge of the SE Pennsylvania Piedmont: Northeastern Geology, vol. 10, No. 3, p. 181-194.

Keller, W.D., Stone, C.G., and Hoersch, A.L. (1985) Textures of Paleozoic chert and Novaculite in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma and their geological significance: Geological Society of America Bulletin, vol 96, p. 1353-1363.

Keller, W.D., Stone, C.G., and Hoersch, A.L. (1984) The geologic significance of textures of Paleozoic chert and novaculite in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma: Contributions to the Geology of Arkansas, vol. 2, p.87-96.

Crawford, W.A. and Hoersch, A.L. (1984) The geology of the Honey Brook Upland, SE Pennsylvania: in Geological Society of America Special Paper 194, p. 111-125.
Keller, W.D., Stone, C.G., and Hoersch, A.L. (1983) Textures of chert and novaculite: an exploration guide: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, vol. 67, p. 1466.

Hoersch, A.L. (1981) Progressive metamorphism of the chert-bearing Durness limestone in the Beinn an Dubhaich aureole, Isle of Skye, Scotland: A re-examination: American Mineralogist, vol. 66, p. 491-506.

Hoersch, A.L. (1979) General structure of the Skye Tertiary igneous complex and detailed structure of the Beinn an Dubhaich granite from magnetic evidence: Scottish Journal of Geology, vol. 15, p. 231-245.

Crawford, W.A. and Hoersch, A.L. (1972) Calcite-aragonite equilibrium from 50 o C to 150 o C: American Mineralogist, vol. 57, p. 995-998.
Book Review
Hoersch, A. L. (2004) Gender Equity or Bust! On the Road to Campus Leadership with Women in Higher Education, Mary Dee Wenniger and Mary Helen Conroy, Editors, In Planning for Higher Education, vol. 32, number 2.
Awards, Grants, and Achievements
Gilman Fellow, The Johns Hopkins University, 1972-1977.

Emma Osborne Prize in Geology, Bryn Mawr College, 1972.

Department of Housing and Urban Development Special Purpose Grant, Institute for the Advancement of Mathematics and Science Teaching, La Salle University, 1993.

Office of Naval Research Grant, Workshop on Oceanography for Undergraduate Science and Engineering Faculty, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, 1992.

National Science Foundation Academic Research Infrastructure (ARI) grant for renovation of biology and chemistry laboratories, La Salle University, 1997.

National Science Foundation ILI Grant, XRD system for Geology and Chemistry, La Salle University, 1993.

National Science Foundation ISEP Grant, Microscopy Closed-Circuit Television System for the
Department of Geology, La Salle, University, 1980.

NATO Grant to attend Advanced Study Institute, “Thermodynamics in Geology,” Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom, 1976.

Sigma Xi, Grants-in-aid-of-Research, 1974, 1975.

Geological Society of America, Penrose Research Grant, 1974.
Professional Memberships
Association of Governing Boards

Association for Women Geoscientists

Geological Society of America

Mineralogical Society of America

National Association of Geology Teachers

Philadelphia Geological Society