Southern Nevada Officers 2023-2024
Thank you for visiting our web page. We are a diverse group of geologists, engineers, and scientists located primarily in the metropolitan Las Vegas area. Our officers range from retired professionals with decades of experience to young geologists just getting started in the industry. If you would like more information on our group, or if you are interested in becoming an officer, please contact any of the Southern Nevada Chapter officers below.
Jerry King
Chair
Jerry is a retired seismologist and worked on the Yucca Mountain Project for many years. He obtained a BA in Physics (1973) and a PhD in Earth Science (1981) from the University of California at San Diego. His career focus has been on earthquake hazards and risk at nuclear facilities. As Chair, Jerry leads the Southern Nevada Chapter and is the primary liaison with the national AEG.
Nick Saines
Vice Chair
Marvin (Nick) Saines received his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Massachusetts. He worked for Harza Engineering Company in Chicago for many years on hydrogeological and engineering geology projects. In 1989 he left Chicago to work on the Yucca Mountain Project. In 1990 he founded what is now the Southern Nevada Chapter of the AEG and was first Chair. Since then he has been perennial Vice Chair and Program Chair of the Chapter.
Jeremy Holst
Secretary
Jeremy is an Associate Geologist with Broadbent, and has over 20 years of experience working on environmental projects in the Southwest. His career has focused on the management of emergency response projects, environmental characterization and remediation projects, disaster relief projects, and asbestos projects.
El Hachemi Bouali
Treasurer
El Hachemi Bouali is an assistant professor of geosciences at Nevada State College. He earned a BS in geophysics and MS in geosciences from Western Michigan University, and a PhD in geology from Michigan Technological University. His current research projects include studying spring hydrology of the Spring Mountains and using passive seismic methods to map bedrock topography of the Las Vegas Valley. He teaches courses in geomorphology, soils, and regional/global issues in environmental science.
Debbie Morales
Student Chapter
Deborah Morales received her Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Science from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2016. Currently, she is earning her Master of Science in Geology at UNLV, with a focus on carbonate sedimentology and chemostratigraphy. Her thesis project includes using stable isotope, Rare Earth Element and trace element analysis in carbonates and black shales to study the redox evolution of the Ediacaran ocean.
John R. Karr
Liaison to NDEP
John is an Environmental Scientist with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Bureau of Corrective Actions. He holds a BS in Earth and Environmental Sciences with a focus on Contaminant Hydrogeology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His career focuses on surficial and groundwater contamination, contaminant modeling and mitigation, remediation management and oversite, and protection of sources according to analytical interpolation.