Tom Fitz

Professor Tom Fitz has been studying the geology of the Lake Superior region for decades and has been teaching geology at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin since 1999. His expertise is in minerals and rocks, geologic history, and the relationship between people and the Earth. He earned his BS degree from St. Lawrence University in New York State, his MS degree at the University of Minnesota – Duluth, where he did research on volcanic rocks near Grand Marais, Minnesota, and then went on to earn his PhD from the University of Delaware, also studying on volcanic rocks. He is from Massachusetts and came to the Lake Superior region to study the ancient bedrock and explore the north woods. Then after completing his schooling he returned to the region to work at Northland College and continue his studies of the beautiful Lake Superior region. Tom has worked on a wide variety of research topics with his students, from ancient bedrock to modern soils, and he enjoys taking people on field trips whenever he can. He thoroughly enjoys teaching people about the Earth and has earned numerous teaching awards during his career.

Classes offered:

• Iron Mining in Northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the Geological “Miracle” that Created the World’s Purest Iron Ore – with Richard Thiede
• The Spectacular Geology of Iron County and the Northern Highlands – with Richard Thiede
• From Freshwater Shores to Shining Saltwater Seas: An investigation of environmental crises along the Mississippi River and beyond — with Peter Levi and Titus Seilheimer
• If These Waters Could Talk: Exploring the natural history, ecology, and economics of Lake Superior — with Peter Levi and Titus Seilheimer