Donald Esker

20 hrs/week, $15,600 / year

Environmental Educator - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio - South Bloomingville, OH

(2025-04 - 2026-05)

20 hrs/week, $15,600 / year

• Coordinate your classes with other trail groups
• Make recommendations for program growth and emphasis in your area
• Participate in every phase of camp and lend assistance to other staff when possible

SWAP Geologist III - West Virginia DHHR - Charleston, WV

(2023-11 - 2024-10)

40 hrs/week, $62,000 / year

• Assessed groundwater movement and characteristics in West Virginia, identifying contamination sources
• Developed and implemented plans to protect drinking-water wells, evaluating risks and recommending preventive measures
• Designed and executed monitoring programs, utilizing field and lab techniques to assess water quality and identify emerging issues
• Ensured program activities aligned with state and federal water-quality regulations
• Engaged communities, water authorities, and stakeholders to communicate findings and provide technical support

Assistant Professor - Marietta College - Marietta, OH

(2019-08 - 2023-11)

65 hrs/week, $54,000 / year

• Taught courses and labs in Environmental Geology, Historical Geology, Physical Geology, and Dinosaur Paleontology
• Developed and taught a freshmen orientation class on information literacy, critical thinking, and scientific skepticism through cryptozoology
• Conducted outreach to elementary, middle, and high-school students
• Advised at-risk freshmen on academic progress
• Supervised undergraduate paleontological research projects

Hall's Cave Paleontologist / Excavator - Texas A&M Center for the Study of The First Americans - College Station, TX

(2018-06 - 2018-07)

50 hrs/week, $15 / hour

• Excavated artifact- and fossil-bearing sediment in Hall's Cave, Kerr County, TX
• Screened sediment to recover micro-debitage and microvertebrates
• Identified Holocene and Pleistocene vertebrate remains
• Used 3D photogrammetry to document Pleistocene megafauna remains
• Explored sediment voids using an endoscope

Teaching Assistant - Baylor University - Waco, TX

(2014-08 - 2019-07)

17 hrs/week, $17 / hour

• Taught labs for Historical Geology and World Oceans
• Developed lectures, quizzes, and exams for the Historical Geology lab
• Held study sessions for students requiring additional support

Program Coordinator / Director - Waco Mammoth Site - Waco, TX

(2012-04 - 2014-03)

40 hrs/week, $45,000 / year

• Directed all day-to-day site operations
• Collaborated with the Education Coordinator to design new programs
• Led hands-on science activities for groups up to 300 children
• Conducted guided site tours and delivered community talks

Bonebed Curator / Educator / Cartographer - The Mammoth Site - Hot Springs, SD

(2008-04 - 2011-11)

50 hrs/week, $35,000 / year

• Served on the Collection Committee
• Supervised EarthWatch, Road Scholar, and Project Exploration field teams
• Trained and managed summer interns
• Mapped new specimens with ArcGIS and introduced photogrammetry
• Presented vertebrate paleontology lectures to visiting groups
• Developed K-12 outreach kits and coordinated classroom visits
• Secured a $50K IMLS grant for bonebed climate control
• Established safety protocols for bonebed fieldwork

Assistant Bonebed Curator / Educator / Cartographer - The Mammoth Site - Hot Springs, SD

(2007-07 - 2008-04)

40 hrs/week, $9.50 / hour

• Supervised EarthWatch, Elderhostel, and Project Exploration teams
• Conducted specimen remapping and lectured visiting school groups
• Managed K-12 activity kits and field-trip logistics

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Vert Paleo - University of Cincinnati - Cincinnati, OH

(2007-01 - 2007-05)

10 hrs/week, Volunteer

• Prepared fossil specimens for labs
• Organized major field trips, including visits to the Field Museum
• Delivered lectures and graded assignments

Mother's Day Site Volunteer - Cincinnati Museum Center - Cincinnati, OH

(2005-06 - 2006-07)

40 hrs/week, Volunteer

• Prospected, excavated, consolidated, and jacketed sauropod fossils near Bridger, MT
• Trained Dinosaur Field School volunteers and managed equipment logistics

Prep Lab Volunteer - Cincinnati Museum Center - Cincinnati, OH

(2004-08 - 2007-06)

12 hrs/week, Volunteer

• Prepared and preserved fossils from multiple excavation sites

Aaron Scott Site Volunteer - Cincinnati Museum Center - Cincinnati, OH

(2001-06 - 2006-06)

40 hrs/week, Volunteer

• Prospected, excavated, and jacketed bones in the Late Jurassic dinosaur quarry near Ferron, UT

M.A. - Museum Studies - University of Oklahoma (2025-05 - 2027-05)

Ph.D. - Geology (Concentration: Vertebrate Paleontology) - Baylor University (2013 - 2020)

M.S. - Geology - University of Cincinnati (2004-08 - 2009-05)

B.S. - Geology - Marietta College (2000-08 - 2004-05)