Hi, I’m Amy Sullivan. I’m a retired petroleum geologist who spent 31 years working on domestic and international oil and gas fields with Mobil, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell. At Iowa, I earned undergraduate degrees in classics and anthropology and geology, followed by a graduate degree in geology. 

Why CLAS? 

My career grew out of connections I never could have anticipated. Studying anthropology led me to archaeology fieldwork, which brought me back to Iowa to study geology. That led to research on fossil pollen, which became an important point of connection during interviews with major oil companies—and ultimately helped launch my career as a petroleum geologist. 

Today’s scientists need an equally broad perspective. Technical expertise remains essential, but future graduates will also need to understand geopolitics, renewable energy, sustainability, and global economic trends that influence major investments and decisions. My own path showed me the value of being able to draw connections across disciplines and apply knowledge in unexpected ways.