Rate My Professor Daniel Horn

Daniel Horns serves as Dean of the College of Science and Professor of Geology at Utah Valley University. He holds a B.S. in Geophysics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of California, Davis, completed in 1992. Before joining Utah Valley University more than 22 years ago, Dr. Horns worked as a consulting geologist for Kleinfelder Engineering, where he conducted assessments related to geologic hazards, water resources, and water quality. Within the university, he progressed through key leadership roles, including Chair of the Department of Earth Science, Associate Dean of the College of Science, Interim Dean starting in August 2019, and permanent Dean since May 2020.

Dr. Horns's research focuses on geologic hazards, encompassing tsunami and storm wave deposits, seismic and tsunami risk assessment, fault segmentation, paleoseismic studies, landslide monitoring, and high-resolution topographic surveys utilizing uncrewed aerial systems and structure-from-motion photogrammetry. Notable publications include 'Geology of the Wasatch - A Two Billion Year Tour Through the Upper Third of the Crust' (2005), 'Seismic and tsunami risk of the Java Trench and implementation of risk reduction strategies' (2019), 'Paleomagnetic investigation of late Neogene vertical axis rotation and remagnetization in central coastal California' (1995), 'Rapid Post-Miocene tectonic rotation associated with the San Gregorio Fault Zone in central California' (1991), and his Ph.D. thesis 'Paleomagnetic and structural analyses of the kinematics of the San Gregorio Fault Zone, California' (1992). He has contributed to initiatives such as iUTAH and training Indonesian geologists on tsunami disaster prevention, including studies on coastal boulder deposits in Java and earthquake history along the Wasatch Fault at sites like Traverse Ridge. Dr. Horns has earned the UVU Alumni Association Teacher of the Year award in 1999, College of Science Teacher of the Year in 2001, and Presidential Award of Excellence for Inclusion in 2014. He organizes events like the Geological Society of America Rocky Mountain Section meetings and presents public lectures on topics such as the dynamic planet.