Rate My Professor William Elliott

Dr. William S. Elliott, Jr., Ph.D., serves as Professor of Geology and Associate Dean in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education at the University of Southern Indiana. He earned his B.S. in Geology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 1995, followed by an M.S. in Geology from the University of Missouri in 1998 and a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Missouri in 2005. Dr. Elliott has progressed through key leadership positions at USI, including Chair of the Department of Geology and Physics in 2022, Associate Dean of the Pott College, and Interim Dean from June 2023 until August 2025. In these roles, he has overseen faculty development, undergraduate research awards such as the Barnett Award Program, excellence in teaching and service recognitions, and interdisciplinary research grants.

Dr. Elliott's research centers on the geology of southern Indiana, with a particular emphasis on the historical geological surveys of New Harmony and the contributions of pioneers William Maclure and David Dale Owen. His scholarly output includes peer-reviewed articles and field guides that blend geological analysis with historical and educational contexts. Key publications are 'Lasting Geological Legacy of the Owen-Maclure Geologists' (Parkland Chapter House History, 2023), exploring early American geological mapping; 'Crossroads of Geology in New Harmony, with a Guide to Field Sites' (Geological Society of America Field Guide 51, 2018), offering practical field resources; 'Crossroads of Art, Education, and Geology in New Harmony, Indiana' (Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 2016), linking geology to communal education; and 'Geochemical and γ Ray Characterization of Pennsylvanian-age Sandstones from a Portion of the Illinois Basin, USA' (Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2015, with K.W. Scheller), advancing stratigraphic and geochemical studies. Additional works include chronostratigraphic analyses co-authored with E.V. Beuthin. Dr. Elliott contributes to professional service as a member of the Historic New Harmony Advisory Board and through conference presentations, such as 'New Harmony Schools of the Owen-Maclure Era: Building Community Through Education' at the Communal Studies Association Annual Conference in 2023. His efforts support science education and regional geological heritage.