John Zayac

John Zayac is a native Californian who grew up at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, down the hill from Yosemite National Park. John earned a B.S. in Earth Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a M.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. John then joined the faculty of Los Angeles Pierce College, where he taught geology and environmental science and explored the geology of southern California and the Basin and Range. After relocating to New York City, John took the opportunity to earn a MPhil and PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. His PhD research focused on the eruptive history and the trigger mechanisms of explosive eruptions in northwestern Nicaragua with a focus on the Momotombo-Monte Galán and Cosigüina systems. While working on his dissertation, John taught geology courses at Queens College, Hunter College, and at Vassar since joining the faculty in 2020 as a visiting instructor.

Here at Vassar, John is expanding the capabilities of our Earth Materials and Rock Analysis labs and is in the process of building an undergraduate-powered research program. John’s courses at Vassar focus on the quantitative study of the solid Earth and it’s evolution from formation to the present day. These classes frequently involve working in the field and laboratory, with students gaining practice with sample collection and preparation and the collection and interpretation of real-world data.