Jon Davidson

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Professor Jon Davidson scatters his students across the Earth, transporting them mentally to the Andes, to the Himalayas, to volcanoes in Bolivia and earthquakes in Japan. Physically, he transports them in field trips to the San Andreas Fault, the Sierra Nevada and Hawaii. His students roam the globe; he advises a squadron of flying geologists. His teaching style embodies rigor, patience, humor and innovation.

“In this vast institution where grand and important accomplishments are waiting to be made, rare and precious is it to find a professor with the sincerity and devotion that Professor Davidson has committed to his students.” These words of appreciation come from one of his undergraduate students. Davidson's example as a role model has influenced undergraduates to both become geology majors and to attend graduate school. Former students pursuing graduate degrees elsewhere continue to seek his advice which he is more than willing to give. Professor Davidson does not sacrifice rigor for popularity. Colleagues who teach students in follow-on courses have remarked that they are exceptionally well prepared. He teaches his students to ask the right sorts of questions, to be skeptical if something seems amiss. It is quite apparent his outstanding instructor ratings do not register popularity but, rather, excellence in teaching.

Not only is Professor Davidson an exceptional teacher, he is also an outstanding researcher. During his six years at UCLA, he has published 31 papers, many of which are cited, as the Science Citation Index lists 43 citations in 1991 and 49 in 1992.

So exceptional has his service to the earth and space sciences department that Jon Davidson, though an assistant professor, has been chosen as vice chair. This recognition was given in light of his involvement with improving the curriculum, representing the department in the public forum and attracting students to the major, along with building a top geochemistry instrumentation laboratory.