News Release, Kansas Geological Survey, May 20, 1999
Allison replaces Lee Gerhard, who steps down as the Survey's director on July 1. Gerhard has served as director since 1987 and will remain at the Survey in the position of principal geologist.
"The Kansas Geological Survey is one of the finest and most respected geoscience organizations in the country," said Allison. "It is a tremendous honor to join such an outstanding institution."
The Kansas Survey is a research and service division of KU, located on the university's west campus, with a branch office in Wichita. The Survey studies the state's geologic resources and hazards, focusing particularly on issues related to oil and natural gas, groundwater, and geologic mapping.
"Lee Allison's enthusiasm for the Kansas Geological Survey, and his national reputation, bode well for him to join a long line of distinguished directors of the Survey," said KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway.
Allison became the director of the Utah Geological Survey in 1989. Prior to that he was with the University of Utah Research Institute, specializing in oil, natural gas, and geothermal research. He has also held positions at Standard Oil Production Company in Texas, the California Institute of Technology's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Standard Oil of California.
A native of Pennsylvania, Allison earned an undergraduate degree in geology from the University of California-Riverside, a master's degree in geology from San Diego State University, and Ph.D. in geology from the University of Massachusetts.
Allison is a member of numerous scientific societies and was the general chairman for the annual gatherings of two of geology's largest professional groups: the 1998 meeting of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the 1997 meeting of the Geological Society of America. Both were held in Salt Lake City. He has been active in the Utah Seismic Safety Commission, helping to study and publicize earthquake-related issues in Utah.
Allison has also written or co-authored a number of technical scientific publications, writing extensively on the mineral resources of the newly created Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument of Utah, and on the geology of various oil fields and geothermal resources in the southwestern U.S.
"We are pleased that Lee Allison has chosen to come to KU to direct the Kansas Geological Survey," said Robert Barnhill, KU's Vice Chancellor for Research and Public Service. "Dr. Allison brings a wealth of experience to the position. We look forward to working with him as he builds on the Survey's excellent reputation for providing outstanding service to the people of Kansas and fostering research collaborations across the KU campus and with other agencies and academic institutions."
Allison will begin the new position in mid-July.