Peer Academic Coaching for Geosciences
Support for Most GE classes
Room: CIS 122
Peer Academic Coaches are available to help you develop your content knowledge and study skills. There is no need to sign up. Simply stop by!
Sun 7-9PM | Mon 7-9PM | Tues 7-9PM | Wed 7-9PM | Thurs 7-9PM |
Jillian | Jillian | Claire | Aimee | Aimee |
Claire | Emma | Charlotte | Janel | Charlotte |
Upcoming Academic Sessions
Geo PAC + Geo Club Postgrad Pizza Party
Sun 10/13, 7-9pm, CIS 122
Come stop by Geo Pac for free pizza!! Here we will discuss what a future in Geosciences canbe! We will discuss graduate school, the benefits of a masters vs. a PhD, and industry careers!
GE 101 Exam 1 Study Night!
Tue 10/15, 7-9pm, CIS 122
The first exam for GE 101 is coming up on 10/16, come by to study with Geo PAC, where wewill provide practice questions and go over course material.
meet the pac team for GEOSCIENCES
Claire Rubin '25 - PAC Captain
Major: Geosciences
About me: Hi! My name is Claire Rubin, and I am a Sophomore from Croton-on-Hudson, New York. Aside from Geoscience, I often spend my time running, eating tomatoes, or playing the NYT crossword. In the warmer weather you might find me outside whittling or going on walks with my pet fish, Pant.
Why PAC: I know that not all geoscientific concepts are easy to grasp when first introduced to them, especially if you only took Geo to fulfill a requirement. I have always been super excited about Geosciences, so PAC seems to be the best way that I can help students develop the same love I have for the subject, while also succeeding academically!
Favorite class and why: My favorite class so far is probably Earth Materials with Professor Andrew Horst. At the end of this class, I was able to identify common igneous and metamorphic rocks out in the field and even on a microscopic scale. We were able to learn with and use the Electron Scanning Microscope to identify minerals that were invisible to the naked eye, and we got to go on a bunch of field trips too!
Academic advice: I find that if I am frustrated with my work, it has always been helpful to just put it down and do something fun/ not work related. Later, you can come back to it with a better headspace or a friend to help!
Jillian Clark '25
About me: Hi there! My name is Jillian, and I'm currently a junior at Skidmore College. I'm from North Woodstock, NH, and have a strong passion for outdoor activities such as hiking and biking. I'm particularly interested in Geoscience and enjoy connecting with other students who share the same interests!
Why PAC?: Since PAC is peer support, we have personally taken the same courses you might be having trouble with. We know what the professors are "looking for" for most assignments, and can offer clarity. Even classes you find super exciting can be confusing or challenging at times, that's why I love that PAC offers come-as-you-need help rather than a rigid tutoring schedule! PAC is a great place to stay and do homework, but also feel free to leave once your question is answered!
Favorite class and why: One of my favorite courses at Skidmore was Earth Materials with Professor Andrew Horst. This class allowed us to use specialized devices like the S.E.M. (Scanning Electron Microscope) and the rock saw to create our own thin sections. Through this course, I gained significant knowledge on identifying metamorphic and igneous rocks in both lab and field settings, and ultimately confirmed that I wanted to be a Geoscience major!
Academic advice: College can be frustrating, but I strongly believe in taking control of the things you can control. Prioritizing your physical health by getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating well can go a long way in improving your mental health. Trust me, you got this!
Janel Delgado '26
Major: Geosciences with an ES Minor
About me: Hi! I'm Janel, and I'm a junior from Brooklyn, NY. Like all Geo majors, I love to be outdoors! My other interests include baking, reading, and playing Catan! On campus I'm also a PHE and on the Raíces e-board.
Why PAC?: I've been a tutor for the Earth Sciences since high school and genuinely enjoy helping my peers understand topics I find interesting. I've definitely taken advantage of PAC here at Skidmore and am looking forward to returning the favor.
Favorite Class and Why: My favorite class was Environmental Geology with Professor Frappier. I learned a lot about hazardous waste, water contamination, and energy resources. The class had really fun labs/field trips where we could simulate extreme weather events over towns
Academic Advice: Testing yourself on the material helps you better understand which topics you should focus your studying on! Having a friend quiz me on my notes or just going through flashcards always helps me.
Aimee Holland '25
Major: Geoscience and Anthropology
About me: My name is Aimee and I’m a junior from Westchester, NY! I’m passionate about blending disciplines and while at Skidmore I’ve found a love for human culture and the Earth. Outside of academics, I love to figure skate.
Why PAC: I’ve been involved in peer mentoring for Earth sciences since my sophomore year of high school, and I’ve enjoyed it ever since. PAC is a great opportunity for sharing our interests in Geo while helping out our peers.
Favorite class and why: My favorite class has been Professor Frappier’s Paleoclimatology course because I think learning about Earth's past will only enhance our understanding of present day and future climate change. My favorite part of the course was the additional lab section where we got to conduct our own fieldwork!
Academic advice: Take advantage of any and all resources at your disposal when there’s a concept or subject unclear to you. Making the move to ask for help is only going to benefit you in the long run!
Emma Jorgensen '26
Major: Geoscience
About me: I am from Needham, MA and I love to talk about anything animals, especially dinosaurs. I also enjoy playing and listening to music as well as spending time with my cat!
Why PAC?: I think that the one of the best ways to learn is by working with others and asking questions. PAC has helped me many times throughout my Skidmore experience so far and I hope to help other students that same way that PAC helped me.
Favorite class and why: My favorite class so far was GE101 because of all the different concepts that we got to learn about in one class and how at the end all the concepts fit together to explain so much about our planet.
Academic Advice: The biggest thing I have done in college to help with balancing schoolwork and everything else is to designate a time of day where you do not do any work at all.
Charlotte Lyon '25
Major: Environmental studies
About me: Hi! My name is Charlotte Lyon, and I am a senior from Newton Massachusetts. I often spend my time with horses, and I am a captain on the Skidmore riding team. I also enjoy running, hiking, and cooking in my free time.
Why PAC?: I have learned a lot throughout my education through working with peers both in Geo and ES. I hope to be able to help mentor peers on study habits and help to grasp confusing topics. I think working alongside a peer in a relaxed environment is often the best way to overcome struggles.
Favorite class and why: My favorite class so far is probably geoengineering with Jen. I felt like this class helped me understand natural systems more than anything. Some of the technologies we learned about weren't necessarily going to be the one that saved the world but through learning about them we also learned how to support natural processes.
Academic advice: Maybe this is supported by the fact that I am a morning person, but shifting my homework to a morning activity from the last thing I did before bed has made my whole life more relaxing and immensely improved the quality of my work. When I am able to get my homework done for the week ahead of time in a coffee shop or a cute relaxing environment it makes it something I look forward to.