About

James Lawford Anderson

Professor of Earth Sciences

Contact Information
E-mail: anderson@usc.edu
Phone: (213) 740-6727
Office: ZHS 313

LINKS
Curriculum Vitae
Faculty Profile on Departmental Website
Personal Website
Course Information
Undergraduate Team Research
Geol 315 Mineralogy
Geol 316 Petrology
 

Biographical Sketch
J. Lawford Anderson, a Professor of Earth Sciences, received his Ph.D. in 1975 from the University of Wisconsin and has been teaching and conducting research at USC for 32 years. He recently served three years as Director of Faculty Affairs for the College and the five previous years as Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences. Anderson has also served as the President of the Faculty of USC and the University's Academic Senate, the highest elected faculty position at USC, where he helped sponsor resolutions committing the faculty to greater availability to students, guiding the university to better utilization of five-day classes, and formation of new Faculty Handbook which, for the first time, also became available as an on-line document. During the mid 1990’s, Anderson served as President of the Faculty Council of the College where he had a significant role in revising the University's General Education curriculum. Anderson was the technical advisor to the PBS television series, "Earth Revealed", which first appeared for purposes of distance learning in 1993 and continues to air on public television nationwide. Anderson's research lies in the origin of the Earth's crust. Much of his work and that of his students have focused on the growth of the western margin of the North American continent during the past 200 million years. He has supervised over two dozen graduate students and all of his Ph.D. students have gone on to tenured academic positions. Anderson is also an environmentalist with long-term interest in educating students about Earth's resources and environment. He has received over a dozen teaching awards, including the USC Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1989, the College's General Education Teaching Award in 1998, and the Professor of the Year Award from the Gamma Sigma Alpha National Honor Society in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2006. These have been received largely in recognition of his teaching of large general education classes where he strives to learn by first name all of his students. In 2007, Anderson with his colleague, Scott Paterson, received a Faculty Innovative Teaching Award for their involvement of undergraduate students in their new research in China, Mongolia, and Yosemite. Anderson has been a Faculty Fellow of the Center for Excellence in Teaching for the past four years, where he has led university-wide workshops on topics such as engaging students in the learning of science and learner-centered teaching across the disciplines. Beginning in 2007, he became the Director of the Center of Excellence in Teaching.
 

Education
B.A. , Trinity University, 1/1970
M.S. , University of Wisconsin, 1/1972
Ph.D. , University of Wisconsin, 1/1975
 

Academic Appointment, Affiliation, and Employment History
Director of the Center for Excellence of Teaching, University of Southern California, 08/01/2007-  
Professor, University of Southern California , 09/01/1989-  
Director of Faculty Affairs, University of Southern California, 06/01/2002-09/01/2005  
Chair, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, 01/01/1998-08/31/2003  
President of the Faculty, University of Southern California, 01/01/1997-01/01/1998  
President, Faculty Council of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, 09/01/1995-09/01/1996  
Advisor, television series "Earth Revealed", Public Broadcasting System, 01/01/1988-01/01/1992  
Associate Professor of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, 09/01/1981-09/01/1989  
Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, 08/01/1975-09/01/1981  
 

Description of Research

Summary Statement of Research Interests
My principal research interest is the evolution and construction of the Earth's crust. As an igneous petrologist concerned with granitic magma genesis and mineral equilibria, much of my work and that of my students have been devoted to an understanding of the evolution of granite magma from its source to emplacement. The research is both field and lab oriented and has shared interests with other disciplines including geochemistry, structural geology and tectonics, and rock mechanics. Present research problems are diverse but follow a common theme, one of crustal petrology. Much of my research is focused on the Proterozoic crustal evolution of North America with emphasis on the rapid growth of orogenic crust during the Early Proterozoic (1.7-1.9 Ga) and the Proterozoic-unique, “anorogenic” magmatism of the period 1.0 to 1.5 Ga. The objective is to document the evolution of distinct magmatic suites utilizing exposures in the midcontinent, the Colorado Front Range, and the mountainous regions of Arizona, southern Nevada, and southern California. The second area of research is related to the Mesozoic and Tertiary magmatism of the western U.S. An exciting aspect of this study has been the identification of middle crust within the southwest Cordillera. Much of this work has centered around the Whipple Mountains region of southeastern California. More recently, I have been working on emplacement conditions and magmatic evolution of the Mt. Stuart batholith, north Cascades, Washington and the Tuolumne Intrusion of the Sierra Nevada batholith, California. Summer of 2007 included two field excursions, including three weeks in Mongolia where we mapped a tilted crustal section (a new project with Scott Paterson and graduate student Rita Economos) and two weeks in upper Yosemite (also with Paterson and our undergraduate team research group). Although administrative work (5 years as chair, recent 3 years in the dean’s office) have, until recently, slowed my research activities, I continue to enjoy research and collaboration with students and colleagues. Actually, I think I am writing my very best papers these days!
 

Research Keywords
origins of earth's crust, igneous and metamorphic petrology, petrochemistry, mineralogy, phase equilibria, proterozoic, mesozoic
 

Research Specialties
Mineralogy, igneous petrology, crustal evolution, environmental issues
 

Funded Research

USC Funding
Faculty Innovative Undergraduate Teaching Award. Geologic Wonders of Yosemite at Two Miles High: "Geologic Wonders of Yosemite at Two Miles High" is an 8 unit, multidisciplinary student research experience. It begins in the lofty peaks of the Sierras and continues throughout the academic year., $12,000, 2007-2008   
USC College. Undergraduate Team Research: "Geologic Wonders of Yosemite at Two Miles High". (renewed for second year), $10,000, 2007-2008   
USC College. Undergraduate Team Research: "Geologic Wonders of Yosemite at Two Miles High" is an 8 unit, multidisciplinary student research experience. It begins in the lofty peaks of the Sierras and continues throughout the academic year. , $10,000, 2006-2007   
 

Publications

Abstract
Anderson, J. L., Paterson, S., Zhang, T., Economos, R., Memeti, V. (2008). Downward Crustal Flow During Magma Ascent in the Central Sierran Arc. American Geophysical Union.
Shimono, S., Mai, J., Ikeda, T., Jacobs, R., Seyum, S., Matloob, J., Memeti, V., Paterson, S. R., Anderson, J. L., Zhang, T. (2008). Field research and outdoor education in the high Sierra Nevada with Undergraduate Team research at USC. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs [Las Vegas].
Shimono, S., Mai, J., Ikeda, T., Jacobs, R., Seyum, S., Matloob, J., Memeti, V., Paterson, S., Anderson, J. L., Zhang, T. (2008). Field research and outdoor education in the high Sierra Nevada with Undergraduate Team research at USC. Geological Society of America.
Paterson, S. R., Memeti, V., Anderson, J. L., Miller, R., Zak, J., Jacobs, R., Seyum, S., Shimono, S., Wenrong, C. (2008). Transpression and Downward Crustal Flow During the Cretaceous High Flux Magmatic Event in the central High Sierra Nevada, California. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs [Las Vegas].
Padilla, A. J., Economos, R. C., Anderson, J. L., Paterson, S. R. (2008). Mafic-Felsic Magma Interactions in an Enclave Megaplume, Gobi-Tienshan Intrusive Complex, Southern Mongoli. American Geophysical Union.
Ball, E. N., Fischer, G. C., Thompson, J. M., Memeti, V., Pignotta, G. S., Anderson, J. L., Paterson, S. R., Matzel, J., Mundil, R. (2007). Magmatic and volcanic plumbing systems, crustal evolution, and the search for the mysterious Mojave-Snow Lake fault: 2006-07 Earth Sciences undergraduate team research in the high Sierra. USC Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Foley, B. J., Ball, E. N., Fischer, G. C., Thompson, J. M., Memeti, V., Pignotta, G. S., Anderson, J. L., Paterson, S. R., Matzel, J., Mundil, R. (2007). Downward ductile displacement of volcanic crust during pluton emplacement in the central Sierra Nevada: Undergraduate Team Research at USC. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
Thompson, J. M., Ball, E. N., Fischer, G. C., Foley, B. J., Memeti, V., Pignotta, G. S., Paterson, S. R., Anderson, J. L., Matzel, J., Mundil, R. (2007). Searching for the Mojave-Snow Lake Fault: Undergraduate Team Research at USC. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
Paterson, S. R., Memeti, V., Zac, J., Matzel, J., Mundil, R., Miller, J., Miller, R., Burgess, S., Economos, R., Anderson, J. L. (2007). Facing up to the complexity of batholith construction: Using the Tuolomne batholith (TB), Sierra Nevada, California as an example. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
Anderson, J. L., Foley, B. J., Ball, E. N., Paterson, S. R., Memeti, V., Pignotta, G. S. (2007). Upper crustal overturn during magmatic surges – a potential Sierra-wide process. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
Economos, R., Said, L. O., Paterson, S. R., Anderson, J. L. (2007). Coeval Intrusion and Batholith-Scale Mingling in the Gobi-Tienshan Intrusive Complex, Southern Mongolia. AGU annual meeting.
Wagner, R., Anderson, J. L., Cao, W., Gao, Y., Ikeda, T., Johanesen, K., Jacobs, R., Mai, J., Memeti, V., Padilla, A., Paterson, S. R., Seyum, S., Shimono, S., Thomas, T., Thompson, J., Zhang, T. (2007). Geologic wonders of Yosemite at Two Miles High: an undergraduate, learner-centered, Team Research program at the University of Southern California. AGU annual meeting.
Needy, S. K., Barth, A. P., Anderson, J. L., Wooden, J. L. (2006). Geotheromobarometry of the eastern Transverse Ranges, southern California. GSA Abstracts with Programs.
 

Book Chapter
Anderson, J. L., Barth, A. P., Wooden, J. L., Mazdab, F. (2008). Thermometers and Thermobarometers in Granitic Systems. (Vol. Reviews in Mineralogy and Petrology, v.69). pp. 121-142. Mineralogical Society of America.
Needy, S. K., Anderson, J. L., Wooden, J. J., Fleck, R. J., Barth, A. P., Paterson, S. R., Memeti, V., Pignotta, G. S. (2007). Mesozoic magmatism in an upper- to middle-crustal section through the Cordilleran continental margin arc, eastern Transverse Ranges, California. (Vol. Special Paper). Geological of America.
 

Journal Article
Barth, A. P., Anderson, J. L., Jacobson, C., Paterson, S. R., Wooden, J. L. (2008). Magmatism and tectonics in a tilted crustal section through a continental arc, eastern Transverse Ranges and southern Mojave Desert. GSA Field Trip, 2008 Cordilleran Section meeting. Geological Society of America. Vol. GSA Field Guide 11, pp. p. 101-117.
Anderson, J. L., Morrison, J., Paterson, S. S., Francis, J. (2007). Post-emplacement fluids and pluton thermobarometry: Mt. Stuart batholith, Washington Cascades. Journal of Metamorphic Geology. Vol. NA
Anderson, J. L., Morrison, J. (2005). Ilmenite, magnetite, and peraluminous Mesoproterozoic anorogenic granites of Laurentia and Baltica. Journal of Metamorphic Geology. Vol. v. 80, pp. p. 45-60.
 

Advisement
 

Other Advisement or Time Devoted to Students
Faculty advisor to Kelsey Kopro, undergraduate fellow of CET, 09/01/2008-  
Faculty advisor to Bryan Susman, undergraduate fellow of CET, 09/01/2008-  
Faculty advisor to Vassi Iliadis, undergraduate fellow of CET, 09/01/2008-  
Faculty Advisor, PUCSC undergraduate student organization, 2006-  
Faculty mentor - USC College Learning Community , 2001-  
Faculty advisor to Gamma Phi Beta sorority (160 students), 2000-  
Faculty Advisor to Undergraduate Students, Earth Science Team Research Program, Two Miles High in the Sierra, 2006-2008  
Faculty advisor to CET's Teaching Assistant Fellows, 2007-2008   
Faculty advisor to CET's Undergraduate Fellows, 2007-2008   
Faculty advisor to Ann Marie Huang, Ph.D. candidate in Biological Sciences, as a student in CET's Professoriate class, 2007-2008   
Faculty Advisor to Unnati Jariwala, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Ph.D. student, as a member of CET's Professoriate Class, 2006-2007   
Faculty Advisor to Matthew Shapiro - Economics Ph.D. student, as a member of CET's Professoriate Class, 2006-2007   
 

Guest Lectures in Courses
BISC 321: Global Warming, Spring 2007   
Geol 599: Tectonics over Time Proterozoic Crustal History, Fall 2006   
 

Teaching Innovations and Multimedia Teaching
Provost Faculty Innovative Undergraduate Teaching Award, 2007-2008   
 

Honors and Awards
Faculty Appreciation Award, Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, 2007-2008   
USC Innovative Teaching Award, Undergraduate Team Research , 2007-2008   
Faculty Recognition Award, Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society , 2006-2007   
Professor of the Year, Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society , 2003-2004   
USC or School/Dept Award for Teaching, Faculty Member of the Year, USC Panhellenic Council, 2001  
USC or School/Dept Award for Teaching, Professor of the Year, Gamma Sigma Alpha National Honor Society, 2000  
USC Academic Senate Executive Board, University Distinctive Service Recognition Award, Spring 2000   
Greek Women of USC, Faculty Regognition Award, Spring 1999   
Professor of the Year, Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society, Spring 1999   
USC or School/Dept Award for Teaching, General Education Teaching Award, College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, 1998  
USC or School/Dept Award for Teaching, Outstanding Teacher Award, University Student Association, 1998  
Hewlett Teaching Award, USC College, 1994-1995   
USC Innovative Teaching Award, Crises of a Planet, Fall 1992   
USC Associates Award For Excellence In Teaching, Office of the Provost, 1989  
 

Service to the University

Administrative Appointments
Director, Center of Excellence in Teaching, Office of the Provost, 08/01/2007-  
Director of Faculty Affairs, USC College, 2002-2005  
Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences, USC College, 1998-2003  
President of Faculty of USC and the Academic Senate, 1997-1998   
President, Faculty Council of the College, 1995-1996   
 

Committees
Member, Member, Provost's Oversight Committee on Athletic Academic Affairs, 2007-  
Member, Member, Academic Honors Convocation Committee, 2007-8, 2007-  
Member, Member, Provost’s Accreditation Steering Committee, 2006-  
Member, Member, Faculty Tenure and Privileges Appeals Committee, 1997-present, 2006-  
Member, Member, Greek Coordinating Council, 2000-  
Member, Committee on Academic Programs and Teaching, 2007-2008  
Member, Member, Committee on Academic Programs and Teaching, 2007-2008   
Chair, Chair, Academic Senate/Provost Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities, 2006-2007, 2006-2007   
Chair, Chair, Committee on Academic Programs and Teaching (CAPT), Academic Senate/Provost Learner-Centered Task Force, 2005-2006; Lead author on two committee reports: 1) "Learner-centered Teaching and Education at USC: a Resource for Faculty" (2006), and 2) "Inventory of Learner-Centered Teaching at USC" (2006). , 2005-2006  
 

Other Service to the University
CET sponsored, University-wide TA training; offered August and January; note: as Director of CET, I am responsible for the event, offered twice yearly. I also lead the morning session on "working with students". , 08/15/2007-  
Center for Excellence Faculty Forum, "The Meaning of Learner-Centered at a Research University" November 19, 2008, Fall 2008   
CET Forum for New Faculty, September 17, 2008, Fall 2008   
CET program; "Legal Issues for New Faculty" April 16, 2008, Spring 2008   
CET Forum: "Interviewing for an Academic Position", February 14, 2007 , Spring 2007   
CET Forum: "Searching and Interviewing for an Academic Job", October 10, 2006. , Fall 2006   
CET Forum: "Applying for a job: the Cover Letter and your CV", August 23, 2006, Fall 2006   
CET Forum "Learner-centered Teaching across the Disciplines", February 23, 2006 , Spring 2006   
 
 
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