Jonathan H. Tomkin
Curricula Vitae
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
159 Computer Application Building
605 E. Springfield
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 244 2928
Email: tomkin@illinois.edu
Current Position (2011-current)
Associate Director, School of Earth, Society, and Environment, University of Illinois
Associate Professor (Research), Department of Geology, University of Illinois
Director, ESE online, University of Illinois
Education
PhD., Earth Sciences, Australian National University (2000).
BSc. (Hons), 1st class, Physics, University of Melbourne (1996).
Prior Academic employment
Associate Director of Academic Affairs and Res. Assistant Prof., SESE, University of Illinois 2007-2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, 2003-2006
Damon Wells Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, 2000-2002.
Principal Areas of Research Interest
 Defining interactions between surface processes and mountain evolution in tectonically active regions at orogen,
basin, and sub-basin scales by testing process based models against thermochronological data. Studied field areas
include the Southern Alps of New Zealand, the Olympic Mountains of Washington State, and the Patagonian Andes.
 Ground-truthing climate histories and geomorphological process models via the statistical analysis of
geomorphological and geochemical data.
 Improving the theoretical understanding of glacial action on landscapes via numerical and analytical models of
glacial and landscape evolution.
 Assessing Learning outcomes at large scales – such as Massive Open Online Courses and institutionally, using large
data sets, learning analytics, A/B testing, and adaptive learning.
Administrative Outcomes
 As Associate Director, I launched a new interdisciplinary sustainability BS program, which has brought an ongoing
enrollment of 185 majors and 60 minors to the School.
 As Associate Director, I designed a new curriculum, oversaw the creation and approval of twenty new courses, and
rose external funding for instruction and development. In this capacity I act as the direct manager to PhD level staff:
an academic advisor, lecturer, and contract instructors.
 As Director of the Environmental Sustainability online degree program, I launched a certificate and an online
bachelor degree – the first such online program at the University of Illinois. After one year the program is net
revenue positive and now grosses over half a million dollars per year.
 Designed, taught and project managed the first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) with an Earth Science theme:
“Introduction to Sustainability”, initially delivered in August 2012, and has since been reoffered. Total enrollment in
the course is over 100,000 students. Twenty-three staff members from the University of Illinois were involved in its
implementation and delivery.
Areas of Technical Expertise
 Academic project management, including new programs, curricula development, course development, and staffing.
 Earth, Environment and Sustainability education and outreach, with demonstrated skills in teaching, writing, public
speaking and project advising.

Developer of finite-element and finite-difference models of climate, landscape, ice-cap and geodynamic evolution.
Using statistical data analysis, high end UNIX computer platforms and software, and Fortran 90/95 programming.
Funded Education Proposals
NSF WIDER
$2,000,000
2014-2016
co-PI
Scaling cultures of collaboration: Evidence-based reform in portal STEM courses
DoE
$39,679
2010-2013
PI
Center for Global Studies course development
IBHE/DoE
$325,000
2008-2011
partner
Mathematics Science Partnership: Sense-Making in Science and Mathematics
IBHE
$75,000
2007-2009
partner
The Lifelong Learning IN Illinois Project (I-LLINI project)
NSF EAR
$1,204,416
2003-2008
co-PI
Geoscience Alliance to Enhance Minority Participation
LSU BoR
$20,000
2005
co-PI
Classroom development grant
Funded Research Proposals
NSF ANT
$346,713
2006-2008
co-PI
WAIS grounding-zone migrations in Eastern Basin, Ross Sea and the LGM dilemma: New strategies to resolve the style
and timing of outer continental shelf grounding events
NSF EAR
$90,632
2005-2008
PI
Glacial Erosion in the Patagonian Andes: Testing the Buzzsaw
ACS PRF
$35,000
2006-2008
PI
The effect of late Cenozoic glaciation on the evolution of the Olympic Mountains
CoR FRG
$9,318
2005-2006
PI
Unraveling climate and tectonic feedbacks in the Olympic Mountains via numerical simulations
NSF EPSCoR PFUND
$11,450
2005
PI
Numerically modelling feedbacks between climate, erosion and tectonics in the Patagonian Andes
Peer Reviewed Publications, Articles and Books
G.P. Nestell, M.K. Nestell, B.B. Ellwood, B.R. Wardlaw, A.R. Basu, N. Ghosh, L.T.P. Lan, H.D. Rowe, A. Hunt, J.H. Tomkin,
K.T. Ratcliffe. High influx of carbon in walls of agglutinated foraminifers during the Permian-Triassic transition in global
oceans. International Geology Review, 57, 411-427: DOI: 10.1080/00206814.2015.1010610, 2015.
B.B. Ellwood, , A. El Hassani, J.H. Tomkin, and P. Bultynck, A climate-driven model and development of a floating-point
timescale for the Middle Devonian Eifelian State using time-series analysis of magnetic susceptibility data sets. daSilva,
A-C., (ed.). Magnetic susceptibility application: a window onto ancient environments and climatic variation., Geological
Society, London, Special Publications, 414, 15 pp, doi:10.1144/SP414.4, 2015.
J.H. Tomkin and D. Charlevoix. Do professors matter?: using an a/b test to evaluate the impact of instructor involvement
on MOOC student outcomes. Proceedings of the first ACM conference on Learning @ scale conference). ACM , 71-78.
DOI=10.1145/2556325.2566245 http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/2556325.2566245, 2014.
B.B. Ellwood, W-H. Wang, J.H. Tomkin, K.T. Ratcliffe, A. El Hassani, and A.M. Wright. Testing High Resolution Magnetic
Susceptibility and Gamma Radiation Methods in the Cenomanian-Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) GSSP and near-by Coeval
Section. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.02.018, 2013.
J.H. Tomkin, Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Sustainability has Global Impact, In the Trenches, 10-13, 2013.
B.B. Ellwood, C.E. Brett, J.H. Tomkin, and W.D. MacDonald, Visual Identification and Quantification of Milankovitch
Climate Cycles in Outcrop: An Example from the Upper Ordovician Kope Formation, Northern Kentucky, Geological
Society Special Publication, v. 373, 2012.
B.B. Ellwood, L.L. Lambert, J.H. Tomkin, G.L. Bell, M.K. Nestell, G.P. Nestell, B.R. Wardlaw.
Magnetostratigraphy Susceptibility for the Guadalupian Series GSSPs (Middle Permian) in Guadalupe Mountains
National Park and Adjacent Areas in West Texas, Geological Society Special Publication, v. 373, 2012.
J.L. Garc´ıa-Alcalde, B.B. Ellwood, F. Soto, M. Truy´ols-Massoni and J.H. Tomkin. Precise Timing of the Upper Taghanic
Biocrisis, Geneseo Bioevent, in the middle—upper Givetian (Middle Devonian) boundary in Northern Spain Using
Biostratigraphic and Magnetic Susceptibility Data Sets, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, doi:
10.1016/j.palaeo.2011.10.006, 2011.
T.L. Theis, T. L., and J.H. Tomkin (Eds.). Sustainability: A comprehensive foundation. Retrieved from
http://cnx.org/content/col11325/latest/, 2011.
J.H. Tomkin (2011). Climate Processes; external and internal controls. Chapter in Sustainability: A comprehensive
foundation. Retrieved from http://cnx.org/content/col11325/latest/, 2011.
S.N. Thomson, M.T. Brandon, J.H. Tomkin, P.W. Reiners, C. Vasquez, and N.J. Wilson. Glaciation as a destructive and
constructive control on mountain building, Nature, 467, 313-317, 2010.
A.M. Anders, S.G. Mitchell, and J.H. Tomkin. Cirques, peaks, and precipitation patterns in the Swiss Alps: Connections
among climate, glacial erosion, and topography, Geology, 38, 239-242, 2010.
B.B. Ellwood, T.J. Algeo, A. El Hassani, J.H. Tomkin, and H.D. Rowe. Defining the timing and duration of the Kačák Interval
within the Eifelian/Givetian boundary GSSP, Mech Irdane, Morocco, using geochemical and magnetic susceptibility
patterns, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.10.012, 2010.
B.B. Ellwood, J.H. Tomkin, A. El Hassani, P. Bultync, C.E. Brett, E. Schindler, R. Feist, and A.J. Bartholomew. A climatedriven model and development of a floating point time scale for the entire Middle Devonian Givetian Stage: A test using
magnetostratigraphy susceptibility as a climate proxy, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology,
doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.10.014, 2010.
B.B. Ellwood, A. Kafafy, A. Kassab, J.H. Tomkin, A. Abdeldayem, N. Obaidalla, K. Willson, D.E. Thompson,
Magnetostratigraphy Susceptibility Used for High Resolution Correlation Among Paleocene/Eocene Boundary Sequences
in Egypt, Spain and the U.S.A. In Modern Stratigraphic techniques: Theories and Case Histories, eds. Ratcliffe, K. and B.
Zaitlin, SEPM Special Publication, 94, 2010.
J.H. Tomkin. Numerically simulating alpine landscapes: The geomorphologic consequences of incorporating glacial
erosion in surface process models. Geomorphology, vol. 108, 180-188, 2009.
M.D. Blum, J.H. Tomkin, A. Purcell, and R. Lancaster. Ups and downs of the Mississippi delta. Geology, vol. 36, 675-678,
2008.
B.B. Ellwood, J.H. Tomkin, L.A. Febo, and C.N. Stuart Jr. Time Series Analysis of Magnetic Susceptibility Variations in
Deep Marine Sediments: A Test Using Upper Danian-Lower Selandian Proposed GSSP, Spain. Palaeogeography,
Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 261, 270-279, 2008.
B.B. Ellwood, J.H. Tomkin, K.T., Ratcliffe, M., Wright, A.M., Kafafy. High Resolution Magnetic Susceptibility and
Geochemistry for the Cenomanian/Turonian Boundary GSSP with Correlation to Time Equivalent Core.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.01.005, 2008.
J.H. Tomkin, Coupling glacial erosion and tectonics at active orogens: a numerical modeling study. Journal of Geophysical
Research, Vol. 112, F02015, doi:10.1029/2005JF000332, 2007.
J.H. Tomkin and G. Roe, Climate and tectonic controls on glaciated critical-taper orogens. Earth and Planetary Science
Letters, Vol. 262, 385-397, 2007.
B.B. Ellwood, J.H. Tomkin, B.C. Richards, S.L. Benoist, L.L. Lambert, MSEC data sets record glacially driven cyclicity:
Examples from the arrow canyon Mississippian–Pennsylvanian GSSP and associated sections. Palaeogeography,
Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Vol. 255, 377–390, 2007.
J.H. Tomkin, Erosional feedbacks and the oscillation of ice masses. Journal of Geophysical Research,
Vol. 108, No. B10, 2488 10.1029/2002JB002087 18 October 2003.
J.H. Tomkin, M.T. Brandon, F. J. Pazzaglia, J. Barbour and S. D. Willett. Quantitative testing of bedrock incision models,
Clearwater River, WA. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 108, No. B6, 2308 10.1029/2001JB000862, 20 June 2003.
J.H. Tomkin and J. Braun, The effect glaciation has on the relief of a fast growing orogen: a numerical modelling study.
American Journal of Science, Vol. 302, pp 169-190, 2002.
J.H. Tomkin, Landforming Processes in Glaciated Orogens: a Numerical Study.
University, 2000.
PhD Thesis, Australian National
J.H. Tomkin and J. Braun, Simple models of drainage reorganization on a tectonically active ridge system , New Zealand
Journal of Geology and Geophysics, Vol. 42 pp 1-10, 1999.
J. Braun, D. Zwartz and J.H. Tomkin, A new surface processes model combining glacial and fluvial erosion, Annals of
Glaciology, Vol. 28 pp 282-290, 1999.
Recent (2013) invited talks:
National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, 1/6/13.
University of Iowa, “4CAST’13”, Iowa City, 1/17/13. Keynote
University of Illinois, Envisioning the Future of Online Graduate Education, 4/2/13. Keynote
Faculty Summer Institute, Champaign, IL, 5/15/13. Keynote
Academic Reviews:
American Journal of Science
Geology
Geomorphology
GSA Penrose Special Paper
Journal of Geophysical Research
Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Nature Geoscience
Courses Taught:
Changing Arctic (ESE 386), 2013
Planet Earth (GEOL 100), 2013
Introduction to Sustainability, Coursera, 2012, 2013
Field Expedition to Costa Rica (ESE 497), 2012, 2013
Sustainability; into the near future, Osher Lifelong
Learning Institute, 2011
Earth Systems (ESE 200) 2007-2013
Earth Science for Teachers (ESE 520), 2010
Current Research in Geoscience (GEOL 591), 2007-2013
Australian Research Council (proposal reviewer)
National Science Foundation (proposal reviewer)
NASA (proposal reviewer)
Swiss National Science Foundation (proposal reviewer)
National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of
Canada (proposal reviewer)
GAEMP Summer School, 2004-2006.
Geodynamics (GEOL 552), 2007, 2010
Geophysics Seminar, 2006.
Physical Geology (GEOL 1001) 2003-2005. Alpha
Lambda Delta Honor Society Teaching Award (2005)
Numerical Methods in Geology (GEOL 7065) 2004, 2006,
2009.
Tectonic Geomorphology (LSU, GEOL 7002) 2005. BASC
Excellence in Teaching Award (2005)
Tectonic Geomorphology (UIUC, GEOL 593), 2008