Deanna van Dijk
- Dr. Deanna van Dijk
- Professor
- Geology, Geography, and Environmental Studies
- North Hall 079 (Map)
- (616) 526-6510
- dvandijk@calvin.edu
Education
Professor van Dijk spent her university years in Ancaster and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. She graduated from Redeemer College in 1991 with a BCS in math and a geography minor. She then went on to earn her MA and PhD in geography from the University of Waterloo in 1993 and 1998. During university she enjoyed significant field experiences in Presqu'ile Provincial Park (on the north shore of Lake Ontario).
Biography
Professor van Dijk was born in Oxford, England, but her family moved when she was young, and her first memories are of Sioux Center, Iowa (U.S.), where her family lived for 13 years while her father taught at Dordt College. In 1982, her family moved back to Canada, while her father taught at Redeemer College in Hamilton, Ontario. Her favorite vacation spots include the Canadian Rockies, Atlantic Canada and the Bruce Peninsula.
Professional experience
In 1998, she had a short (but memorable) stay in Sackville, New Brunswick for a post-doc in a salt marshon the Bay of Fundy. In 1999, she moved to Grand Rapids to join the GEO department at Calvin College.
Academic interests
Current teaching
- Earth Systems (GEOG/GEOL 120)
- Introductory Meteorology (GEOG/IDIS 191)
- Geomorphology (GEOG/GEOL 311)
- Environmental Geology (GEOL 312)
- Coastal Geomorphology (GEOG/GEOL 322)
Research interests
- aeolian and coastal geomorphology
- cold-climate processes
- wind erosion in complex environments
- Lake Michigan coastal dunes
A few of my passions...
- Dunes: Any dune is fascinating, but Lake Michigan has some spectacular dunes.
- Coasts: These are some of the most dynamic environments on earth.
- Winter/cold regions: Too many people miss out on wonderful things because they avoid the cold.
- Fieldwork: To really understand geomorphology, you need to spend time with the landforms and processes.
- Teaching: Geography is a great discipline and it’s a privilege to be able to share.
- Fieldtrips: What better way is there to experience geography?
- (Undergraduate) Student research: Students have the hands-on opportunity to learn and contribute to advancing knowledge.
- Canada: Spectacular landscapes. Wonderful people. (...and real winters, hockey, short elections, consistent metric use, Tim Hortons, poutine ...) What's not to like?
Research and scholarship
1991-1999:
Graduate studies and post-doctorate research: I spent part of each year on the north shore of Lake Ontario studying the processes which make winter winds a dominant agent of landform change on the Presqu'ile Beach and coastal dunes.
2000-present (Calvin College years):
Long-term study: Along with Calvin students, I am measuring rates of sediment transport by wind and coastal dune change at a Lake Michigan field site in P.J. Hoffmaster State Park.
Other projects include:
- Collaboration with Hope College studies of an active dune near Holland, MI
- Summer studies (with students) of several Ottawa County dunes to provide information for specific management questions
- Studies (with students) to develop a method for creating a Dune Features Inventory for West Michigan dunes.
Publications
Refereed Publications (selected)
*indicates undergraduate student
- Hansen, E., S. DeVries-Zimmerman, D. van Dijk and B. Yurk (2009). "Patterns of windflow and aeolian deposition on a parabolic dune on the southeastern shore of Lake Michigan." Geomorphology 105: 147-157.
- Hansen, E.C., A.F. Arbogast, D. van Dijk and B. Yurk (2006). "Growth and migration of parabolic dunes along the southeastern coast of Lake Michigan." Journal of Coastal Research SI 39 (Proceedings of the 8th International Coastal Symposium): 209-214.
- van Dijk, D. and D.R. Vink* (2005). “Visiting a Great Lakes sand dune: The example of Mt. Pisgah in Holland, Michigan”. The Great Lakes Geographer 12(2): 45-63.
- van Dijk, D. (2004). "Contemporary geomorphic processes and change on Lake Michigan coastal dunes: An example from Hoffmaster State Park, Michigan." Michigan Academician 35(4): 425-453.
- van Dijk, D. and J. Law (2003). "The rate of grain release by pore-ice sublimation in cold-aeolian environments." Geografiska Annaler 85A(1): 99-113.
Recent conference papers and posters
*indicates undergraduate student
- van Dijk, D. (2009). "Lake Michigan foredune evolution and short-term variations in lake level, weather and vegetation." 52nd Conference on Great Lakes Research. International Association for Great Lakes Research. University of Toledo (Toledo, OH), 20 May 2009.
- Beauchamp*, J., F. Van Baak* and D. van Dijk (2009). "Creating a Dune Features Inventory (DFI) for Michigan coastal dunes." Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers (Las Vegas, NV), 22-27 March 2009; poster.
- van Dijk, D. (2009). "Undergraduate research is building an understanding of Lake Michigan coastal dunes." Annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers (Las Vegas, NV), 22-27 March 2009; illustrated paper.
- Pettinga*, L.A. and D. van Dijk (2008). "Contemporary geomorphology of a large parabolic dune on the east shore of Lake Michigan, USA." Annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (Houston, TX), 5-9 October 2008; poster.
- Schmitkons*, J.P., B. Geurink*, J.E. VanHorn and D. van Dijk (2008). "Using a Geographic Information System to map patterns of change in a Lake Michigan coastal dune system." Annual meeting of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters. Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI), 7 March 2008.
In the news
GEO duo wins award
Senior geography majors Seth Kenbeek and Abbie Belford were awarded the best student presentation award for a regional academic conference of the Association of American Geographers (East Lakes Division of the AAG) last month. The students presented their summer research, which is funded by ISRI, on geospatial techniques for dune analysis.
Lighting the FYRES of research
First-year students are learning how to research in the Michigan dunes.
Lighting the FYRES of research
First-year students are learning how to research in the Michigan dunes.
Lighting the FYRES of research
First-year students are learning how to research in the Michigan dunes.
Lighting the FYRES of research
First-year students are learning how to research in the Michigan dunes.
Lighting the FYRES of research
First-year students are learning how to research in the Michigan dunes.
Student to present dunes research results
Melinda Campbell, a junior from Calvin did summer research on West Michigan sand dunes. She will be presenting her research at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Vink to Present Pisgah Results
On Wednesday, October 5, Calvin senior Rob Vink will share the results of his summer research on a venerable Michigan sand dune with the people who know it best.
Bringing the beach to campus
Eight hundred tons of sand composes Calvin's newest research site
Related
- Off-campus programs: