Bio

2023 – present: Dean, College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

2023 – present: Professor, Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

2019 – 2023: Professor and Head of Department, Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

2008 – 2019: Professor and Head of Department, Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

2007 – 2008: Professor, Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

2004 – 2007: Associate Professor, Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

2001 – 2004: Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California

1997 – 2001: Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California

1991 – 1997: Lecturer, Departments of Geography and Geology, Royal Holloway, University of London, United Kingdom

1989 – 1991: Lecturer, Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

1989 – 1989: Geomorphologist, Geomorphological Services, Ltd., United Kingdom

View Research Publications

Posts

A New Community-Focused Course for the Geosciences

Improving Atmospheric River Forecasting

Leaking Landfills

Spring 2026 DELTA Express Grants Recipients Announced

2025-26 University Faculty Scholars Named

Area(s) of Expertise

My research and teaching focus on understanding the nature and dynamics of Quaternary paleoenvironmental change and landscape evolution, environmental geology and natural hazards along active plate margins. I have concentrated my efforts on two major geologic-geographic regions: 1) the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen; and 2) the western Cordilleras of North and South America. This is because these regions provide some of the best natural laboratories for understanding the dynamics of geomorphic, tectonic and climatic processes, and ultimately they provide analogs for understanding the evolution of many ancient plate boundaries. I have also undertaken research in other regions, including the American Midwest, Egypt, Venezuela, Morocco, Trinidad, Thailand, Yemen, and the UK. To undertake this research, I apply remote sensing, field methods, and geochronology. I direct two Quaternary geochronology laboratories (see: https://lewisaowen.wixsite.com/main).