Dr. Vincent Matthews
Colorado State Geologist
Director
Colorado Geological Survey
VINCE MATTHEWS became State Geologist and Director of the Colorado Geological Survey in 2004. He received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Geology from the University of Georgia, a Ph. D. from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program. Dr. Matthews held tenured positions at two universities and has taught geology at the University of California, University of Northern Colorado, Arizona State University, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
As an executive in the natural resources industry for Amoco, Lear, Union Pacific, and Penn Virginia; Matthews explored for oil & gas in virtually every basin in the U.S., including Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. Part of his experience in the natural resources industry included responsibility for coal, lime, and limestone activities in New Jersey, Virginia, and Tennessee. After more than two decades in the natural resources industry, he returned to academia in 1997, and then joined CGS in 2000. He is the author of more than 60 technical articles and abstracts and was senior editor of the multiple award-winning publication, Messages in Stone: Colorado’s Colorful Geology, available on line from the Colorado Geologic Survey.
Matthews is a Fellow in the Geological Society of America, a Trustee Associate for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Past President of the Colorado Scientific Society, member of the Association of American State Geologists, and has been an officer in the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists. Matthews was appointed by Governor Owens to represent the State of Colorado on BLM’s evaluation panel for the oil shale RD&D proposals, played a key role in developing DNR’s recommendation to BLM on the Roan Plateau Management Plan, served as technical advisor on energy and mineral resources for the Colorado Roadless Area Review Task Force, and is currently participating in development of the programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for commercial oil shale leasing.
