Dr. Ernest A. Mancini

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Board of Trustees has conferred the highest honor it gives to a faculty member to Dr. Ernest A. Mancini, professor of geological sciences and director of the Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies, both in UA’s College of Arts and Sciences. Mancini has been named a University of Alabama Distinguished Research Professor by the board.

Dr. Judy Bonner, UA provost and vice president for academic affairs, said designation as a Distinguished Research Professor signifies national and international recognition in the holder’s field and scholarly or research productivity of the highest order at The University of Alabama.

“I believe that Dr. Mancini richly deserves the designation of University Distinguished Research Professor,” Bonner said. “His contributions to the field of geosciences, his dedication to the growth of his students, and his dedicated service to the oil and gas industry in Alabama and the Gulf Coast region all reflect well not only on Dr. Mancini, but on The University of Alabama.

“The University of Alabama is fortunate to have him as a member of our faculty. I heartily recommended him for appointment as a University Distinguished Research Professor,” she concluded.

The appointment is permanent and university-wide.

Mancini is a renowned national expert in the geology of the Southeastern United States and the Gulf of Mexico and has served as petroleum research geologist for the University’s Mineral Resources Institute.

Mancini has received numerous national awards for his research and teaching contributions in the field of petroleum geology. He was the state geologist and oil and gas supervisor for the state of Alabama from 1982-96. He has had 38 research proposals funded at the University. Since 1996, Mancini has been the primary project director, co-director or primary mentor for research grants totaling more than $12 million.

Mancini recently received the nationally recognized 2004 Ian Campbell Medal, the American Geological Institute’s most distinguished award. He is president-elect of the AGI and has made significant contributions to many AGI member societies, such as the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Geological Society of America.

He has authored or co-authored more than 350 published papers and abstracts in the most prestigious journals in his field. Mancini also has made more than 200 technical presentations in this area and others to academic, industrial and governmental organizations.

He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Pennsylvania’s Albright College, his master’s in zoology from Southern Illinois University and doctoral degree in geology from Texas A&M University.

Mancini is one of only nine faculty members at UA to hold Distinguished Professor status. There are approximately 922 faculty members employed at UA.

The College of Arts and Sciences is the University’s largest division and the largest public liberal arts college in the state, with approximately 5,500 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students. College students have been selected for many of the nation’s top academic honors, including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships, Truman Scholarships, and members on USA Today’s Academic All-American teams.