The members of the Board of Advisors are alumni and friends of the Department of Geosciences. All are individuals who have been successful in their own careers, and hope to share that experience with the department. Members include representatives from industry, academia, and government as well as several who have retired from highly successful careers.

Members are expected to attend as many Board meetings as their busy schedules make possible. Meetings are normally held twice a year, Fall and Spring. Members are not charged dues, but expenses incurred as part of the activities of Board are normally borne by the Members. This includes travel, food and lodging. Members are help the department to fulfill its educational, research and teaching mission. This includes working with the faculty by providing advice and council on issues large and small.

The nomination process to the Geosciences Board of Advisors goes through the chair of the Department of Geosciences (currently Roger L. Nielsen). New members of the board may be nominated to the department chair by members of the faculty, other board members, by the department chair or they may volunteer. The department chair will then poll members of the faculty and the Board who may know the Board candidate. If the chair feels the candidate is acceptable, and the candidate is agreeable, the individual will be named to the board for a term of 4 years.