Instructor Biography

William Orr
William Orr has been teaching Geology courses through PSU Independent Study since 1968.

In addition to teaching at community colleges, he also offers several on-line courses in geology, paleontology and oceanography with the University of Oregon.

William received his BS, MS and PhD degrees in geology/paleontology in Oklahoma, California and Michigan respectively.

William has been a registered professional geologist with the state of Oregon since 1978. He was appointed by the governor to the state board in 1997 and served for 8 years including two as chairman.

Since 1982 he has been director of the Oregon State Museum of Paleontology (The Condon collection) at the Museum of Cultural and Natural History at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

He has authored some 100 papers and publications in his field as well as a dozen books. The latter include the standard references for the geology of Oregon, the geology of the Pacific Northwest and Oregon Paleontology (Fossils).