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Community College of Rhode Island
Millard unearths knowledge
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| Nancy Millard explores a hydrothermal pocket of quartz in Moosup, Conn. |
“Class, let us now review course materials: textbook, syllabus, sledge-hammer, shovel, chisel, picks and brushes.”
So begins another class in Geology 1020 taught by faculty member Nancy Millard of the Physics Department. In addition to scientific inquiry in the classroom, the course also includes the hands-on study of fossils through field trips around southern New England.
“My goal is to make students less afraid of science and to capture their attention through class displays of specimens and field trips,” said Millard. “I try to make it fun as well as educational.” Each semester, students travel to the northern part of the state to uncover indigenous fossils and minerals, such as Bowenite - the state mineral - and Cumberlandite - found (where else?) in Cumberland, RI.
During her time away from the classroom, Millard is also a professional miner, and is one of the first women to achieve national recognition in mining gems and minerals. In fact, Millard has been mining for more than 15 years and has excavated sites in every state but four. She has mined in all kinds of weather and has found great success in mining Herkimer diamonds, which are world-famous quartz crystals found only in New York. “It’s a back-breaking process, and I’ve had to remove more than 20 tons of materials to find the diamonds,” said Millard. “These unusually clear, brilliant crystals began forming millions of years ago and are in great demand by collectors and museums.”
Millard, who is half Mohawk Indian, grew up in Worcester, Mass., and after graduating from high school, married and had children. When her children were older, Millard went back to school and graduated from Worcester State with a degree in geology. She is now working on her Master’s in Arts and Teaching from Bridgewater State College; she expects to complete it in 2006.
“I fully understand the challenges of our students, many of whom are no different from me in trying to juggle work, study and family,” Millard said. “I hope that when students hear my story, it helps inspire them to move forward in pursuing their personal educational goals.”
In addition to teaching and mining, Millard and her husband Stephen also own Earthwherks!, a company that specializes in cutting stone and making jewelry. They are also members of the RI Mineral Hunters, a group dedicated to conservation and education, as well as generating funds for student scholarships. The Mineral Hunters recently donated a collection of more than 20 different gems and minerals to CCRI to assist in student learning.
In addition to geology, Millard also teaches oceanography and astronomy.
