Dr. Kato Tsosie Dee
Dr. Kato Tsosie Dee joined the Geology and Geophysics department in Fall 2018. He started off his professional career in environmental consulting as a hydrogeologist/geochemist where he participated in numerous projects related to remediation of abandoned hard rock mines in Central Colorado, petroleum refineries, uranium mill sites, and chlorinated solvent releases. More recently he assisted in characterizing extent and nature of uranium contamination in soils from abandoned uranium mines located in the Navajo Nation. Prior to the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Dee was the director of the Colorado Mountain College Natural Resource Management program where he developed, procured funding, and implemented numerous projects related to environmental monitoring, reclamation, and restoration in the Central Rocky Mountains of Colorado. He obtained his Ph.D. in Geochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines and M.S. and B.S. from the University of Kansas. His primary research focuses on the roles and interactions of natural organic matter with metals in natural waters and how these relations alleviate metal aquatic toxicity and transport of toxic metals in streams and groundwater. Other interests include fate and transport of hydrocarbons, applications of isotopes (i.e., O18, O16, H2, H3), use of constructed wetlands in the remediation of contaminated waters, and watershed hydrology. Dr. Dee is excited to work with students, faculty, develop collaborations with other departments, and increase Native American student presence at OU as part of the development of a robust and innovative hydrogeology program.
Current Graduate Students
Alexa Muntz
Alexa Muntz is a first-year Master’s student in the Fall of 2020 studying hydrogeology at the University of Oklahoma. She completed her B.S. in Earth Sciences with a Geology concentration at Central Connecticut State University in 2020. She completed a capstone project looking at anticline fracture and fluid history and had the opportunity to travel with James Madison University for a field camp in Ireland, where an interest in fieldwork and groundwater flow was sparked. Her interests evolved in her senior year towards environmental concerns which lead to conducting a second project observing the impacts of local legacy lead mining. At OU Her thesis focuses on the distribution and molecular properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Central Oklahoma Aquifer and its possible contribution to trace metal speciation and mobility. After completing her Master’s degree at OU, she hopes to return to the New England area to work in the environmental or hydrogeology industry. In her free time, she enjoys baking, painting, gardening, yoga, hiking with her Shiba/husky Loki, and face-timing with her baby nephew Wyatt.
Research Group Alumni
Chelsey Gallagher
Chelsey Gallagher is a second-year Master’s student studying hydrogeology at the University of Oklahoma. She joined the School of Geosciences in Fall of 2019 after moving from Arizona, where she grew up. She finished her undergraduate degree with a B.S. in Geology from Northern Arizona University where she found a passion for studying Earth’s history and processes. In her senior year of undergrad, she wrote a senior thesis that investigated groundwater recharge rates using a chloride mass balance technique applying an atmospheric-sourced chloride tracer procedure in a deep unsaturated zone. Her senior thesis research lead to wanting to learn more about water quality and aquatic toxicology. Her Master’s thesis at OU researches seasonal influences on the molecular and metal binding properties of dissolved organic matter found in groundwater and surface water in Central Colorado. Upon graduation from OU, she hopes to work in the industry applying her aquatic geochemistry knowledge in water quality and contamination either in the private sector or government. Aside from school, she loves all things outdoors, including camping, skiing, golfing, hiking, and searching for exciting rocks!
Joy Foluso
Joy Foluso is in the second year of her master’s program, where she is studying hydrogeology at the University of Oklahoma. She completed her B.Sc Geology undergrad at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2016. Joy moved to Dallas, TX, in October 2017 to be with her family. During her final year at the University of Ibadan, she was introduced to the sub-disciplines of hydrology and geochemistry, which led her to become passionate about environmental sustainability issues and practices concerning potable water resources. Her thesis at OU focuses on applying water chemistry and stable isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) to untangle the possible existence of multiple groundwater sources in Unaweep Canyon, located in Western Colorado. Upon completing her master’s degree at OU, she plans to pursue her Ph.D. and continue hydrogeochemical research. One of her greatest desires is to eventually become involved in the development and improvement of geological research laboratories in under-developed countries. Outside of school, she loves God, loves to read, and is very family-oriented.
