Invertebrate Paleontologist, Craig W. Oyen,
42, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, died unexpectedly in Arizona on
Monday, September 5th. Born in Williston, North Dakota, June 27th,
1963, he earned his B.S. at North Dakota State University (Fargo),
continued with graduate studies at the University of Tennessee
(Knoxville), and completed his Ph.D. in Geology at the University of
Florida (Gainesville). Following three years on the faculty of
Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, Georgia), in 1998 he joined the
faculty of Shippensburg University (Shippensburg), where he was a tenured
Assistant Professor in the Geography and Earth Science Department.
Craig maintained an enthusiastic involvement in scientific research
(mainly Cenozoic echinoids of the southeastern United States), resulting
in national and international publications and presentations. He
enjoyed teaching, immensely.
At the time of his death he was on
sabbatical from Shippensburg University, working with the United States
National Park Service in the Grand Canyon, a place he dearly loved.