The view was breathtaking—the world opening up before him, silent and peaceful, from the edge of a windswept cliff. Below lay a massive, folded rock structure—“one of the most breathtaking views I've ever seen,” recalls Dr. Kyle Fredrick. During a demanding geology field camp mapping exercise, miles from anywhere, his future path snapped into focus with startling clarity. "It was so quiet, so peaceful... it just kind of jumped up and bit me," he says, "and that's when I knew this is like absolutely what I need to be doing." But finding that decisive moment wasn't a straightforward journey for the future Professor of Envronmental Sciences, teaching Professional Geology at PennWest..

Growing up surrounded by the fields and water resources of rural Wisconsin didn't initially translate into a scientific interest; he started college as a business major. After some "wayward years" feeling uninspired, a geology course at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls unexpectedly ignited a passion. "I just fell in love," Dr. Fredrick admits. "That first geology class, every single topic was more interesting than the last." This newfound fascination reshaped his pursuits, leading him to embrace hiking, exploring, and eventually, geology's intense 'rite of passage': the immersive field camp where that cliff-edge epiphany occurred.

That pivotal experience didn't just confirm his love for the discipline; it also sparked a desire to teach, inspired by working closely with fellow students under challenging conditions. He pursued his Ph.D. directly at the University of Buffalo, focusing on hydrology and groundwater modeling through an EPA grant. Today, as a professor at PennWest and President of the Pittsburgh Geological Society, Dr. Fredrick brings that same enthusiasm for discovery to his students.

Teaching courses in environmental geology, water resources, sedimentology, and soils, his core philosophy remains grounded in direct experience: "Let's get our hands dirty." He designs labs and assignments that get students outside, collecting samples, taking measurements, and interacting with geological processes firsthand. He encourages students not to shy away from the elements, advising them to "just do it" and be prepared, regardless of the weather forecast. Through his classes and the annual geology field trip he leads, Dr. Fredrick champions the kind of perspective-shifting, immersive learning that PennWest offers, helping students discover their own defining moments.