Tara Mayeau, Brown Award 2006

by Shawna Carter

Tara Mayeau was selected for the Brown Award, New Mexico Tech’s highest award to an undergraduate, at commencement ceremonies on May 13, 2006. Mayeau earned a bachelor of science degree in earth science with geophysics option with highest honors.

Mayeau is a 2002 graduate of Shadle Park High School in Spokane, Wash.

Mayeau was highly involved in the organization and analysis of micro-earthquake data from the Socorro and General New Mexico Regions. Her works allows scientists to quickly access and analyze data through a highly organized database.

“Her work is a crucial component for spurring new research and understanding of earthquake activity, especially ongoing work to further understand the dynamics of the inflating Socorro Magma Body underlying the central Rio Grande rift,” says Harold Tobin, an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

In addition to her work on-campus, Mayeau also worked as an intern for the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), a university research consortium dedicated to exploring the Earth's interior through the collection of seismic data, at Washington University in St. Louis. During her internship, she performed cutting-edge research in imaging the core-mantle boundary and presented her work at the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) fall meeting in 2005.

In her spare time, Mayeau enjoyed playing viola for the New Mexico Tech Orchestra in numerous musicals and concerts.

This September, Mayeau plans to attend Yale University in pursuit of a Ph.D. in seismology.

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