Stephanie Mendes, Ph.D.

About Stephanie

Stephanie Mendes was born and raised in California and loves being outside in nature. When Stephanie was growing up, she never would have imagined that she would earn a doctorate degree and become a professor in Earth Science. In fact, Stephanie didn’t even know Geology was a degree option when she started her Bachelor's degree. College was a time for her to explore different majors, and areas of science, and get connected with organizations such as SACNAS. As a result of all these experiences, Dr. Mendes received her Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from CSU Chico and her Ph.D. in Earth Science from UC Santa Barbara. 

Growing up as a Latina in Southern California, Stephanie wasn’t exposed to the wealth of knowledge and career options in Earth Science. Geology describes the physical world we live in and can be applied to any landscape. Traveling back to Mexico to visit family has inspired her to focus on providing geologic educational resources to Hispanic communities to help inspire the next generation of Earth stewards. In addition to a passion for science, Stephanie also enjoys gardening, cooking (turning traditional Mexican food into Veggie friendly meals), and all outdoor activities. 

Currently, Dr. Mendes teaches a range of classes at SBCC: from traditional classroom lectures and labs to co-teaching multi-day field courses across the country. This includes five days in Death Valley, five days in the Eastern Sierras, and 15 days around the Colorado Plateau. Hope to see you on a field trip!