A native of West Virginia, Tina grew up in Scott Depot where she attended Teays Valley Christian School. Always curious and always asking questions, Tina was excited to attend college at West Virginia University. There, she met many supportive faculty members who encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a meteorologist. While conducting research during her senior year under the support of a Barry Goldwater scholarship, she discovered her love of research and investigating relevant issues which further our understanding of our environment. Tina's project involved collaborative research with the Hydrologist at the National Weather Service investigating the effects of forest fires on flash flood events.
After seeing a flyer on the wall for a graduate fellowship for minorities and women in the Physical Sciences, Tina was selected to receive this six year fellowship for full financial support to obtain a doctoral degree in meteorology. Tina chose to attend Florida State University where she obtained both a master's and doctoral degree in meteorology. Her master's research was a collaborative project with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where she spent two summers investigating cloud model simulations and predicting vertical heating profiles from reflectivity profiles. For her dissertation work, Tina researched a statistical technique to create an improved ensemble precipitation forecast over the Southeastern United States.
In 1998, Tina and her family relocated to Nashua, NH, where Tina worked as a research meteorologist for Lincoln Laboratory, the research facility for MIT. Here, she worked on a team investigating a thunderstorm forecast product to be used by air traffic controllers.
As an undergrad at West Virginia University, Tina hoped to return to her home state to start a new meteorology program that can address the research and academic needs of the state. In the Fall of 2003, this dream became a reality. After working at West Virginia State University and Community and Technical College since 2000, a two-year program in Applied Meteorology was begun. Students in the program will be prepared to pursue a career in Broadcast Meteorology or transfer to a bachelor degree program in meteorology to complete the study necessary to become a meteorologist.
Tina is excited to expand her responsibilities as Program Director of the Meteorology Program and become the West Virginia State Climatologist. This opportunity will provide a chance to investigate relevant weather and climate research issues important to the state of West Virginia.
For Dr. Tina J. Cartwright's Curriculum Vitae (CV), please click here.
Associate State Climatologist:
Steven grew up in west-central Minnesota and has had a love for the weather since he was young. Always wanting to become a meteorologist, he took many math and science classes while in high school. When it came time to go to college, Steven decided on attending a local community college to fulfill his general education requirements. After graduating with an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts, he decided to attend the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks , ND . After two years in Grand Forks , he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's of Science in Atmospheric Sciences.
Soon after graduation, with a desire to be associated with severe weather, Steven took a job with the North Dakota Atmospheric Resource Board. He became a Field/Radar Meteorologist working out of Bowman, ND. The goal of the project was to seed clouds with a silver iodide mixture in order to promote rainfall and suppress hail across western North Dakota . This position provided him with a wealth of knowledge and understanding of severe thunderstorms, including how to operate a WSR-74C weather radar and the ability to direct aircraft towards and around thunderstorm clouds.
Interested in all aspects of meteorology, Steven also volunteered his time at the local National Weather Service office in early 2002.
He began his career at West Virginia State University in the spring of 2002, as a consultant on the development of a meteorology degree program. Through this work he was able to visit several local schools and discuss the need for an in-state meteorology program. He began teaching the laboratory section of Weather and Climate class in the fall of 2002.
In the summer of 2002, Steven returned to North Dakota and the North Dakota Atmospheric Resource Board, this time as the Project Forecaster. He was the head forecaster of several supportive sites. This job entitled Steven to provide forecasts for the seeding areas and update the field meteorologists any change in conditions or forecasted outlooks. He also assisted the field personnel with operations during active weather situations.
Once again returning back to West Virginia , Steve began work once again with West Virginia State Community and Technical College. He continues to promote and strengthen the Applied Meteorology program as he acts as a recruiter and instructor for the Weather Systems Analysis and Severe Local Storms courses.
Laura Hayes
Dwain Miller Jr.
