Kimberly Grantham

Kimberly Martin Grantham graduated in 1998 with a B.S. in Interior Design from Texas State University. Her career has focused on communications and instructional design.  Upon graduation, Kimberly traveled as a consultant for the Chi Omega Executive Headquarters where she trained undergraduate members in the areas of leadership, recruitment and communications. Chi Omega is the nation’s largest women’s fraternal organization. Kimberly served the Executive Headquarters in a variety of upper management positions including Director of Extension and Director of Chapter Services. She finished her career with Chi Omega as the Director of Training and Programming where she developed national educational program and corresponding marketing plans for delivery to 20,000 undergraduate members and 220,000 alumnae members.  Kimberly was also responsible for the design and content management for three educational websites. 

Kimberly lives in Memphis with her husband, Clay, and their three year old son, Jackson. Her hobbies include running, biking, reading, cooking and spending time with her family. She is involved in a variety of community organizations. Kimberly serves as the Training Director for the Junior League of Memphis, is a member of the advisory board for the Chi Omega Fraternity chapter at Rhodes College and serves on the Family Council and Nursery Council at her church.  She also serves as a national volunteer on Chi Omega’s Convention Team where she develops the educational workshops for conference.

Dr. Dan Larsen

Dr. Dan Larsen is a Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences (DES), where he has been a faculty member since 1995.  He has been working with GWI on various research projects since 1999. 

Dr. Larsen’s responsibilities as Interim Associate Director will be to assist the director in overseeing GWI operations, seek external funding to support GWI’s mission, assist in developing the annual GWI focus and research agenda, and oversee graduate student recruitment.

Dr. Larsen's research and teaching interests are primarily in the areas of low-temperature geochemistry, hydrology, and stratigraphy, with emphasis on field-based study. His research in the Memphis area has focused on increasing knowledge of the physical, chemical, and hydraulic properties of regional aquifers, and recharge processes to the Memphis aquifer.  He has over 50 peer-reviewed publications in the areas of hydrology, geochemistry, and sedimentary geology.

He has also served DES, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the University in many capacities, but primarily in matters related to graduate programs.  He is currently serving as a Councilor for the Geological Society of America.

Dr. Larsen holds three degrees in geology, a B.S. (1985) from Arizona State University, an M.S. (1988) from Ohio State University, and a Ph.D. (1994) from the University of New Mexico. 

Dan Pallme

Dan Pallme (Memphis ’86) graduated with a B.B.A. in Marketing.  He has focused his career in the transportation field.  During his undergraduate years, he worked at Federal Express (Air) working a variety of positions while he focused on graduating.  Upon graduating from Memphis, he went to work for Yellow Freight System (LTL) in their management trainee program.  He worked for Yellow Freight System in various capacities and moved to several locations in their network.  In 1990, he started in the intermodal industry at Union Pacific (rail) as a general supervisor.  He finished his career with the Union Pacific Railroad in several management positions at a few locations.  From 2004 to June of this year, he was Director of Business Development at Comtrak Logistics.  He was responsible for all the revenue associated with the company.  During that timeframe, Comtrak Logistics grew from 15 to 25 terminals.  Comtrak Logistics developed into one of the largest nationally drayage providers specializing in intermodal in the country.

His main interests are his wife, Sharon, and their two children, Anna (18) and Carter (16).  They reside in the Memphis area.  His hobbies include family events, golf, fishing, coaching, general sports and University of Memphis athletics.  He has been a member of the White Station Optimist Club and the Traffic Club of Memphis as a director for several years.  He recently graduated in June (’11) of this year with a Master of Science in Intermodal Transportation Management from the University of Denver.

Dr. Brian Waldron

Dr. Waldron is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering in the Herff College of Engineering as well as the Director of the Center for Partnerships in GIS (CPGIS). Dr. Waldron had been the Associate Director for GWI from 2007 to early 2011 and has been a faculty member of the University since 1999.

Dr. Waldron’s responsibilities as Interim Director will be to oversee operations, grow the institute’s research program, work with the institute’s funding sponsors, supporters and advisory board to advance the institute’s mission, and raise an endowment over the next three years to hire a permanent director.

The primary focus of Dr. Waldron’s research pertains to ground-water migration and contaminant transport through field investigations and numerical modeling. All of his research is multi-disciplinary crossing many departments and academic institutions. Numerous students are involved in his research, allowing them to exercise what they have learned in the classroom in an applied field environment.

Dr. Waldron holds three degrees in civil engineering, a B.S. (1992) and an M.S. (1994) from the University of Memphis, and a Ph.D. (1999) from Colorado State University.