Evelynn Mitchell, Ph.D.

Ph.D., University of Texas at San Antonio, 2007
M.S., Texas State University, 2000
B.S., Mount Union College, 1996

Evelynn Mitchell, Ph.D., earned her doctorate from the Environmental Science and Engineering program at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Mitchell taught physics at the University of the Incarnate Word prior to pursuing her Ph.D. She also gained experience in engineering and applied physics working as a manufacturing engineer at Sony Semiconductor from 2000 to 2003.

Mitchell focused on studying the Edwards Aquifer in her dissertation research, in which she used a combination of hydrogeology and geophysical skills to determine specific storage values using the compression of earthquake waves. She has also performed geophysics research using seismic and resistivity and ground penetrating radar applications to look at the geologic and hydrologic settings in the San Antonio Mission National Historic Park, the Texas Hill Country and in Jalisco, Mexico.

As a professor at St. Mary’s University, Mitchell has worked with students in studying carbon dioxide levels in local caves, detecting voids using ground penetrating radar, and using electrical resistivity to examine subsurface locations. She started the University’s Community Garden, was Chair of the Sustainability Committee for three years and has served as the St. Mary’s University representative on the West Side Creeks Oversight Committee, which drew on her background in hydrogeology. Mitchell has also presented her research internationally.

Mitchell EJ. 2022. Commentary: Boring Co. Tunnel a Threat to Historic Springs. San Antonio Express-News. https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/Boring-Co-tunnel-threat-historic-springs-17144985.php

Mitchell EJ, Coronado AJ, Cox BT, Houssaye ADL, Sepulveda FJ, Sadler A, Yamazi AS, Mitchell E. 2022. Well Cave Report: Bracken Bat Cave and Preserve. St Marys Univ.

Quintero E, Mitchell and E. 2022. Preliminary Geological Investigation of Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña for San Antonio Missions National Historical Park & World Heritage Site. In: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Geological Society of America. DOI: 10.1130/abs/2022am-382591. 

Potter, Rebecca C., Leslie W. King, Evelynn J. Mitchell, Henry G. Trapido-Rosenthal, Jeffery L. Kavanaugh, and Leanne M. Jablonski. (2019) Fostering curricular and community partnerships in Dayton, Ohio and with sister Marianist Universities in Honolulu and San Antonio: An experiential learning lab model as a vehicle for community-based learning. Ecological Society of America 2019 Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY. https://eco.confex.com/eco/2019/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/76287.

Barrera, Cresencia R. and Evelynn J. Mitchell. (2019) Investigative Study of an Anomaly at Bracken Bat Cave Preserve Using Electrical Resistivity. American Geophysical Union Fall 2019 Annual Meeting. December 12, 2019, San Francisco, California. https://abstractsearch.agu.org/meetings/2019/FM/NS43D-0851.html

Valdez, Miguel A., Evelynn J. Mitchell and Joseph N. Mitchell. (2019) Assessment of Ground Penetrating Radar as a Tool for Surveying World Newt Cave. American Geophysical Union Fall 2019 Annual Meeting. December 12, 2019, San Francisco, California. https://abstractsearch.agu.org/meetings/2019/FM/NS43D-0852.html

Barrera, Cresencia. Evelynn J. Mitchell – Mentor. (2019) Investigative Study of an Anomaly at Bracken Bat Cave Preserve Using Electrical Resistivity. St. Mary’s University McNair Scholars Research Journal, Volume XII.

Valdez, Miguel. Evelynn J. Mitchell – Mentor. (2019) Assessment of Ground Penetrating Radar as a Tool for Surveying World Newt Cave. St. Mary’s University McNair Scholars Research Journal, Volume XII.

Mitchell, Evelynn J., Genne Liu, and Melissa L. Karlin. (2017) Seasonal Variations in Species Abundance and Impact of Large-Scale Visitation in Robber Baron Cave, Texas. Proceedings of the 17^th International Congress of Speleology, July 2017, p. 90–4. http://uis-speleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Proceedings-17th-ICS-Vol1-Ed2-screen.pdf

Mitchell, Evelynn J., and Joseph N. Mitchell. (2017) Comparison of Shallow Geophysical Cave Detection Methods to 3D LIDAR Mapping. Proceedings of the 17^th International Congress of Speleology, July 2017, p. 126-9. http://uis-speleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Proceedings-17th-ICS-Vol2-Ed2-screen.pdf

Liu, Genne. Evelynn J. Mitchell – Mentor. (2016) Changes in Species Diversity due to Open House Events at Robber Baron Cave. St. Mary’s University McNair Scholars Research Journal, Volume IX, p 50 – 70.

Liu, Genne, Evelynn J. Mitchell. (2017)  Do Open House Events at Robber Baron Cave have an Effect on Species Richness? Wildlife Society Conference. Spring 2017, Albuquerque, NM.

Zafar, Maham, Evelynn J. Mitchell, David R. Turner, Salma Montes-Arredondo. (2017) Evaluating Pre-existing Soil Conditions at the Rehabilitated Community Garden Location on the West Side of San Antonio, Texas. The Geological Society of America South Central Section Meeting, March 13-14, 2017, San Antonio, Texas. https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2017SC/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/289253

Mitchell, Evelynn. J. Detection of Shallow Karst features with Geophysical Techniques: Ground Truthing the Results. The Geological Society of America South Central Section Meeting, March 13-14, 2017, San Antonio, Texas. https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2017SC/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/289257

Mitchell, E.J., *H.S. Campbell, and *G.O Rodriquez. (2015) Shallow Karst Detection in South Central Texas Using Ground Penetrating Radar. Geological Society of America South-Central Section Meeting Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 47, No. 1, p.15. https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2015SC/webprogram/Paper254117.html

H.S. Campbell, E.J. Mitchell. (2015) Ground Penetrating Radar in Comparison to Electrical Resistivity at Wurzbach Bat Cave, Geological Society of America South-Central Section Meeting Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 47, No. 1, p.18. https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2015SC/webprogram/Paper254119.html

*G.O. Rodriguez, E.J. Mitchell. (2015) Sampling and Analysis Techniques for determining Carbon Isotope Ratios in Robber Baron Cave, Geological Society of America South-Central Section Meeting Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 47, No. 1, p.19. https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2015SC/webprogram/Paper254120.html

E.L. Patrick, K.E. Mandt, E.J. Mitchell, J.N. Mitchell, K.N. Younkin, C.M. Seifert, and G.C. Williams. (2012). “A Prototype Mass Spectrometer for In Situ Analysis of Cave Atmospheres,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 105116; http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4761927.

Mitchell, E. J., Patrick, E.L., Mandt, K.E., Mitchell, J.N., and Williams, G.C., (2012) In-Situ Measurements of Air Samples from Groundwater Wells with a Field Deployable Mass Spectrometer, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 44, No. 7, p.313. https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2012AM/webprogram/Paper211185.html

Sobery, A.C., Mitchell, E.J., and Turner, D.R., (2012) Ongoing Development of Hands-On Demonstrations for Environmental Science Outreach at the Elementary Level, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 44, No. 7, p.98. https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2012AM/webprogram/Paper211135.html

Sobery, A., D.R. Turner, E.J. Mitchell. (2012) Development of Earth Science Hands-on Exhibits for STEM Enrichment at the Elementary Level. Geological Society of America Vol. 44, No. 1.

Seifert, C., E.J. Mitchell, K.E. Mandt, E.L Patrick. (2012) Comparison of Infrared and Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer Measurements of Carbon Dioxide in Cave Environments, Geological Society of America, Vol. 44, No. 1.

Mandt, K.E., E.L. Patrick, E.J. Mitchell, J.N. Mitchell and K.N. Younkin. (2012) In-Situ Mass Spectrometer Measurements of Cave Atmospheres as an Analogue to Future Planetary Cave Missions. Proceedings of the 43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Abstract #1442. https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2012/pdf/1442.pdf

Mitchell, E. J., J.N. Mitchell, E.L. Patrick, K.E. Mandt and K.N. Younkin. (2011) In-Situ Meteorology and Elemental Composition of Cave Atmospheres in Texas. First International Planetary Caves Workshop Program and Abstract Volume, p. 17. https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/caves2011/pdf/8007.pdf

Duran, L. and E. J. Mitchell. (2010) Meteorological Measurements of Three South Texas Caves in Differing Geological Formations. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, No. 2, p. 67.

Duran, L. E. J. Mitchell – Mentor. (2010) A Study of Meteorological Differences Between Caves in Different Geologies. St. Mary’s University McNair Scholars Research Journal, Volume II, 2009-2010.

Mitchell, E. J. October (2008) Storativity from Seismic Waves: Using Rayleigh Waves for Seismic Efficiency Calculations. 2008 Joint Meeting of The Geological Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies with the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM, Houston, Texas. Geological Society of America 2008, 190-11.

Mitchell, E. J. R. and A. R. Dutton. (2007) Specific Storage Results for the Edwards Aquifer Using the Seismic Efficiency Method, National Ground Water Association 2007 Groundwater Summit, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Mitchell, E.J.R. and A. Dutton. (2007) Calculation of Specific Storage in the Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) Aquifer, Central Texas, Using Seismic Efficiencies. Report for the Edwards Aquifer Authority, San Antonio, Texas, pp. 34.