Les Kanat, Ph.D.
Ph.D., Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, England
M.S., Geology, Wayne State University
B.S., Geology, Wayne State University
About Leslie Kanat
Dr. Leslie Kanat is a geologist with research experience in metamorphic petrology and structural geology. He received his Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Cambridge and was supported by Fulbright Scholarships. He studied metamorphic rocks in the Norwegian Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard, the Saualpe of Austria, and northern Vermont. In 1987, Dr. Kanat began teaching geology courses at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Since 1989 he taught a wide variety of undergraduate geology and computer courses at Northern Vermont University-Johnson (previously Johnson State College) where he was a Professor of Geology, past Chair of the Department of Environmental and Health Sciences, and past Chair of the Faculty Senate. He received the Vermont State Colleges Faculty Fellowship awards in 2000 and in 2004, the Johnson State College Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year award in 2004, and the Excellence in Advisor’s Award in 2003. He is a current and active member of the Geological Society of America, the National Association of Geology Teachers (past-President of the New England Chapter), and a Board Member of the Vermont Geological Society. Dr. Kanat served on the governing board of the Vermont Chapter of the Fulbright Association and was a volunteer firefighter specialist with the Underhill-Jericho Fire Department (2003 Firefighter of the Year). He was a School Board Director for the Mount Mansfield Modified Union School District (2007-2018), a co-Leader of the Vermont Chapter of the National Fragile X Foundation, and in 2012 was appointed by Governor Shumlin to the Vermont State Nuclear Advisory Panel. He also serves as the scientific advisor for Fairewinds Energy Education Corporation. Presently, Dr. Kanat serves as Interim Academic Dean for Northern Vermont University.