Executive Director, National Physical Science Consortium, 2001-
President and Director, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, 1994-2001
Adjunct Professor, School of Policy, Planning, and Development, USC, 1995-2001
President and CEO, The Franklin Institute, 1991-1994
President, Reed College, 1988-91
President, Franklin and Marshall College, 1983-88
Acting President, Oberlin College, 1981-83
Visiting Administrator, Stanford University, 1981
Vice President and Provost, Oberlin College, 1975-81
Associate Dean, Oberlin College, 1973-75
Visiting Scientist, Oxford University, 1969-70
Instructor, Indiana University Geologic Field Station, Montana, 1967
Chairman, Department of Geology, Oberlin College, 1965-73
Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor, Oberlin College, 1962-83

Sc. D., Berea College, 2006.
Sc. D., Arcadia (Beaver) College , 1992
LH. D., Tohoku Gakuin University, 1986
Sc. D., Oberlin College, 1983
Ph. D., Geochemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1962
A. B., Geology, Berea College, 1958

Professor of the Year, Masters of Public Policy Program, SPPD, USC 2001
Asteroid 9379 Powell
Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi; Sigma Xi; Fellow, Geological Society of America

National Science Board 1986-1998. Appointed by Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush
   Chair, Education and Human Resources Committee, 1992-1996
   Committee on Undergraduate Science and Engineering Education, 1985-86
Drexel University: Board of Trustees, 1993-1994
PATHS/PRISM (Supports K-12 math and science education): Board Member, 1992-1994
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance: Board Member, 1992-1994
PRIME (Supports K-12 education): Advisory Board Member, 1991-1994
NERCO: Director, 1989-1993
Association of American Colleges: Director, 1988-91; Chair-elect, 1991
EDUCOM: Director, 1984-90
Institute for European Studies: Board of Governors, 1985-88
Central Pennsylvania College Consortium: Chairman, 1985-88
PA Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities: Chair, 1985-87

Dead Pool: Lake Powell, Global Warming, and the Future of Water in the West, University of California Press, December 2008
Grand Canyon: Solving Earth's Grandest Puzzle, Pi Press, April 2006; Plume Press, November 2006 (softcover.)
Mysteries of Terra Firma: Age and Evolution of the Earth, Free Press, November, 2001.
Night Comes to the Cretaceous: Dinosaur Extinction and the Transformation of Modern Geology, W. H. Freeman, April, 1998; Harcourt, Brace, 1999 (softcover).
Pathways to Leadership: Achieving and Sustaining Success: A Guide for Nonprofit Executives, Jossey-Bass, 1995.
Professional contributions in geochemistry, including Strontium Isotope Geology, Springer, 1972.
Papers and presentations on role of science museums, the crisis in science education, long range planning, computing in liberal education, computer-intensive campuses, college finance, executive use of computers.

Webmaster, Buellton is Our Town
Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau: Board of Directors, 1993-94
Philadelphia Public School/Business Partnership for Reform, 1994
United Way, Lancaster County; Chairman, Education Division, 1985
Urban League of Lancaster: Board of Directors, 1985-88

Writing, reading biographies and mysteries, fly-fishing, dogs, horseback riding, Datsun Z-cars