DUNCAN HERON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
James (Jim) P. Hibbard
An established history of distinguished service
Dr. Jim Hibbard’s contributions to the geology of the Carolinas began in 1988 when he started at NC State University (NCSU) as the instructor for structural geology. Since 1988, Jim has provided outstanding service to both the Society and to the discipline of geology. On two occasions, Dr. Hibbard served on the Board of Directors for CGS. Two PhD dissertations and 14 MS theses were completed under Jim’s supervision at NCSU. In addition, Jim was a committee member for dissertations at Duke University (5), Syracuse University (2), and one at UNC Chapel Hill. Jim was also a thesis committee member at Duke (3), UNC Chapel Hill (3), and at University of Puerto Rico (1). Further, Dr. Hibbard was external examiner for two dissertations at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia and one thesis at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada.
Dr. Hibbard has served on the editorial team of Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, Geological Society of America (GSA) Bulletin, and he is also a Fellow of the GSA. Jim has also held various positions across North America via contracts for the mining industry, college teaching positions, or other professional positions. Countless invited presentations at universities and conferences have been delivered by Jim. Jim also served as an external reviewer on Tenure and Promotion committees at several universities. Close to a million dollars has been awarded to Jim from the National Science Foundation as well as other sources. A significant proportion of these funds were used to support Jim’s research and field work in the Carolinas, as well as students’ work – a huge benefit to our region.
Made a lasting contribution to the geology of the Carolinas
Jim’s research at NCSU primarily dealt with the geology of the southern Appalachians, particularly that of the Carolinas, although his scholarship encompasses the whole Appalachian orogeny beyond the borders of our country into the Canadian Maritime provinces. The training he got from famous geologists such as Drs. Harold Williams (Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada) and Dr. Dan Karig (Cornell University) provided a very strong foundation on which Dr. Hibbard launched his own distinguished career. His research has greatly improved the understanding of the geology of the Carolinas from a structural geology, economic geology, geochronological as well as geochemical standpoint. The modern arc concept, such as the Hyco and Albemarle arcs, for example, are a consequence of Jim and his students’ work.
Dr. Hibbard’s research has been published in some of the top journals in geology, such as American Journal of Science, Gondwana Research, Geology, Earth-Science Reviews, Tectonics, among others, as well as sections in textbooks and field trip guidebooks.
Jim has led two trips for CGS (2013 and 2017) whose accompanying guidebooks were loaded with detailed scientific data and careful field work. Finally, Jim and his collaborators’ 2006 lithotectonic map of the Southern Appalachians is an important work that receives numerous citations each year. Jim has indeed been (and still is) a very prolific geoscientist.
I first got to know of Jim through his high impact publications when I was working in Georgia. Later, I contributed to some oral sessions he chaired at some meetings of the Geological Society of America. Dr. Hibbard embraced me with both arms when I relocated to North Carolina in August 2013, and he has been of great help to me since then.
Exhibited leadership and provided inspiration to others in the field of geology
Jim served as a Committee Member on the North Carolina Geological Advisory Committee from 2008 to 2021. In addition, he has also been serving as an Honorary Board Member Fundy Geological Museum, Nova Scotia, Canada since 1997. Jim also served as a Research Associate North Carolina State Museum of Natural History from 2009 to 2014. Countless articles for multiple journals have been reviewed by Jim. Dr Hibbard specialized in co-authoring articles with both graduate and undergraduate students, helping mentor young geologists. In addition, Jim collaborated with fellow professionals thereby enhancing the work of colleagues in the process.
It is apparent from what has been summarized above that CGS, the Carolinas, and our profession, have all reaped the rewards of having Jim as one of our valued members and citizens.
Nominated for the Heron Lifetime Achievement Award by:
Jeff B. Chaumba
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
(2019, text updated in 2025)