Dr. Rhodes is a geology lecturer in the Department of Physics and Geology.  She received her doctorate degree in geology from the University of Maryland at College Park in 2008.  Dr. Rhodes received her Masters of Science in geology from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA in 2001 and her Bachelors of Science in geology from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA in 1997. Prior to obtaining her first degree, Dr. Rhodes gained over 10 years of experience working in the public and private sector as a storm water management and flood hazard mitigation specialist. The majority of that time was spent working for CSX Transportation, Fulton County (GA), and the Small Business Administration, Disaster Assistance Program.  Dr. Rhodes has also served as a research assistant at the University of Maryland and the US Geological Survey. While at the University of Maryland, she developed a statistical model of the relationship between the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and floods in the Potomac River basin. At the US Geological Survey, she worked with a team of hydrologists to troubleshoot computer programs designed to update the National Flood Frequency Program and the National Streamflow Statistics Program. Dr. Rhodes has also been active in primary and secondary geoscience and environmental education through volunteer efforts as well as employment with programs including Upward Bound and the YWCA. Her work experience drives her research interests, which are hurricane-induced inland flooding, GIS and remote sensing, environmental geology, hydroclimatology, natural hazard mitigation, fluvial geomorphology and fostering geoscience education in the K-16 setting.