Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences

Dr. Liutkus is a sedimentologist and paleoenvironmental scientist, and has been chair for the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences since 2021. She has taught Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, Evolution of the Earth, a summer field course focused on the geology of carbonate islands and coral reef environments, as well as a variety of other introductory courses and labs.  She was inducted into Appalachian's Academy of Outstanding Teachers in 2016, and was awarded the UNC Board of Governors Appalachian State University Excellence in Teaching Award for 2017.

Dr. Liutkus's research focuses on the reconstruction of paleoenvironmental conditions using a variety of sedimentological and geochemical tools, including lake sediments, paleosols, and root carbonates.  Her work on the Engare Sero Footprint Site in Tanzania has recently been showcased by a number of news outlets including the Washington Post, National Geographic, and many others.  She is a National Geographic Explorer, and was named a Fellow of the Explorers Club in 2017 and is the 2024-2025 AAPG Distinguished Lecturer.

Education

• B.A. Bucknell University
• M.S. Rutgers University
• Ph.D. Rutgers University

Courses Taught

• GES 1103 - Environmental Change, Hazards, and Resources
• GES 2250 - Evolution of the Earth
• GES 3800 - Introduction to Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
• GES 3810 - The Reef Environment and Geology of Modern Carbonate Systems

Website

• Dr. Liutkus's website
• Dr. Liutkus's curriculum vitae

Recent Publications (*denotes student research advisee)

Visit Dr. Liutkus's profile on Google Scholar.

• Brochu, C.A., De Celis, A., Adams, A.J., Drumheller, S.K., Nestler, J.H., Benefit, B.R., Grossman, A., Kirera, F., Lehmann, T., Liutkus-Pierce, C., Manthi, F.K., McCrossin, M.L., McNulty, K.P, and Juma, R.N., (2022), Giant dwarf crocodiles from the Miocene of Kenya and crocodylid faunal dynamics in the late Cenozoic of East Africa: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, v. 305, issue 10, p 2729-2765.
• McNutt, E.J., Hatala, K.G., Miller, C., Adams, J., Casana, J., Dean, A.S., Dominy, N.J., Fabian, K., Fannin, L.D., Gaughan, S., Gill, S.V., Gurtu, J., Gustafson, E., Hill, A.C., Johnson, C., Kallindo, S., Kilham, B., Kilham, P., Kim, E., Liutkus-Pierce, C., Maley, B., Prabhat, A., Reader, J., Rubin, S., Thompson, N.E., Thornburg, R., Williams, EM, Zimmer, B., Musiba, C.M., Desilva, J.M., (2021) Footprint evidence for early hominin locomotor diversity - Laetoli, Tanzania: Nature, v. 600, p. 468-471. 
• Hatala, K.G., Harcourt-Smith, W.E. H., Gordon, A.D., Zimmer, B.W., Richmond, B.G., Pobiner, B.L., Green, D.J., Metallo, A., Rossi, V., and Liutkus-Pierce, C.M., (2020) Snapshots of human anatomy, locomotion, and behavior from Late Pleistocene footprints at Engare Sero, Tanzania: Scientific Reports, v. 10, 7740.
• Liutkus-Pierce, C. M., *Takashita-Bynum, K. K., *Beane, L. A., Edwards, C. T., *Burns, O. E., Mana, S., ... & Kirera, F. M. (2019). Reconstruction of the Early Miocene Critical Zone at Loperot, Southwestern Turkana, Kenya. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7, 44.
• Liutkus-Pierce, C.M., Brian W Zimmer, Sarah K Carmichael, William McIntosh, Alan Deino, *Seth M Hewitt, *Katelyn J McGinnis, *Travis Hartney, James Brett, Sara Mana, Daniel M Deocampo, Brian G Richmond, Kevin Hatala, William  Harcourt-Smith, Briana Pobiner, Adam Metallo, and Vince Rossi, 2016, Radioisotopic age, formation, and preservation of Late Pleistocene human footprints at Engare Sero, Tanzania: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 463, p. 68-82