Education
- AA Degree, High Honors: San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, California (1977)
- Bachelor’s Degree in geology from the University of California at Davis (1979)
- Master’s Degree in geology from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff (1984)
Current Position
- Currently a Professor Emeritus of Oceanography in the Department of Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences at Palomar College
- After 30 years of teaching at Palomar College, I retired in May 2020
Work Experience/Previous Teaching Experience
- Developmental Geologist/Computer Specialist, Unocal 76 in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Bakersfield (1983-1987)
- Adjunct Instructor and Lecturer in oceanography, geology, and geography at Los Angeles Pierce College, Palomar College, MiraCosta College, and at San Diego State University (all in 1989-1990)
- Natural history interpreter (on-board lecturer, naturalist, and geological oceanographer) for Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic since 1991 in Iceland, southeast Alaska, and the Sea of Cortez/Baja California; also beginning in 2018 for Holland America Line in the South Pacific Ocean, Oceania, South America, Alaska, Kamchatka, and Japan
Awards
- Textbook and Academic Authors Association McGuffy Longevity Award: Essentials of Oceanography, 12th Edition (2017)
- On Course National Ambassador of the Year (2014 with colleague Kelly Falcone) for founding and coordinating the annual Active Learning Leaders Teaching Conference hosted by Palomar College
- Textbook and Academic Authors Association “Texty” Award for Textbook Excellence: Essentials of Oceanography, 10th Edition (2012)
- Recipient of the 2005 Palomar College Research Award for work on various textbooks
- Recipient of the 1997 Palomar College Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, which is Palomar’s highest honor for teaching
- One of only two faculty members who have won both the Palomar teaching and research awards
Selected Publications
Co-author or contributing author for several nationally recognized college-level Earth science textbooks (all with Pearson Education):
- Trujillo, Alan P. and Thurman, Harold V., © 2020, Essentials of Oceanography, 13th Edition (most recent edition)
- Trujillo, Alan P. and Thurman, Harold V., various dates, Essentials of Oceanography, previous editions
- Thurman, Harold V. and Trujillo, Alan P., © 2004, Introductory Oceanography, 10th Edition
- Trujillo, Alan P., contributing author for Earth Science and Earth, both by Ed Tarbuck, Fred Lutgens, and Dennis Tasa
Other publications:
- Deen, Patricia, Yon, Lisa D., and Trujillo, Alan P. © 2014, Laboratory and Field Exercises in Oceanography, 9th Edition, published in-house
- Trujillo, Alan P., 2008, An Overview of the Geology and Mineral Resources of the Oceanview Tourmaline Mine, Pala Gem Mining District, Northern San Diego County, California, in Trujillo, Alan P., Ed., Geoscience Investigations in Northern San Diego County and Beyond: Student-directed Explorations: Field trip guidebook for the National Association of Geoscience Teachers Far Western Section 2008 spring field conference, p. VIII-1–VIII-6
- Trujillo, Alan P., Ed., 2008, Geoscience Investigations in Northern San Diego County and Beyond: Student-directed Explorations: Field trip guidebook for the National Association of Geoscience Teachers Far Western Section 2008 spring field conference, 161 p.
- Trujillo, Alan P., 2000, A Teacher Talks to His Students: Top Ten Tips for Tacking Tenacious Tasks, Innovation Abstracts, University of Texas at Austin, Vol. XXII, No. 1
Interests
- Research interests include geoscience education, active learning techniques, beach processes, sea cliff erosion in San Diego County, and computer applications in oceanography
- Collects sand and has a vast collection of sand samples from his travels around the world; is a member of the International Sand Collectors Society and serves as the organization’s Oceanography Division Advisor
- Has a passion for diatoms, which are microscopic marine organisms (see the chapter-opening photo for Chapter 4 in the textbook Essentials of Oceanography)
- Enjoys working aboard cruise ships, traveling to distant areas of the world, and outdoor activities with his family
Other
- Has traveled to all seven continents and has made several extensive worldwide journeys, including a 19-month round-the-world trip from 1987-1989 and a 6-month journey with his wife through Europe and Africa in 1994
- Lives in Valley Center, California
- He and his wife Sandy have two college-age children: Karl and Eva