Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology

Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now!

What led you to teach the subject you’re teaching?

Growing up in Puerto Rico ignited my passion for the environment and the forces that shape our planet. Due to its geographic location, Puerto Rico is not only exposed to hurricanes but also to geological hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, and flooding. The island experiences small tremors almost daily due to its location on an active tectonic boundary, and it sits near the volcanic islands of the Lesser Antilles.

I learned early, firsthand, the power and complexities of Earth’s interconnected systems. I wanted to understand the “why” and the “how” of mountains, earthquakes, volcanoes, and the coastal landscape. Following a series of post-quake newscasts with the same seismologist, it became clear: at the age of 13, I decided to study geology. I was aware it meant entering a male-dominated field, but with my parents’ support, I was ready. Ironically, my later geology work focused less on seismology and more on how surface processes shape Earth and other terrestrial planets, particularly Venus and Mars. I love helping students explore geologic processes and natural hazards and understand how human actions can influence them.

What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire?

Seeing our students, many of whom are balancing work and family, cross the stage is my favorite thing about Empire State University. The commencement ceremonies bring together students, families, and the university community to celebrate their hard-earned achievements. Commencement is the clearest expression of SUNY Empire’s mission. It celebrates access to affordable, flexible, and high-quality education. Each graduate is a living example of that mission in action. This is the joy that has anchored my career at SUNY Empire.

What’s one moment in your career you’re especially proud of?

My proudest moment is the message that says, “I got in” or “I got the job.” It reflects the impact of personal connection, advocacy, and mentoring beyond my faculty role, especially for first-generation and historically underrepresented students who are looking for someone who looks like them in higher education. I listen, share my path, and connect them to opportunities. I’m humbled by how a genuine, personal connection can make a real difference in a student’s path. I’m honored to write letters for graduate study or serve as a job reference, and hearing back with good news is deeply rewarding. Watching their confidence grow as they claim their space and achieve their educational and career goals fills my heart and guides my teaching and leadership.

What is your “catchphrase”?

I don’t have a catchphrase, or at least I don’t think I have one. But, if I must choose one, it would be: “Equity is the bedrock.” (See how I did that?)

If you could time-travel to any era just for one day, where would you go?

My geological heart says: Earth just before the dinosaur extinction, the early carving of the Grand Canyon, or the time when the current continents were one supercontinent known as Pangea, although something tells me that’s not quite the type of “era” this question is about. If we’re staying with human eras, I would pick 1969, when curiosity, vision, collective effort, and tension and excitement took us (and the world) to the Moon. Besides its scientific significance, it demonstrates how leadership can turn vision into reality and bring a community together.