Kathy grew up in northern Michigan on a farm owned by her family since 1873. She studied geology at UI on a University of Iowa Fellowship and completed her PhD in 1991 on a thick Pleistocene paleosol found across southern Iowa and parts of adjacent states.

She had a distinguished career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and retired in December of 2018 as the State Geologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) (called the Soil Conservation Service until 1994) in Des Moines, IA after having worked in New Mexico and Utah in similar roles.

“During my years with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, I came to believe that Iowa’s soils truly represent this state’s most precious and fundamental natural resource.” (Preface, p. xiv, Iowa’s Remarkable Soils).

Professional history

• Currently – Adjunct Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Science Department, University of Iowa
• State Geologist (retired), U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), Des Moines, Iowa (1999-2018)
• State Geologist, USDA-NRCS, Albuquerque, New Mexico (1995-99)
• Geologist, USDA-NRCS, Salt Lake City, Utah (1993-95)
• Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Iowa, Dept. of Geology (1993)
• Visiting Assistant Professor, Earlham College, Dept. of Geology (1992-93)
• Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Northern Iowa, Earth Science Dept. (1992)
• Lecturer in Geology, Grinnell College, Department of Biology (1990)
• Head of Cataloging, Indian Trails Public Library, Wheeling, Illinois (1980-84)

Recent publications/contributions

WOIDA, K. 2022. “The Root of Our Problems: Iowa’s Degraded Soils,” Chapter 1 in Cornelia F. Mutel (editor), Tending Iowa’s Land: Pathways to a Sustainable Future. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, Bur Oak Books, 278 p.

WOIDA, K., 2021. Iowa’s Remarkable Soils: The Story of Our Most Vital Resource and How We Can Save It. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, Bur Oak Books, 238 p.

Kerr, P.J., Tassier-Surine, S., Kilgore, S., Bettis III, E.A., and WOIDA, K., 2019. Evidence for multiple advances of the southwestern Laurentide Ice Sheet during MIS 3. Abstract submitted to the 20th Congress of the International Union for Quaternary Science (INQUA), July, 2019.

Tassier-Surine, S., Kerr, P.J., Bettis III, E.A., WOIDA, K., and Quade, D.J., 2018. Redefining the Middle Wisconsin Sheldon Creek boundary in north central Iowa. Geological Society of America, North-Central Section 52nd Annual Meeting, April, 2018.

Kerr, P.J., Tassier-Surine, S., Bettis III, E.A., WOIDA, K., and Quade, D.J., 2018. Timing of two Middle Wisconsin glacial advances into north central Iowa. Geological Society of America, North-Central Section 52nd Annual Meeting, April, 2018.

Kerr, P.J., Bettis III, E.A., Tassier-Surine, S., Quade, D.J., WOIDA, K., and Kilgore, S., 2017. Evidence for Middle Wisconsin glaciation in north central Iowa.  Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, October, 2017.

WOIDA, K. and Lensch, R., 2015. Pleistocene paleosols and the Clarinda soil series in Adams County, SW Iowa. Geological Society of America North-Central Section, 49th Annual Meeting, May, 2015.

WOIDA, K. and McCurdy, M., 2012. Study of sedimentation at four sites in Soap Creek Watershed—Appanoose, Davis, Monroe, Wapello counties, Iowa. Report prepared by NRCS for Soap Creek Watershed Board, 32 p.

WOIDA, K. and Atherton, B., 2010. The condition of channels and storm sewer outfalls in the Yeader Creek Watershed, Des Moines, Iowa: An erosion and sediment delivery study. Report prepared by NRCS for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 77 p.

WOIDA, K. and Link, R.V., 2003. Sediment quality at proposed watershed rehabilitation sites in Iowa.  Proceedings of the 8th National Watershed Conference, June 8-11, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Kinvig, K., WOIDA, K., and others, 2001. Fena Watershed resources assessment: Erosion and sediment identification for critical area treatment. Report prepared by NRCS for the U.S. Navy, Guam.

WOIDA, K. and Thompson, M.L., 1993. Polygenesis of a Pleistocene paleosol in southern Iowa.  Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 105, p. 1445-1461.