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Dr. Caden Howlett is an Assistant Professor of Geology. Raised by parents who worked in the rafting and skiing industries of Montana and Utah, he developed an appreciation for the natural complexity of the interior west and the communities shaped by it.

Caden’s research combines field and laboratory work to understand the physical processes controlling the uplift and erosion of Earth’s major mountain belts. He usually begins with geologic mapping and then integrates cross sections, geo- and thermochronology, and regional-scale tectonic reconstructions to develop and test geodynamic models. He has conducted field-based research in southeastern Türkiye, Argentina, Chile, the western USA, and Tibet.

Caden believes there are few better places on the planet to study geology and tectonics than Dillon. Western Montana, a four-billion-year-old geologic puzzle with many missing pieces, serves as the primary classroom for his courses at UMW. He works with students to understand some of the complex processes preserved in Montana’s rocks through field observation, experimentation, and experiential learning.

For fun, he enjoys mountain running, old maps, rivers, bass music, wildlife, and literature.