Dr. Westgate earned his B.S. degree from Vermont State University – Lyndon in 2018 and his M.S. and PhD from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 2020 and 2024, respectively. It was through Lyndon faculty that he developed an interest in climate and teaching, and his time as a teaching assistant in graduate school that solidified his desire to become a professor at a teaching institution. Most Atmospheric Sciences students are passionate about climate and climate change, and he is excited to channel that passion into progress in the classroom.
His primary research focus in graduate school was the disparities between reanalysis data and climate models on multidecadal timescales. From this, he aims to link the statistical methods and dynamical processes found within our climate to topics that his students are most interested in.
Dr. Westgate is also the Vice President of The Climate Consensus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose goal is to bridge the gap between experts and the broader community on the impacts of human-caused climate change. This work includes providing interested students with the opportunities and resources to communicate complex climate processes in ways nonscientists can understand. It also helps students gain the courage to discuss an often politically-charged topic with their peers, families, and sometimes, complete strangers.
