Dr. Nick Soltis is an associate professor of Earth-Space Science in the Department of Physics and Earth-Space Science. In addition, he is also the Director of Environmental Science Programs, Co-Director of Environmental Sustainability Programs, and a Faculty Fellow in the Ron and Laura Strain Honors College.
At UIndy, Dr. Soltis teaches introductory Earth-Space Science Courses as well as courses in paleontology, geochemistry, and environmental geosciences. He also routinely leads study abroad courses and regularly works with freshmen transitioning to college, teaching new student experience courses.
A native of Harmony, Pa., Dr. Soltis grew up in western Pennsylvania and attended Muskingum University for his undergraduate degree in middle childhood education. He worked as a middle school science and math teacher for six years at Garaway Local School District in Sugarcreek, Ohio. While teaching, he earned a master's degree in science education and Talented & Gifted Education at Muskingum University and a master's degree in Geosciences from Mississippi State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Earth System Science from Auburn University in May 2020 and started as an assistant professor at UIndy in the fall of that year. He was promoted to associate professor with tenure in September 2026.
Outside of UIndy, he is an associate editor for the Journal of Geoscience Education and a summer instructor for the University of Texas at Austin's GeoFORCE program, a program that introduces high school students to geology through summer field courses. As a geologist, Dr. Soltis's research and teaching have taken him all over the United States as well as Iceland, the Bahamas, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
In his free time, Dr. Soltis enjoys running, exploring Indiana State Parks, traveling, checking out new restaurants around Indy, and spending time with family and friends.
