Dr. John W. Valley, a member of the GIA Board of Governors since 2014, retired from the Board following their regular annual meeting held in early November in Carlsbad, CA. The Board and GIA leadership recognised Valley’s tenure with a GIA scholarship in his honour.
Lisa Locklear, Chair of the GIA Board of Governors, said, “John Valley brought his keen scientific insight and expertise in Earth sciences to his near-decade on the Board in service of GIA’s consumer-protection mission. It has been a pleasure and honour to work beside him.”
Valley, a renowned geoscientist and Charles R. Van Hise Distinguished Professor and former chair of the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is known for his research in mineralogy, geochemistry, petrology and other Earth sciences. Known for his pioneering studies of zircon, the oldest gem, showing that habitable conditions and oceans existed on Earth far earlier than previously thought, Dr. Valley is a fellow of seven prestigious professional societies. He is a past-President of the Mineralogical Society of America and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. He has authored more than 400 articles and held editorial positions for numerous esteemed scientific journals. In 2017, his fellow scientists honoured his work by naming a newly discovered mineral species, valleyite, in his honour.
Susan Jacques, GIA president, CEO and Governor, said, “Just as John’s extensive research and teaching left an indelible mark on the scientific community, his wise counsel and keen scientific insight leave a lasting legacy at GIA. With his remarkable academic background, he helped advance the Institute’s research programs to the point where, today, GIA’s diamond research ranks with those of the top institutions in the world.”
The merit-based scholarship in Dr. Valley’s honour offers full tuition for one student to enrol in the GIA Graduate Gemologist program at the Carlsbad, CA, campus in 2024. It is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Similar scholarships recognise the services of past Governors Thomas Insley, Dione Kenyon, Elliot Tannenbaum and Dr. Barbara Sawrey, all of whom retired from the Board in 2022.