UMD Geography Department
Faculty:
| Assistant Professor Laure Charleux 319 Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-6809 lcharleu@d.umn.edu |
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I am a human geographer and I specialize in the analysis and visualization of spatial and spatio- temporal data. This means I make intensive use of computers, doing GIS, statistics and other exciting things on a daily basis, both as a teacher and as a researcher. My main field of study for the past few years has been daily mobility behavior. This is related to transportation but really focuses on understanding how mobility behaviors are extensively shaped by social, as well as spatial and temporal, constraints. The implied idea is that, in a time of raising awareness regarding fossil energy consumption and eagerness for new green technologies, improvements could also come from changes in the social organization of our communities, beyond transportation systems. My current research projects more specifically emphasize the assessment of social equity related impacts of green transportation policies at urban level. I was previously an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Alpine Geography in Grenoble, France and just arrived at UMD in Fall 2011. I teach classes in GIS, cartography and spatial statistics. |
| Assistant Professor Nathan Clough 315 Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: clou0062@umn.edu |
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My research is primarily concerned with the relationship of resistance and contestation to social control and political power, especially in the context of American social movements, policing and security, and public space. Empirically, my research has involved an ethnographic study of the 2008 Republican National Convention protests, and research into Business Improvement Districts and the commodification of public space. At the theoretical level I am interested in radical social theory, especially emerging forms of post-structural Marxisms such as Autonomous Marxism. I have taught courses on Globalization, Economic Geography, Cultural Diversity, Geographic Thought, Political Geography, and Urban Geography. |
| Associate Professor Pat Farrell 313 Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-7076 pfarrell@d.umn.edu |
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Geography fascinates me because, at its best, it is the most holistic of all academic disciplines. I became interested in geography when bicycling across the United States and marveling at how the cultural and physical terrain changed as my tires turned. That curiosity changed the topography of my own life by opening my eyes to geography as a perspective and a career. I am particularly interested in the dark, dynamic world of the soil and its connection to people in both past and contemporary contexts. My research pays particular attention to the imprint of past peoples on soil. My primary focus has been in Latin America and the Caribbean, where I have collaborated with archaeologists to study ancient cultures through the medium of soil and sediment analysis. I also collaborate with local archaeologists on geoarchaeological investigations in Minnesota and the region. Other interests include soil education, physical geography education, and science education for girls. My courses at UMD include Introduction to Physical Geography, Geography of Soils, Environmental Conservation, Weather and Climate, and Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean. View personal page. |
| Assistant Professor Randel Hanson 314 Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-6889 rhanson2@d.umn.edu |
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Randel D. Hanson, Ph.D. teaches courses, performs research and engages community around human-environmental relationships, sustainability, and food systems. He is a founder/coordinator of the Sustainable Agriculture Project@UMD. Prior to joining UMD, he held faculty positions at Rice University and Arizona State University. He has published widely on nuclear waste issues, particularly as they impact American Indian reservation communities. Hanson coordinated the 2009 Superior Grown Food Summit and was the Chair of the Food Systems Committee in the Duluth Green Jobs Planning Process in 2009-2010. He serves as a board member of the Duluth Community Farm, the Good Food Network, and the Center for Sustainable Community Development. |
| CLA Associate Dean, Associate Professor, and Director of CCRR Olaf Kuhlke 306D Kirby Plazal 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-7331 okuhlke@d.umn.edu |
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Olaf Kuhlke is an Associate Professor. His research and teaching interests are in three principle areas: culture, population and environment. As a cultural geographer, he examines the socio-spatial construction of nationalism and its expression in public spaces. In the area of population geography, he has worked on projects ranging from studying migrant behavior and representation to local demographic mapping using Geographic Information Systems. In the field of environmental studies, his focus is on urban ecology, especially habitat mapping and urban water issues. At UMD, Dr. Kuhlke teaches courses in human geography, geographic thought, remote sensing, urban ecology, field techniques, and political geography. Click here to get to his website. |
| Director of the Center for Sustainable Community Development, Assistant Professor, and Director of the ES Program Mike Mageau 328 Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-6133 mmageau@d.umn.edu |
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Mike is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Environment & Sustainability Program at UMD. He also directs the Center for Sustainable Community Development (CSCD), and the Sustainable Development Research Opportunities Program (SDROP). Mike's research and teaching interests include Ecological Economics and Sustainable Economic Development. He has been working with communities in the region for the past ten years on a wide variety of renewable energy and food systems projects.
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| Assistant Professor and Director of URS Program Adam Pine 317 Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-8474 apine@d.umn.edu |
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I am an urban geographer primarily interested in the relationship between population change and urban development. Given that we are living in the “age of migration” how is this changing the political, economic and cultural life of US cities? I am also deeply interested in questions of social justice and governance, and trying to figure out how urban governments can effectively manage “cities of difference.” Given these interests I have a wide variety of different research projects going on examining (1) Migration and Citizenship; (2) The politics Food Scarcity and Food Deserts; (3) Geographies of Dance. |
| Department Head, Associate Professor Tongxin Zhu 329A Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-8480 tzhu@d.umn.edu |
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Tongxin Zhu is an Associate Professor in Geography. His research interests focus on the hydrological and geomorphic processes at the small watershed scale by integrating field investigations into simulation modeling. His recent research includes simulating overland and tunnel flows using the Topog model, quantifying the geomorphic and hydrological roles of tunnel flows in drainage development, investigating soil crusting process and its impact on soil moisture and runoff generation, and examining gully erosion and development. Tongxin teaches courses in physical geography, hydrology, environmental conservation, and environmental applications of geographic information science (GIS). |
Instructors:
Instructor |
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My interest in geography was sparked by a trip to Isle Royale in my early 20s. Something about that place raised a curiosity and interest in how the island formed physically and how it contributed culturally to an area important to me and my history. This led me to pursue my first college level geography classes, World Regional and Physical Geography, and I have been hooked ever since! Upon earning my geography degrees, BS at Bemidji State University and MS at University of Akron Ohio, I first applied my geography education to storm water abatement problems facing the City of Superior, WI followed by GIS work with the St. Louis County, MN Land Department in their land management efforts. I started teaching geography courses at UMD in fall 2008. My primary role at UMD is teaching. My primary academic focus is developing effective pedagogical materials for technical mapping classes where students learn and experience spatial exploration through analysis and geovisualization. I currently teach the following courses at UMD: Introduction to Maps and Geospatial Information; Map Design and Geographic Visualization; Geographic Information Systems; Earth Imagery; Digital Image Processing; Multimedia, Animated and Internet Mapping. |
| Instructor Andrea Grygo 315 Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: agrygo@d.umn.edu |
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| Adjunct Instructor Susan Hartley 225 Heller Hall 1114 Kirby Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-7953 shartley@d.umn.edu |
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Staff:
| Research Associate Steve Graham 328 Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-6081 steveg "at" d.umn.edu |
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Click to view personal page |
| Executive Ofc and Admin Spec Linda Klint 328 Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-6300 lklint@d.umn.edu |
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I oversee the following centers and programs: Geography Department, Environment & Sustainability Program, Urban and Regional Studies Program, Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory(GISL) and Classrooms, Center for Sustainable Community Development(CSCD), Center for Community and Regional Research(CCRR), Sustainable Agriculture Project(SAP), Sustainable Development Research Opportunity Program(SDROP), and Geography Soils Laboratory. I have a bachelors degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources from the University of Minnesota Duluth. I serve on the CLA Budget Committee and as Chair of the UMD Commission on Women. I am very involved in the community doing charity and fundraising work off campus as well. I have a passion for the outdoors and love Geography and GIS so working in the Geography Department is a great fit for me. |
| Director of the GIS Lab Stacey Stark 326 Cina Hall 1123 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812 Phone: 218-726-7438 slstark@d.umn.edu |
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Stacey's GIS expertise contributes to a wide-range of research applications in many fields, though her background is in landscape and water resources analyses. Currently, she is using GIS to explore the geographic and demographic factors that contribute to rural and independent pharmacy closure as well as patron access to these pharmacies. Another funded project is developing GIS methodology to identify indicators of past surface hydrologic features in order to update Mn/Model, a GIS predictive model of archaeological site potential, with a layer representing historic hydrology for Mn/DOT. Stacey is interested in the development of internet mapping solutions as interpretive resources for public lands, and has just begun initiating projects in this area. Click to view personal page |
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