Education

• Ph.D., Geography, University of Toronto, 1996
• M.A., Geography, University of Kentuky, 1988
• B.A., Geography, Pennsylvania State University, 1985

Teaching Responsibilities

I teach introductory courses on global issues and physical/environmental geography and also teach upper-division courses from time-to-time. My most recent offerings have included a course on the history of environmental thought, one on global hazards, and another on effectiveness in international development. I am interested in high-impact teaching practices and other pedagogical innovation. This year I am experimenting with using VR and other visualization techniques.

• GEOG/INTL A101
• GEOG A111
• SOC/GEOG A307
• GEOG A390A
• GEOG A470
• GEOG A475
• GEOG A490

Professional & Department Service

I have devoted a great deal of time to curricular development and outcomes assessment during my career. In my ten years as chair of Geography and Environmental Studies, I led the development of a Bachelor of Science program in Environment & Society. This program prepares students for professional careers in environmental advocacy, planning, and assessment and involves a number of innovative practices. I served as Director of Canadian Studies and later as Chair of International Studies for a number of years. 

Research Interests

My broad disciplinary interests include landscape and settlement history, population geography and development, natural hazards, and the Francophonie. I also use my GIS and cartography skills in local community mapping projects. My faculty workload does not have a research component so I have a very limited record of peer-reviewed publications, but I have successfully published and give presentations at conferences, including on pedagogical techniques.