Geography Lives! Newsletter 2015
-
Upload
julie-k-murray -
Category
Documents
-
view
215 -
download
0
Transcript of Geography Lives! Newsletter 2015
8/9/2019 Geography Lives! Newsletter 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/geography-lives-newsletter-2015 1/8
GEOGRAPHY LIVES! GRCC GEOGRAPHY NEWS Issue # 1 1 1
GEOGRAPHYLIVES!
GRCC Geography News
January 2015
2015 FACES OF AFRICAN WILDLIFE CALENDAR DECEMBER PHOTO IN THIS ISSUE
The GRCC chapter of the International
Geographical Honor Society (GTU)
partners with the Campaign for Female
Education (Camfed)
to
raise
funds
for
the education of girls in East Africa.
Camfed maintains that “When you
educate a girl in Africa, everything
changes. She’ll be three times less likely
to get HIV/AIDS, earn 25 percent more
income and have a smaller, healthier
family.” Moreover, as women become
empowered, towns and villages tend to
achieve higher levels of prosperity.
Economic and political stability are
enhanced and the threat of civil unrest
and war is reduced considerably. Raising
funds for Camfed is one way Geography
students at
GRCC
make
a difference
for
a better world. Since 2011, enough has
been raised to send 20 girls to school in
Zimbabwe and Zambia. This year’s goal
is to raise funds for the education of
three more girls. The GTU chapter is
selling t‐shirts, jewelry, and crafts on
campus, and this is the third consecutive
year the Faces of African Wildlife
calendar is being offered for donations
of $10.00.
Photographs in the calendar include
wild Africa’s “Magnificent Seven,” in
addition to a number of other
mammals, as well as the colorful Lilac‐
breasted roller (pictured above).
For more information, contact the
chapter officers: Jeremy Trent
Hannah Cluley
or Lea Oliver
Careers in Geography and GRCCAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the ave
salary for a Geographer is well over $74,000 a year. T
GRCC Geography program provides students with a
solid foundation, and many alumni have gone on to
pursue graduate studies with full funding. (Photo:
Alyson Mabie and Nicole Arce conducting fire ecolo
fieldwork in Yosemite National Park) Page 2
Alumni Success Stories
The South Pacific, Croatia, and Mexico are a few of t
places alumni have explored, following the award of
funds for fieldwork, as well as teaching assistantship
complete their graduate degrees. (Photo: Cadey
Korson) Page 4
GRCC GEOGRAPHY HONOR SOCIETYSENDS AFRICAN GIRLS TO SCHOOL
8/9/2019 Geography Lives! Newsletter 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/geography-lives-newsletter-2015 2/8
GEOGRAPHY LIVES! GRCC GEOGRAPHY NEWS | Issue #1
___________________
A Word from the
Social Sciences
Department Chair
Dear Friends and Alumni of
GRCC Geography,
I am pleased to introduce myself to you as the
chair of the Social Sciences Department, and
to bring you this edition of Geography Lives!,
our annual effort to keep you informed about
and connected to our work here. Our
department is very fortunate to have had a
long history of dedicated Geography faculty
and students since I arrived in 1999. These
pages report on events in the discipline over
the last year, and describe some of the
activities and accomplishments of our faculty,
students, and alumni. Some of you may not
know that
GRCC
is
a pioneer
in
the
field
of
geographic studies nationally. We were one of
the first community colleges to be awarded a
chapter of GTU, the prestigious geographical
honor society, and the only one to be awarded
“Honors.”
It is my hope that you find the information in
this newsletter to be informative and
enlightening. I wish you all the very best as
we move into another exciting year.
Mike Light, Professor of History
GTU/Camfed
Honor Roll
Lambda Upsilon recognizes
those listed below, as well as
many anonymous donors,
thanking them
all
for
their
contributions:
Laurie Chesley
Mike DeVivo
Rosemarie DeVivo
Jim Fox
Gilda Gely
Lisa Gloege
Timothy Gloege
Robert Hendershot
John Kennedy
Mike Light
Heather Richards
Ray Sumner
Waldo Tobler
Gordan Vurusic
Careers inGeography andGRCC
Geographers are known to employ a global
perspective. By possessing and applying
knowledge of how people, places, and
regions are linked by global networks and
processes (e.g., globalization, international
trade, immigration, Internet technology,
global climate), they are able to engage in
sound analysis critical for solving problems
facing humanity and the environment.
According
to
the
U.S.
Bureau
of
Labor
Statistics
(BLS),
Geographers
earn
an
average of $74, 760 annually. Geography
positions are expected to grow 30 percent
or more by 2022, which is much faster than
the average rate of growth. The BLS
estimated
that
60
percent
of
geographers
worked for federal government agencies in
2010, 15 percent for architectural or
engineering firms and 9 percent for academic
institutions. The remaining 16 percent
worked for commercial research &
development firms or state‐government
agencies.
Geographers are often placed in leadership
roles and frequently tasked with integrating
complex information from a variety of
sources, analyzing it, and engaging in
effectual decision‐making. Many find that a
strong background in fields such as history,
anthropology, economics, international
relations, ecology, and computer science is
advantageous. Although geography
undergraduate and graduate programs are
located in
colleges
and
universities
across
t
country, and the position of GEOGRAPHER
held by a number of federal government
employees, most geographers hold positio
with other job titles. The GRCC Geography
program is considered to be among the bes
community college geography programs in
North America. Of the 300 chapters of the
International Geographical Honor Society,
2013, the GRCC chapter became one of onl
eight distinguished with the award of
“Honors.” Moreover, GRCC Geography
alumni have a strong record of success in
gaining fellowships and assistantships of
$13,000 to
$23,000
annually
for
the
completion of graduate degrees in
Geography. In this manner, alumni have
been funded to pursue M.A. and Ph.D.
degrees at the University of Texas, Univers
of Missouri, Ohio University, Kent State,
Western Michigan, Rutgers, and Syracuse.
Current GRCC students interested in
pursuing Geography as a major are
encouraged to contact Professor DeVivo at
Below is a list of occupations that are suitab
for individuals with academic degrees in
Geography in reference to specific fields. T
list is not intended to be conclusive; it’s
simply designed to show many of the
opportunities that are available.
Environmental
Geography
Knowing and applying information about t
natural environment and the ways in which
Welcome t o t he inaugural issue of
GEOGRAPHY LIVES! --- a
newslett er designed t o provi de
t he Gr and Rapi ds Communit y
College st udent body, f acult y,
admin ist ra t ion , st a f f , andt rust ees wi t h in format ion and
news about t he inst i t u t i on’ s
Geography pr ogram and it s
alumni.
Inquiries and comments may be directed to theSocial Sciences Department Educational SupportProfessional, Ms. Stacey Herrick:[email protected], the Social SciencesDepartment Chair, Professor Mike Light:[email protected], or the Professor of Geography,Dr. M.S. DeVivo: [email protected].
The photo to the right illustrates geographical
research
in
the
Sierra
Nevada
Mountains,
funded
by
the National Geographic Society.
Jobs forGeographers
8/9/2019 Geography Lives! Newsletter 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/geography-lives-newsletter-2015 3/8
GEOGRAPHY LIVES! GRCC GEOGRAPHY NEWS | Issue #1
they are interconnected, as well as the
manner in which humans create impacts on
environmental phenomena
Natural Resource Manager
Park Ranger
Water Resources Analyst
Environmental Scientist
Climatologist
Physical Scientist
Environmental Conservationist Field Guide
Natural
Hazards
Knowing and applying geographic
information about natural hazards (e.g.,
hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, fire)
Emergency Management Specialist
Forest Fire Inspector
Environmental Consultant
Ecological Risk Assessor
Geotechnical Engineer
Hazards Analyst
Regional
Geography
Possessing and applying knowledge of the
physical and human geography of a specific
country or world region
Military Intelligence Analyst
International Development Specialist
Foreign Service Officer
Urban and Regional Planner
Geointelligence Specialist
Tour Guide & Escort
Interpreter & Translator
Community Developer
Cultural
Geography
Knowing and applying geographic
information about culture and cultural
processes (e.g., religion, language, ethnicity,
diffusion, meaning of landscapes, cultural
significance of place)
Tour Guide and Escort
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teacher
Interpreter & Translator
Historic Preservationist
Writer/Editor
Journalist
Cultural Resource Manager
Fine Arts Director
Regional Development
Specialist
Human
Environmental
Interaction
Knowing and applying geographic
information about relationships between
nature and society (e.g., pollution from
industrial development, economic effects of
drought)
Tour Guide and Travel Consultant
Accredited Land Consultant
Manager of Sustainability
Environmental Impact Assessment Specialist
Environmental Affairs Specialist
Agricultural Food Supply Analyst
Journalist
Humanitarian Relief Worker
Economic
Geography
Knowing and applying geographic
information about the economy and
economic processes (e.g., labor,
development, industry, agriculture,
transportation, trade, resources, land use, technology change)
Transportation Manager
Location Analyst
Market Researcher
Business Development Consultant
Real Estate Appraiser
Environmental Economist
Commodities Investment Analyst
Political
Geography
Knowing and applying geographic
information about political systems and
processes
(e.g.,
governments,
political
activism, nongovernmental organizations,
nations, states, international relations,
nationalism)
Lobbyist
Diplomat
Community Organizer
Policy Consultant
Policy Researcher
Political Strategist
Foreign Service Officer
Geopolitical Specialist
Population Geography
Knowing
and
applying
geographic
information about population, demography,
and demographic processes (e.g., population
density, migration, birth and death rates,
fertility rates)
Market Analyst
Population, Real Estate, Community
Association Manager
Urban and Regional Planner
Demographer
Public Health Officer
Cartography
Designing and producing maps
Cartographer and Photogrammetrist
Surveying and
Mapping
Technician
Civil Drafter
Graphics Editor
Digital Cartographer
GIS
Using Geographic Information Systems to
acquire, manage, display, and analyze spatial
data in digital form
Geospatial Information Scientist and
Technologist
Geospatial Analyst
GIS Developer
Logistics Analyst
Transportation Planner
Public Utilities Analyst
Remote
Sensing
and
Photogrammetry
Recording, measuring, and interpreting
aerial photographs and remote sensing
satellite images
Defense Intelligence Analyst
Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist Geointelligence Specialist
Remote Sensing Analyst
Sensor Specialist
Radar and Sonar Technician
Surveyor
Weather and Climate
Knowing and applying geographic
information about weather, climate, and
atmospheric processes (e.g., temperature,
precipitation, air quality)
Climate Change Analyst
Air
Pollution
Analyst
Atmospheric and Space Scientist
Climatologist
Broadcast Meteorologist
Biogeography
Knowing and applying geographic
information about ecosystems and
ecological processes (e.g., vegetation,
wildlife, natural habitats)
Soil and Plant Scientist
Natural Sciences Manager
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist
Forester
Biological
Science
Technician
Environmental Conservation Officer
Ecologist
Field Guide
Park Ranger
Geomorphology
Knowing and applying geographic
information about geology and the process
that shape physical landscapes (e.g. soils,
hydrology, topography, erosion)
Soil and Plant Specialist
Water Resources Specialist
Environmental Scientist
Geophysicist
Topographic Analyst
Sources: http://ga.lsu.edu/careers/,
http://jobs.aag.org/,
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life‐physical‐and‐
social‐science/geographers.htm
8/9/2019 Geography Lives! Newsletter 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/geography-lives-newsletter-2015 4/8
GEOGRAPHY LIVES! GRCC GEOGRAPHY NEWS | Issue #1
Geography Coursesat GRCCGRCC provides one of the widest selections
of Geography courses offered in a
community college, and courses are
scheduled every semester. GE 132: Physical
Geography and GE 135: World Regional
Geography are
offered
in
Fall,
Winter,
and
Summer terms. GE 210: Cultural Geography is
offered in Fall and Summer terms. GE 253:
Regional Geography of the U.S. and Canada is
scheduled in the Winter and Summer terms.
Plans are being made to offer GE 140:
Geography of Michigan in Fall 2015. Courses
on Immigration and Ethnicity and Sub‐
Saharan Africa are also being planned to be
offered again at a future date. All courses
foster high levels of critical thinking and
analysis, and seamless transfer to GRCC’s
principal transfer institutions is a given.
Although it can be challenging for some
students, online
or
hybrid
forms
of
instruction are offered for each course. This
provides those that are unable to attend
traditional classes optimal opportunities for
success. In fact, the record shows that
students who complete all assignments as
directed tend to be successful.
Even in the current era of declining student
numbers, with rare exception, sections tend
to reach capacity enrollment. At the dawn of
winter semester, no more than three seats
remained vacant in eight sections, making
geography courses overall 99% full. Students
interested in
any
of
the
courses
should
contact Professor DeVivo at:
AlumniSuccess StoriesAlthough they have continued their studies
in Geography elsewhere, most GRCC
Geography alumni have chosen to complete
their B.A. degrees at either Aquinas College
or Grand Valley State University (GVSU), and
they tend to pursue graduate degrees
afterward. Geography
is
unique
in
the
liberal
arts and sciences, as the demand for
geographers far exceeds the supply, so
assistantships and fellowships for graduate
study are plentiful. GRCC Geography alumni
that choose to go to graduate school not
only engage in their studies without paying
tuition, they are paid stipends to cover living
expenses and also often are awarded
additional funds for foreign area research.
In the past year, three alumni have been
awarded funding to conduct research
abroad. Marina Pavletic, who is completing
the M.A. at Western Michigan University,
received funding to conduct fieldwork in
Croatia devoted to organic farming and
tourism. Ben Gerlofs, a Ph.D. student at
Rutgers University, was awarded funding to
conduct research on the urban geography of
Mexico City. Cadey Korson, a Ph.D.
Candidate at Kent State University, was
funded to conduct fieldwork in the South
Pacific French territory of New Caledonia on
matters relating to political geography.
Cadey plans to complete all requirements for
the Ph.D. this year. Her pioneering article,
“Political Agency and Citizen Journalism:
Twitter as a Tool of Evaluation,” was recently
published in the highly acclaimed peer‐
reviewed scholarly journal, The Professional
Geographer . She conducted an analysis of
tweets about United Nations Peacekeeping
Operations in Haiti and C^ote d’Ivoire, which
revealed the usefulness of Twitter, as a
medium for
citizen
journalism,
in
evaluating
phenomena like peacekeeping missions.
Joining her at Kent State this year is Megan
Hornyak, who, like Cadey, is an Aquinas
alumna. Megan is studying the geography of
poverty in reference to educational
attainment in Midwestern cities.
(Photo: Megan Hornyak discussing the importance
of fostering women’s empowerment in Africa at the
California Geographical Society Annual Meeting in
2011)
Lindsey Harris, who was awarded the B.A. at
GVSU, has deferred her admission to
graduate school at Portland State University.
She accepted a position as the Lead GIS
Technician with Greenpeace in Washington, DC, after a year of service as an intern with
the environmental organization.
Three GRCC alumni, currently completing
the baccalaureate at GVSU, are examining
matters relating to urban geography. Nicole
Arce recently presented a highly regarded
senior thesis on urban blight in Grand Rapids
while Jessica TerVeen discussed the
economic geography of the creative class in
metropolitan areas. Alyson Mabie also
completed a senior thesis, which she
presented at the regional meeting of the
Association of American Geographers in
October, taking first place in the
undergraduate student paper competition.
She began her research last year with
funding from the GRCC GEOGRAPHY LIVES
Field Studies Award . Her paper, “Claiming
Turf: The Spatial Distribution of Three
Discrete Types of Graffiti/Street Art in
Southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan,” is considered one of the most comprehensive
explorations of urban graffiti in academic
geography.
Joining them at GVSU earlier this year was
another Geography alumnus from GRCC,
Gary Farris. Gary presented a paper at the
annual meeting of the California
Geographical Society in May titled: “Learni
Geography Online: A Student’s Perspective
It was very well received.
Regardless, related here is only a small
sample of
GRCC
Geography
alumni
success
stories. There are more. The separate articl
about Amanda Colegrove is an example.
Amanda Colegrove toSpeak Before theWorld Affairs Council
Amanda Colegrove, a GRCC and Aquinas
Geography alumna, has been invited to talk
before the World Affairs Council of Western
Michigan. She will be joined by Becky
McDonald, President of Women at Risk
International , and Michigan Senator Judy
Emmons to discuss “Human Trafficking: A
Local, National, and Global Problem!” as pa
of the
Great
Decisions
Lecture
Series.
Amanda is currently the Coalition Organize
for the Coalition Against Trafficking &
Exploitation in St. Louis, Missouri. Among t
numerous honors and awards she has
received for her work is the Abolitionist
Award, given annually by the Central
Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition,
and the prestigious Tribute to University of
Missouri Women. Amanda was awarded the
M.A. in Geography from the University of
Missouri in 2013, following the completion
her thesis, “A Model for Assessing the Risk
8/9/2019 Geography Lives! Newsletter 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/geography-lives-newsletter-2015 5/8
GEOGRAPHY LIVES! GRCC GEOGRAPHY NEWS | Issue #1
Human Trafficking on the Local Level in
Missouri." While President of the GRCC
chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, she
worked tirelessly to inform the college
community about human trafficking issues
and presented papers on the subject at
regional and national conferences across the
U.S.The lecture will be held at the Aquinas
College Performing Arts Center on Monday,
February 23, at 6:00 p.m.
Pearson Educationand GeographySocieties FundDistinguished Lecture
Pearson Education, in addition to the
Association of American Geographers and
the International Geographical Honor
Society, have made it possible for this year’s
Visiting Geographical Scientist, Dr. Marie
Price, Professor of Geography at George
Washington University, to deliver a keynote
lecture at the annual GRCC Conference on
Race, Ethnicity, and Identity . Also serving as a
Professor in the Elliot School of International
Affairs, Dr. Price is one of the authors of
Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a
Changing World ,
the
textbook
used
in
all
World Regional Geography classes at GRCC,
which is published by Pearson. Highly
regarded for her research in geopolitics and
immigration, as well as being an exemplary
teacher, she has had a distinguished career in
Geography and is currently Vice‐President of
the American Geographical Society, founded
in 1851 as the oldest professional
geographical organization in the United
States.
This is the second time Dr. Price will be
visiting GRCC as part of the Visiting
Geographical Scientist
Program.
Her
2010
lecture can be viewed on GRCC TV’s Youtube
Channel, as can the lectures by other past
Visiting Geographical Scientists: Leon
Yacher, Kate Swanson, Rebecca Sheehan,
and Caroline Faria.
Dr. Price’s 2015 lecture, Diffusion, Deflection
and Diversity: A Geographic Perspective on
Immigration, will take place on Monday, 23
March at 7:00 p.m. in Sneden 108 on the
DeVos Campus.
Three Geographers,Three KeynoteLecturesIn addition to the Wednesday evening
Diversity Lecture Series talk offered by Rolling
Stone journalist, Matt Taibbi, and the
daytime
lectures
offered
by
Social
Sciences
professors Dillon Carr, Steve Abid and Cedric
Williams, the 2015 annual Conference on
Race, Ethnicity, and Identity will include
keynote lectures by three geographers. Dr.
Marie Price, Professor of Geography at
George Washington University, will deliver
the distinguished Visiting Geographical
Scientist lecture on Monday, 23 March at
7:00 p.m., titled: Diffusion, Deflection and
Diversity: A Geographic Perspective on
Immigration. Dr. Courtney Gallaher, Assistant
Professor of Geography at Northern Illinois
University, will present Linking environmental
justice
and
community
empowerment
through
urban agriculture in Southern/Eastern Africa
on Tuesday, 24 March at 7:00 pm.
. (Photos: Courtney Gallaher, left, and Anne Bonds,
right)
On
Thursday,
26
March
at
7:00
p.m.,
Dr.
Anne Bonds, Assistant Professor of
Geography at the University of Wisconsin‐
Milwaukee, will discuss Colorblindness and
Geographies of Racial Violence. All Geography
keynote lectures will take place in Sneden
108 on the DeVos campus.
Conversat ion wi t h a
Geographer OralHistory Series Beginsits Fifth Year
With the passing of Wes Dow in 2011,
Geography lost the architect of Geographers
on Film, one of the most significant oral
history resources in academia. Wes was
honored by the Association of American
Geographers for his contributions. He was
gifted in his knowledge of the field and
capable of talking with geographers of all
genres, genders, and eras, creating a record
of the discipline’s course throughout the
twentieth century, which was marked by rich
substance and impartiality.
Inspired by Wes, and in the tradition of
Geographers on Film, is the Conversation wi
a Geographer oral history series, which beg
with the Diversity Conversations interview o
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof
2011. Among other things, Kristof talked
much about his father, the distinguished
political geographer, Ladis Kristof.
Interviews of the Visiting Geographical
Scientists that were invited to speak at eac
annual Conference on Race, Ethnicity, and
Identity , as well as other visiting speakers,
also are included in the Conversation with a
Geographer series, which is broadcast on
GRCC TV’s Youtube Channel. In addition to
Kristof, the collection includes interviews o
Leon Yacher, Kate Swanson, Rebecca
Sheehan, Caroline Faria, Alicia Decker, Yae
Aronoff, and Jerry Redfern and Karen
Coates. In March, Marie Price, Courtney
Gallaher,
and
Anne
Bonds
are
scheduled
tobe interviewed and added to the oral histor
series, which Mike DeVivo hosts.
(Photos: Nicholas Kristof, above left, Caroline Fari
above right, Kate Swanson, below)
GRCC GTU
Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) was chartered
in 1928 as the International Geographical
Honor Society and currently includes more
than 300 chapters worldwide. In 2007, the
Lambda Upsilon chapter was chartered at
GRCC, and although one of the smallest in
terms of
membership,
it
has
consistently
been one of the most active chapters acros
the globe. In 2013, it was distinguished as
one of only eight chapters to receive the
award of “Honors.”
For the seventh consecutive year, the
chapter will host a Visiting Geographical
Scientist in March, partly supported by the
International Geographical Society and the
Association of American Geographers.
Moreover, for the past five years, Lambda
Upsilon members have raised funds for the
8/9/2019 Geography Lives! Newsletter 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/geography-lives-newsletter-2015 6/8
GEOGRAPHY LIVES! GRCC GEOGRAPHY NEWS | Issue #1
education of African girls. In May, Lambda
Upsilon members will be making
presentations at the annual meeting of the
California Geographical Society for the
fourth consecutive year.
GRCC GTU members also participate
regularly in other academic activities. For
example, in addition to their contributions to
GRCC’s annual
Conference
on
Race,
Ethnicity,
and Identity , they take part in regional
Geography conferences as well.
Pictured above is Hannah Cluley engaging in
the administration of the GRCC Social
Sciences Department exhibit at the annual
meeting of the Association of American
Geographers’ Midwestern regional divisions,
hosted by Western Michigan University this
past October. Throughout the conference,
Hannah discussed matters pertaining to
Asian geopolitics, as well as career
opportunities in Geography, with Geography
faculty
and
students
from
across
the
Midwest; among them were those that
graduated from GRCC.
Student Spotlight:Jeremy TrentExplores Chardonnay A number of exceptional students pursue
their education at GRCC, and many have
found their way into the Geography
program. Among them is Jeremy Trent,
President of the college’s GTU chapter.
Jeremy
is
a
non‐
traditional
student
who
works as the head chef in a local country club
and cares for his family when he’s not
engaging in his studies. Jeremy was
captivated by Geography when he took an
online class devoted to the Regional
Geography of the U.S. and Canada. He
subsequently decided to major in the field
and began plans to graduate from GRCC,
complete the B.A., and pursue graduate
studies.
Jeremy actively raises funds for Camfed, and
he’s currently involved in research associated
with the geography of viticulture and wine to
fulfill Honors program requirements. Jeremy
is comparing Chardonnay cultivation and
production in California and Michigan. He
has reported that the wine grape originated
in Lebanon and later diffused to France,
where it became the only grape allowed to
be grown in Chablis. Since the 1970s,
however, its popularity in the U.S. has
soared. California, which accounts for 90% of American wine production, devotes 16% of
its crop to Chardonnay , far more than any
other varietal. In Michigan, one of the top
four grape producing states in the country,
although Riesling and Pinot Noir have taken
the lead in the last 15 years, Chardonnay
remains important, and its acreage under
cultivation has steadily increased since the
1990s. Given the grape’s significance to
American viticulture, Jeremy is examining
not only the volume of production, but also
the quality of its production in relation to
climate
and
terroir,
as
well
as
the
projected
impact of climate change. Jeremy’s work,
Chardonnay’s Geography: A Glimpse of the
Most Popular Wine Grape in America, will be
presented at the annual meeting of the
California Geographical Society in May.
Alumni Voices
Megan Hornyak, Associate of Arts,
2011. “At Grand Rapids Community College, I walked into my first physical geography class
and was immediately challenged by the
material, work load, and the professor. The
professor had challenged me like no other had
challenged me
before.
When
I was
assigned
to
read the book Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez I
realized that the world in which we lived in
was Art. I learned that understanding the
natural and socially ‐constructed world is the
way Art can be expressed. My geography
professor not only opened my eyes to the
unbelievable, but set me on a path of
enlightenment and passion for my work. Other
professors were beacons of light, challenging
me with new ideas. Gleaning from their
wisdom, I tried to seek ways to aid people in
southern Africa and here in the U.S. Today, I
am a graduate student at Kent State
University earning my Master’s degree in
Geography. I explore issues such as education
inequality, race and ethnic identity, and
gender geographies. Without the guidance and
encouragement received from my professors at
Grand Rapids Community College I would
have never achieved my goal, striving for more
and striving to be a better academic and
human being.”
Ben Gerlofs, Associate of Arts, 2008. “I came to GRCC in the hope that an education
would lead to job prospects, and that an
Associate’s degree was a good place to start
Among a broad smattering of classes, I
discovered the endlessly interesting field of
geography, and a professor whose advice an
support continue to guide my professional
career. At GRCC, I was shown the incredible
convergence of physical and social science th
is geography, a discipline that trains its
students to understand everything from fluv
geomorphology (the study of river systems a
erosion) to city planning, and from the
complexities of global geopolitics to the
intricacies of climate science. I was hooked! I
worked through the catalogue of geography
courses, staying on through summer terms in
order to take special offerings that included
field components. I became a charter membe
of GRCC’s GTU chapter and was introduced
the world of academic conferences and
colloquia. I could not have asked for a better
mentor ‐‐‐whose knowledge of the field,
passion for teaching, and pedagogical
creativity
seem
inexhaustible.
He
encourageme to explore multiple transfer options at th
end of my GRCC career, and helped me grea
in my pursuit of scholarships to three differen
four ‐ year institutions. He was also influentia
in my decision to attend Syracuse University
where I earned a Master of Arts degree, and
Rutgers University, where I am currently
pursuing a Ph.D. in geography, focusing on
contemporary struggles for human rights
among marginalized populations in Mexico
City. I also serve as an instructor at the City
University of New York, and I attribute much
my own passion for this work to Professor
DeVivo,
as
well
as
other
professors
in
the
Social Sciences Department, from whom I
learned so much at GRCC.”
About the FacultyWhen Richard Kurzhals was preparing to
retire in 2002, a search was made to hire an
academic geographer who was skilled in
teaching courses across the broad spectrum
of the discipline and willing to develop new
courses to meet the needs of GRCC studen
Kurzhals was highly regarded not only on t
GRCC faculty, but across the state, and he
was known as an exemplary teacher and a
solid scholar.
In
fact,
he
declined
an
offer
from Michigan State University, and soon
after retirement he was honored with the
GRCC Faculty Emeritus Award. He
established a scholarship that carries his
name. Unfortunately, Dr. Kurzhals passed
away in 2009 as a result of illness.
Regardless, Mike DeVivo, who was on the
faculty of a university in Pennsylvania, was
considering a move to Michigan for family
reasons. His daughter had just entered high
school in Michigan, and he believed it was
8/9/2019 Geography Lives! Newsletter 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/geography-lives-newsletter-2015 7/8
GEOGRAPHY LIVES! GRCC GEOGRAPHY NEWS | Issue #1
important for him to be close by. Thus,
shortly after interviewing for the opening, he
received an offer and immediately accepted
the faculty appointment. Mike had been
raised in various parts of Europe and North
America, and after attending high school in
Connecticut, he enlisted in the Marine Corps.
Following periods of service with the Marines
and the Navy, he was licensed as a U.S.
Merchant Marine Officer and took command
of a number of vessels for the mineral and oil
industry. He subsequently engaged in
university studies and entered academe.
Dr. DeVivo continues to be the sole faculty
member devoted to the Geography program
at GRCC. In recent years, in addition to his
teaching and advising duties, his role as
Professor of Geography has included
research and fieldwork, as well as giving a
number of lectures on the history of
geography, leadership, geopolitics,
sustainable development, and education in
Africa, Asia,
and
the
United
States.
(Photo: M.S. DeVivo, Angola, 2013)
Faculty ActivitiesIn 2014, Mike DeVivo gave a number of talks
throughout the year devoted to matters
geographic. In February, he spoke on
“Addressing a Vital American Interest: Global
Climate Change in Sub‐Saharan Africa” for
the World Affairs Council Great Decisions
Lecture Series. In May, he discussed
women’s roles among the Maasai in southern
Kenya at the annual meeting of the California
Geographical Society in a presentation titled,
“Conversation with a Maasai.” At the
conference of
the
Society
of
South
African
Geographers in June, he presented
“Reflections on World Leaders, Human
Behaviors, and the Shaping of Geopolitical
Landscapes,” which examined how the
leadership of Uganda’s Idi Amin in the 1970s
continues to influence geopolitics in the
Levant today. In October, he offered a brief
discussion of “Leadership in American
Academic Geography: A Sample Chapter” at
the annual meeting of the Association of
American Geographers’ East Lakes and West
Lakes divisions, as well as an invited lecture
at Calvin College titled, “A Tale of Duplicity
and Deception in American Geography.”
His book, Leadership in American Academic
Geography: The Twentieth Century was
published in November, and an article was
published in
Past
Place
titled,
“Pondering
the
Past in Kyoto” earlier in the year. He also
reviewed Mann and Kump’s Dire Predictions:
Understanding Global Warming for an
upcoming revised edition, and he produced
the 2015 Faces of African Wildlife calendar.
Additionally, Mike interviewed the Africanist
scholars, Caroline Faria and Alicia Decker, for
the Conversation with a Geographer oral
history series on GRCC TV’s Youtube
Channel.
For the past decade, Mike has conducted
fieldwork in southern Africa with special
reference to
sustainable
development,
and
2014 was not an exception. One aspect of his
research relates to the sustainability of rhino
populations in areas within close proximity of
impoverished communities (photo below).
With rhino horn valued at $5550 an ounce on
the Black Market, it’s little wonder that more
than a thousand rhinos were poached last
year in South Africa alone. Rhino horn is now
more valuable than gold, and about the same
value as cocaine. Mike intends to continue
his fieldwork in Africa in 2015.
Book Nominated forAwardLeadership in American Academic Geography:
The Twentieth
Century
by
Mike
DeVivo,
published in November by Rowman &
Littlefield’s Lexington Books , has been
nominated for the 2014 Association of
American Geographers Meridian Award for
Outstanding Scholarly Work in Geography.
Initial reviews of the book have been
favorable.
Professor Emeritus John Adams, a Past
President of the Association of American
Geographers and Geography Department
chair for many years at the University of
Minnesota, offers comments on the book’s
back cover: “Viewed through the lens of
James McGregor Burns’s concepts of
transformational and transactional
leadership models, DeVivo details how
transformational leaders made the difference in top‐tier American geography
doctoral departments. Here we have a vivid
page‐turner for anyone interested in
geographical thought and practice in the
United States, and the consequences of
individualism and group dynamics flowing
from leadership in the doctoral programs
that dominated the discipline during the pa
century.” Professor Kent Mathewson,
Editor‐in‐Chief of the AAG Review of Books
offers comments as well: “This
groundbreaking study of select geographer
and
their
departments
offers
a
treasure
troof anecdotes and insights into the discipline
in formation. The author spares neither rod
nor accolade in making revealing
assessments. Drawing on personal
conversations, filmed interviews, archival
materials, and general lore, Michael S.
DeVivo brings to life actors and episodes
central to American academic geography’s
history in its first century.”
The book is available for sale in hardcover
and electronic editions through Rowman &
Littlefield, as well as Amazon and Barnes a
Noble.
8/9/2019 Geography Lives! Newsletter 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/geography-lives-newsletter-2015 8/8
GEOGRAPHY LIVES! GRCC GEOGRAPHY NEWS Issue # 1
1 1
P
GEOGRAPHY
LIVES!GRCC
GeographyNews
White Hall
2nd Floor
DeVos Campus
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Ms. Stacey HerrickEducational Support Professional
Department of Social Sciences
Grand Rapids Community College
143 Bostwick, NE
Grand Rapids,
MI
49503
USA
616 234 4283