Administrator
A multi-institutional team led by geography researchers at Penn State built and tested four AI agents in order to introduce a conceptual framework of autonomous geographical information systems and examine how this shift is redefining the practice of GIS.
Bob Myers made a career as a social justice lawyer but continues to take courses and give back to geography department.
After nearly three decades in federal service, Penn State Geography alumnus Benjamin DeAngelo is launching a new a consulting and advisory service focused on climate adaptation and resilience called Operation Future.
Suraiya Parvin and Naser Lessani, two doctoral candidates in Penn State’s Department of Geography, will deliver research talks as part of the department’s Graduate Student “Coffee Hour” series at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7.
I write this column following another year of exciting and unanticipated events. It is difficult to describe how much has changed in the landscape of higher education over the past twelve months. Institutions of higher education are facing unprecedented demographic and financial challenges while also contending with pressures from external forces. Penn State University is not immune to these challenges, and it will be necessary for us to remain proactive to ensure the completion of our core mission of ensuring high-quality undergraduate and graduate education, developing cutting-edge research for science and society, and advancing engaged scholarship and service. As this year’s Geograph magazine demonstrates, I am pleased to share that our faculty, students, and staff continue to excel at achieving this mission.
We continue to recruit and support some of the best graduate students in the world, who are moving on to exciting new pursuits. This is made possible by the dedication of our faculty and staff, and we are delighted to welcome five new faculty members to our department.
Alicia Iverson joined us as a faculty member and manager of the GeoGraphics Lab. Yan Lin joined as an associate professor, having previously served in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of New Mexico. Mark Ortiz is a new assistant professor with research interests spanning youth politics, social movement studies, storytelling methods, and environmental and climate justice. Jared Whear is an assistant research professor who was previously at Montana State University– Billings. Bing Zhao has served as an assistant teaching professor in our highly successful online geospatial education program. The “First Year Reflections” pages give these faculty the opportunity to share some of their experiences as they have settled into Happy Valley.
Our undergraduate students continue to accomplish amazing things. Our Undergraduate Research Opportunities Connections (UROC) program is a model for integrating undergraduate education and research at a major research university. Other students are pursuing internships, fieldwork opportunities, and interdisciplinary training. Penn State Geography faculty continue to innovate in the classroom, as represented by Manzhu Yu on the cover of the magazine.
All of this is made possible through alumni support. Two pages of the magazine highlight the awards from the May recognition reception, and your investment in these students allows them to realize these opportunities. Thank you.
Finally, this past year offered a unique opportunity to reflect on the outstanding achievements of our Online Geospatial Education (OGE) program. The Geography Department and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences celebrated OGE’s twenty-fifth anniversary with a symposium at the Esri User Conference in San Diego. The symposium brought together OGE faculty and students to reflect on past accomplishments and future possibilities. Our thanks for your continued interest, engagement, and investment in our community. Navigating Change, Advancing Our Mission
Sala Kahle,
Brian H. King Professor and Head Department of Geography
For two Penn State undergraduates, July 2025 brought an experience far from campus classrooms. Geography majors Jesse Ehrlich and Cadence O’Brien spent a month in Malawi as part of the ECODRYFOREST project.
Penn State University Libraries will observe GIS Day, an annual event celebrating the technology of geographic information systems (GIS), on Nov. 17.
As a teen, Naomi Bird witnessed the sudden vaping boom among her peers. Research she did as an undergraduate student at Penn State gave her a greater insight into what she was witnessing.