Department of Geography & Planning
Faculty and Staff
Faculty - Geography
Mikhail 'Misha' Blinnikov
Professor of Geography
Graduate Coordinator
GIS Graduate Certificate Adviser
Ph.D. 1999, University of Oregon
Research Focus: Biogeography, conservation, phytolith analysis, GIS, Russia/former Soviet Union.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
On sabbatical.
Gareth John
Associate Professor of Geography
Ph.D. 2003, University of Kentucky
Research Focus: Cultural geography, historical geography, landscapes, history of geographical thought and practice, geographic education, American popular culture, contemporary British culture and society, geography of wine.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Monday: 8-9 a.m. online
Tuesday: 8-9 a.m. online and 10 a.m.-noon in the office
Wednesday: 8-9 a.m. online and 10 a.m.-noon in the office
Thursday: 8-9 a.m. online, 10 a.m.-noon in the office and 2-3 p.m. in the office
Benjamin Richason
Professor of Geography
Geographic Information Science (GIS) major and minors adviser
Ph.D. 1978, Michigan State University
Research Focus: Remote sensing, cartography, soils, geographic information science (GIS).
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Jeffrey Torguson
Professor of Geography
Geography majors and minors adviser
Ph.D. 1993, University of Georgia
Research Focus: Cartography, geographic information science (GIS), physical geography, Asia.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Monday: 1-3:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:45-3:45 p.m.
Wednesday: 1-3 p.m. online
Thursday: 1:45-3:45 p.m.
Or by appointment
David Wall
Professor of Geography
Department Chair
Ph.D. 1990, University of Iowa
Research Focus: Economic geography, urban planning, research methods, Latin America.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Monday: 9-9:50 a.m. and 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m.-noon
Wednesday: 9-9:50 a.m. and noon-3 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m.-noon
Friday: 9-9:50 a.m.
Or by appointment
Faculty - Land Surveying & Mapping Sciences
Eric Fuller
Associate Professor of Land Surveying & Mapping Sciences
Director of Land Surveying & Mapping Sciences Program
M.Eng. Purdue University 2007
Research Focus: Surveying, GIS, Cartography, GPS, site development, photogrammetry and remote sensing
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Monday: 12:45-2:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 8-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon
Wednesday: 8-10:30 a.m. and 12:45-2:30 p.m.
Thursday: 8-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon
Or by appointment
Faculty - Planning & Community Development
Luis Estevez
Associate Professor of Planning and Community Development
Ph.D. 2012, Texas A&M University
Research Focus: Housing markets, regional planning, quantitative methods and international planning.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Monday: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Tuesday: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Wednesday: 8:30-9:30am
Thursday: 9am-noon online
Friday: 9 a.m.-noon online
Aspasia Rigopoulou-Melcher
Director, Planning and Community Development
Associate Professor of Planning and Community Development
Ph.D. / MURP, 2000, Urban and Regional Planning and Economic Development, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Research Focus: Post-industrial urban and regional economic development, high technology development, public and private partnerships, housing, rural and community development and capacity building.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Tuesday: 10-11 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Noon-3 p.m. online
Thursday: 10-11 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. online
Or by appointment
Chukwunyere 'Chuks' Ugochukwu
Associate Professor of Planning and Community Development
Ph.D. 2004, Urban Design, Jackson State University
Research Focus: Heritage/historic preservation; urban design; architecture; urban/regional planning.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Monday: 10-11 a.m. online and 11 a.m.-noon in the office
Tuesday: 10-11 a.m. and 3:15-4:15 p.m online
Wednesday: 10-11 a.m. online, 11 a.m.-noon in the office, 2-3 p.m. in the office, 3-4 p.m. online
Thursday: 10-11 a.m. and 3:15-4:15 p.m. online
Faculty - Social Studies Education
Cynthia Fitzthum
Director of Social Studies Education, Interim
M.A., University of Delaware
Doctoral Candidate in Higher Education Administration, St. Cloud State University
Research Focus: Economics education.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Monday: By appointment
Tuesday: 8-9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday: 8-9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Friday: By appointment
Faculty - Hospitality & Tourism
Randal Baker
Program Director
Professor of Hospitality & Tourism
Hospitality & Tourism B.A. adviser
Ph.D. 1993, Oregon State University
Research Focus: Tourism development, community development, natural resources, outdoor recreation.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Monday: 9-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.
Tuesday: 1-2 p.m.
Wednesday: 9-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.
Thursday: 1-2 p.m.
Friday: 9-11 a.m.
Belkis Kambach
Assistant Professor of Hospitality & Tourism
M.Ed. 2004, Endicott College & GLION Hotel School, Bulle, Switzerland
Research Focus: Travel and tourism, education, eco-tourism and conservation, tour management, cruise line industry, environmental interpretation, travel writing.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Email professor directly.
Hung-Chih 'Alvin' Yu
Associate Professor of Hospitality & Tourism
Hospitality & Tourism B.A. adviser
PhD. 2008, Pennsylvania State University
Research Focus: Travel and tourism; tourism management, educational tour, instructional systems. Hospitality and Tourism Club adviser.
Fall 2018 Office Hours
Monday: 2-4 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Wednesday: 2-5 p.m. online
Or by appointment
Staff
Candy Swenson
Office Manager
B.S. 1998, Bemidji State University
