Faculty and Staff

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 2022 Office Hours 
  Monday 9-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.
  Tuesday 9-11 a.m. 
  Wednesday 9-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. 
  Friday 11 a.m. to noon and 1-2 p.m. 
  And by appointment. 

Gareth John

• Professor of Geography
• Program Director
• 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.

  On sabbatical Fall 2022 and Spring 2023. 

Feilin "Falina" Lai

• Assistant Professor of Geography
• Ph.D. 2021, Florida State University

• Research Focus: Remote sensing, GIS, urban sustainability, environmental justice.

  Fall 2022 Office Hours 
  Monday 2-5 p.m.
  Tuesday 1-5 p.m. (virtual)
  Wednesday 2-5 p.m.

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 2022 Office Hours 
  Monday 10:30-11 a.m. (in person) and 2-4:30 p.m. (virtual)
  Tuesday 10:45-11:15 a.m. (in person) and 2:30-4 p.m. (virtual)
  Wednesday 10:30-11 a.m. (in person) and 2-4:30 p.m. (virtual)
  Thursday 10:45-11:15 a.m. (in person) and 2:30-4 p.m. (virtual)
  And by appointment

Randal Baker

• Program Director
• Department Chair
• 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 2022 Office Hours 
  Monday 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.
  Tuesday 9-11 a.m. 
  Wednesday 9-11 a.m.
  Thursday 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 2022 Office Hours 
  Tuesday noon to 2 p.m. (virtual)
  Wednesday 9 a.m. to noon (virtual)
  Thursday noon to 2 p.m. (virtual)
  Email faculty to schedule an appointment. 

Hung-Chih 'Alvin' Yu

• Associate Professor of Hospitality & Tourism
• Hospitality & Tourism B.A. adviser
• Ph.D. 2008, Pennsylvania State University

• Research Focus: Travel and tourism; tourism management, educational tour, instructional systems. Hospitality and Tourism Club adviser.

  Fall 2022 Office Hours 
  Monday 2-5 p.m.
  Tuesday 8-10 a.m. 
  Wednesday 2-5 p.m. 
  Thursday 8-10 a.m. 

Eric Fuller

• Associate Professor of Land Surveying & Mapping Sciences
• Director, Land Surveying & Mapping Sciences Program
• M.Eng. Purdue University 2007

• Research Focus: Surveying, GIS, Cartography, GPS, site development, photogrammetry and remote sensing

  Fall 2022 Office Hours 
  Monday 1-3 p.m.
  Tuesday 11 a.m. to noon and 2-4 p.m. 
  Wednesday 1-3 p.m.
  Thursday 11 a.m. to noon and 2-4 p.m. 
  And by appointment

Luis Estevez

• Professor of Planning and Community Development
• Director, School of Public Affairs Research Institute
• Ph.D. 2012, Texas A&M University

• Research Focus: Housing markets, regional planning, quantitative methods and international planning.

  Fall 2022 Office Hours 
  Monday 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  Tuesday 3-6 p.m. (virtual)
  Wednesday 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
  Thursday 3-6 p.m. (virtual)

Aspasia Rigopoulou-Melcher

• Director, Planning Graduate Certificate
• 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 2022 Office Hours 
  Monday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (virtual)
  Tuesday 12:30-2 p.m. 
  Thursday 9:30-10:45 a.m. and 12:30-2 p.m. 
  Email faculty 1-2 business days in advance to schedule an appointment. 

Chukwunyere 'Chuks' Ugochukwu

• Professor of Planning and Community Development
• Director, Planning and Community Development
• Ph.D. 2004, Urban Design, Jackson State University

• Research Focus: Heritage/historic preservation; urban design; architecture; urban/regional planning.

  Fall 2022 Office Hours 
  Monday 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (virtual) and 11 a.m.. to 1:30 p.m. (in person)
  Tuesday 10-10:45 a.m.. and 2-4 p.m. (virtual) and 2-3:30 p.m. (in person)
  Thursday 10-10:45 a.m.. and 2-4 p.m. (virtual) and 2-3:30 p.m. (in person) 
  Friday 10 a.m.. to noon (virtual)
  And by appointment

Rochelle Dyer

• Director, Social Studies Education
• M.S. in Social Studies Education, St. Cloud State University
• 6th Year Certificate in Educational Administration and Leadership, St. Cloud State University

• Research Focus: Doctoral candidate in Educational Administration and Leadership, St. Cloud State University. 

Cynthia Fitzthum

• Professor of Social Studies Education
• Ed.D. 2020, St. Cloud State University

• Research Focus: Economics education.

Kristy Modrow

• Student Relations and Experiential Learning Director
• Internships, career development, graduate school, study abroad.

Brittney Hoff

• Academic Advisor (up to 60 credits)

Kimberly Johnson

• Office Manager

Benjamin Richason

• Ph.D. 1978, Michigan State University

David Wall

Lewis Wixon

• Ph.D. 1979, Indiana State University