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.
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 10am - 11am and 1pm - 2pm
Tuesday: 1pm - 2pm
Wednesday: 1pm - 2pm
Thursday: 1pm - 2pm
Friday: 10am - 11am and 1pm - 2pm
And by appointment
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.
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 8am - 9am online
Tuesday: 8am - 9am online
Wednesday: 8am - 9am online, 10am - 12pm in office
Thursday: 8am - 9am online, 11am - 1pm in office
And by appointment
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).
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.
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 1pm - 4pm in office
Tuesday: 11am - 1pm online and 1pm - 2pm in office
Wednesday: 2pm - 3pm online
Thursday: 10:30am - 2pm in office
And 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.
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 9am - 12pm
Tuesday: 11am - 12pm
Wednesday: 9am - 11am and 1pm - 3pm
Thursday: 11am - 12pm
Friday: 9am - 12pm
And 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
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 1:30pm - 4pm
Tuesday: 9am - 10am and 1:30pm - 3pm
Wednesday: 1:30pm - 4pm
Thursday: 9am - 10am and 1:30pm - 3pm
And 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.
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 8:30am - 9:30am in office
Tuesday: 8:30am - 10:30 am in office
Wednesday: 8:30am - 9:30am in office
Thursday: 9am - 12pm online
Friday: 9am - 12pm online
And by appointment
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.
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 11am - 2pm online
Tuesday: 2pm - 5pm in office
Wednesday: 11am - 1:30pm in office
Thursday: 12:30pm - 2pm in office
And 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.
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 11am - 3pm online
Tuesday: 2pm - 3pm in office
Wednesday: 11am - 2pm in office and 2pm - 3pm online
Thursday: 2pm - 3pm in office
And by appointment
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.
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 8am - 9am and 11am - 12:30pm
Wednesday: 8am - 9am and 11am - 12:30pm
Friday: 8am - 1pm
And 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.
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 9am - 11am
Tuesday: 9am - 11am and 1pm - 2pm
Wednesday: 9am - 11am
Thursday: 9am - 11am and 1pm - 2pm
And by appointment
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.
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.
Spring 2019 Office Hours
Monday: 2pm - 4pm in office
Tuesday: 11am - 4pm in office
Wednesday: 2pm - 5pm online
And by appointment
Staff
Candy Swenson
Office Manager
B.S. 1998, Bemidji State University
