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.

  Spring 2023 Office Hours
  Monday 10-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.
  Tuesday 2-4 p.m.
  Wednesday 10-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.
  Thursday 1-3 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 Spring 2023. 

Feilin "Falina" Lai

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

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

  Spring 2023 Office Hours
  Monday 2-4 p.m.
  Tuesday 12:30-3:30 p.m.
  Wednesday 2-4 p.m.
  Thursday 12:30-3:30 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.

  Spring 2023 Office Hours
  Monday 10:30-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
  Tuesday 12:30-3 p.m. (virtual)
  Wednesday 10:30-11 a.m. (in person) and 2-3:30 p.m. (virtual)
  Thursday 12:30-3 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.

  Spring 2023 Office Hours
  Monday 1-3 p.m. and 6-7 p.m.
  Wednesday 1-4 p.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.

  Spring 2023 Office Hours
  Tuesday 8-9 a.m. and 12:15-1 p.m.
  Wednesday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  Thursday 8-9 a.m. and 12:15-1 p.m.
  And by 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.

  Spring 2023 Office Hours
  Monday 2-5 p.m.
  Tuesday 2-5 p.m.
  Wednesday 2-5 p.m.
  Thursday 9-10 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

  Spring 2023 Office Hours
  Monday 8:30-10 a.m.
  Tuesday 8-10 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
  Wednesday 8:30-10 a.m.
  Thursday 8-10 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

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.

  Spring 2023 Office Hours
  Monday 9 a.m. to noon
  Tuesday 3-6 p.m. (virtual)
  Wednesday 9-10 a.m. and by appointment
  Thursday 3-6 p.m. (virtual) and by appointment

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.

  Spring 2023 Office Hours
  Monday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (virtual - email to schedule)
  Tuesday 12:30-2 p.m. (must schedule ahead via email)
  Wednesday 1-3 p.m. (virtual - email to schedule)
  Thursday 12:30-2 p.m. (must schedule ahead via email)

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.

  Spring 2023 Office Hours
  Monday 12:30-2 p.m. (in person) and 3:30-5 p.m. (virtual)
  Tuesday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (in person) and 2:30-4 p.m. (virtual)
  Wednesday 12:30-2 p.m. (in person) and 3:30-5 p.m. (virtual)

Kristy Modrow

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

Brittney Hoff

• Success Advisor (0-59 credits)

Kimberly Johnson

• Office Manager

Benjamin Richason

• Ph.D. 1978, Michigan State University

David Wall

Lewis Wixon

• Ph.D. 1979, Indiana State University