Department of Geography & Planning
Faculty and Staff
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 2021 Office Hours
Please email to schedule a Zoom appointment.

Gareth John
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 2021 Office Hours
Monday 9 a.m.-noon
Tuesday 8-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon
Wednesday 9 a.m.-noon
Thursday 8-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon
Please email to schedule a Zoom appointment.

Kirk Stueve
Professor of Geography
Ph.D., Texas A&M University
Research Focus: remote sensing, precision agronomy, geospatial analysis, UAS/drones
Spring 2021 Office Hours
Wednesday Noon-2 p.m.
Please email to schedule a Zoom appointment outside of those 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.
Spring 2021 Office Hours
Monday 12:30-4 p.m.
Tuesday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Wednesday 1:30-5 p.m. (online)
Thursday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Please contact via email to schedule an appointment.

David Wall
Program Director
Professor of Geography
Ph.D. 1990, University of Iowa
Research Focus: Economic geography, urban planning, research methods, Latin America.
Spring 2021 Office Hours
Monday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Tuesday 11 a.m.-noon and 2-3 p.m.
Wednesday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m.-noon and 2-3 p.m.
Please email to schedule an appointment outside of those hours.
Hospitality & Tourism

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 2021 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.
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 2021 Office Hours
Coming soon!

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 2021 Office Hours
Wednesday 7:30-11 a.m.
Thursday 7:30-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
Please email to schedule a Zoom appointment.
Land Surveying & Mapping Sciences

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 2021 Office Hours
Tuesday 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 1:15-3 p.m.
Wednesday 1:30-4 p.m.
Thursday 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 1:15-3 p.m.
Please email to schedule a Zoom appointment.
Planning & Community Development

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 2021 Office Hours
Monday 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday 1-4:15 p.m.
Wednesday 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday 1-4:15 p.m.
Please email to schedule a Zoom or face-to-face appointment at these or another suggested time.

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 2021 Office Hours
Coming soon!

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 2021 Office Hours
Monday 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday Noon to 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thursday Noon to 2:30 p.m.
Please email to schedule an appointment.
Social Studies Education
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.
Spring 2021 Office Hours
By appointment only. Schedule an appointment.

Cynthia Fitzthum
Professor of Social Studies Education
Ed.D. 2020, St. Cloud State University
Research Focus: Economics education.
Spring 2021 Office Hours
Tuesday 9-11 a.m.
Thursday 9-11 a.m.
Friday 9 a.m. to noon
Please email to schedule a Zoom appointment.
Student Services
School of Public Affairs Student Success Center
329 Stewart Hall
(320) 308-4790
sopa@stcloudstate.edu

Kristy Modrow
Student Relations and Experiential Learning Director
Staff
