Feature-Alumni

Warren Schupbach, MA 1968, on His Days at CU and Beyond

Gabriela Rocha Sales — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 20:54:59 +0000

Warren Schupbach, MA 1968, on His Days at CU and Beyond Gabriela Rocha Sales Tue, 12/10/2024 - 13:54

I enrolled at CU as a Teaching Associate, Fall Semester, 1965 on a two-year Master's program. John Loeffler was my advisor. After one year, I began teaching Civics and Geography in the Jefferson County Public Schools, Lakewood, Colorado. I completed my MA, Summer Session, 1968.

I taught Social Studies in the Jefferson County Public Schools until 1970 when I received a contract to teach Economics and Geography at the Community College of Denver - North Campus which became Front Range Community College, Westminster in 1976.

In addition to my teaching duties, I became a board member of the Community College Social Science Association headquartered in Grossmont College, San Diego County, California. I compiled an extensive 35mm slide collection of 19th and 20th century mining sites in Colorado. I also documented visuals of reclamation efforts at the URAD mine in Clear Creek County, Colorado, the AMAX Mine near Leadville, Colorado, and a Superfund site near Minturn, Colorado. I presented a lecture Colorado mining numerous times, using these slides. During this time, I also taught an occasional Geography class at Metropolitan State University of Colorado,

I was also chair of the Community College Liaison Committee for Economics and Geography. Our task was to meet with university faculty to standardize catalog course descriptions and credit hour offerings to facilitate transferability of our courses. The result was the creation of a community college core curriculum included in the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees which guaranteed transferability to four year state schools.

I also started an European Studies Program in 1990 which enabled students to travel to western, central and Mediterranean Europe and obtain credits in Geography, Economics, or Humanities. Approximately 400 individuals participated in this program. I retired from FRCC in 1998. My most influential professors at CU included John Loeffler, Pablo Guzman-Rivas, Albert Smith and Theodore Myers.

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Geography Alumnus Joseph Kerski: Be a Positive Change Agent Through Applying Geography!

Gabriela Rocha Sales — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 22:38:12 +0000

Geography Alumnus Joseph Kerski: Be a Positive Change Agent Through Applying Geography! Gabriela Rocha Sales Mon, 12/09/2024 - 15:38

Geography gives you superpowers! I truly believe that as I have seen how the geographic perspective, content knowledge, and skills have empowered people to make wiser decisions from local to global scale. I hold 3 degrees in geography including 2 from CU ��«��Ƶ. My research focuses on teaching and learning with geotechnologies. My dissertation title at the University of Colorado was “the implementation and effectiveness of GIS in education”, and I have been living and breathing this topic ever since. In fact, that is a major focus of my role on the Esri education team, which supports schools and higher education use of GIS in teaching, research, and in campus facilities. I have had the honor of serving in all 4 major sectors of society: Government (USGS, Census Bureau), academia (I currently teach at the University of Denver, the University of Minnesota, Au Sable Institute, and Harrisburg Area Community College), private industry (serving on the Esri education team), and nonprofit organizations (I served as president of the National Council for Geographic Education and have been active in AAG, AGU (science), ISTE (technology education), and elsewhere). I have authored 12 books including Interpreting Our World [bloomsbury.com], a new book on teaching mathematics with interactive mapping, Tribal GIS, The GIS Guide to Public Domain Data, and have created 6,000 videos visible here on my Our Earth channel [esriurl.com] I operate a spatial data and society blog on https://spatialreserves.wordpress.com which includes many ethical issues related to mapping. My podcast, called Thinking Spatially, is published monthly: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinking-spatially/id1441426924 I spend about 40% of my time on travel, visiting 35 campuses and 10 conferences annually; I also spend a great deal of time writing curriculum helping people to think spatially and use geotechnologies, including this new set of lessons. On my recent last visit to CU ��«��Ƶ, I visited faculty, and conducted guest presentations to Professor Schlosser’s cartography course, and about “GIS for good” to the CU Atlas data-and-society students.

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Geography Alumnus and Professor Contribute to the Swastika Counter Project

Gabriela Rocha Sales — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 22:33:33 +0000

Geography Alumnus and Professor Contribute to the Swastika Counter Project Gabriela Rocha Sales Mon, 12/09/2024 - 15:33

Jason Miller, a recent graduate of the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, has made a significant contribution to the Swastika Counter Project, led by Dr. Laurie E. Gries and Dr. Kelly L. Wheeler. This project documents and maps instances of swastika sightings reported in U.S. social and news media to shed light on the persistence and spread of these symbols. Equipped with an accessible, interactive map, the Swastika Counter Project is a public humanities project that aims to educate the general public about the targets, circulation, and intensity of antisemitic signs on the streets of the United States.

Jason developed the interactive map under the guidance of Professor Morteza Karimzadeh at CU ��«��Ƶ Geography, drawing inspiration from his mentorship.

Jason’s background in geography provided a foundation in spatial analysis and geo-visualization, which he has since expanded into both front-end and back-end web development, computer programming, and 2D/3D graphic design. His passion for these fields—particularly in web design and programming—demonstrates his commitment to combining creativity with technology. Outside of his professional pursuits, he enjoys exploring the mountains and plains of Colorado, writing songs, and developing video games.

Looking ahead, Jason plans to deepen his work at the intersection of interactive media and creative programming, creating dynamic experiences that engage audiences in meaningful ways. Inspired by his professors and mentors, he aims to apply his skills across disciplines, bridging technical expertise and creative innovation in his future projects.

Data analysis by The Swastika Counter Project found at least 1,300 documented incidents of swastikas in the United States between Jan. 1, 2016, and Jan. 20, 2021.

Residents of Eugene, Oregon, responded against swastikas found in a city neighborhood in 2017. (Photo: SBG Photo)

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Geography Alumnus Chris McMorran, Forever in the Field

Gabriela Rocha Sales — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 22:29:10 +0000

Geography Alumnus Chris McMorran, Forever in the Field Gabriela Rocha Sales Mon, 12/09/2024 - 15:29

I stumbled into Geography, and it has made all the difference.

I majored in Anthropology for my Bachelor's degree back in Iowa, and never took a Geography course until I started my MA at CU in 2000. Thankfully, my courses at CU and work as a Teaching Assistant opened my eyes to the conceptual tools of Geography, while supporting my passion for field-based research. My MA (2002) and PhD (2008), both supervised by Prof Timothy Oakes, explored the landscapes and labor of tourism in rural Japan, which I have written about extensively and have taught about at the National University of Singapore since 2010.

During my time in the Guggenheim building, I was lucky to be surrounded by supportive, fascinating, and fun fellow grad students, some of whom remain close friends. I fondly remember Friday colloquia, weekday escapes to the mountains, potluck dinners, TA support sessions, holidays together, and more. I will also be forever grateful to my Professors, who pushed me to engage with complex ideas and created an atmosphere of deep, open conversation in their classrooms. That said, one of my most profound memories was a semester spent doing GIS labs in the dark recesses of the Guggenheim basement. The experience made me appreciate my instructors who helped me survive the journey, and it reminded me why I prefer being out in the field, talking with people and walking through the Japanese countryside.

These days I share my love for Geography and the field with my own students. As the lone Geographer in the Department of Japanese Studies at NUS, I have the opportunity to teach about deeply-Geographical concepts, like in my course called "Home", and field-based research methods, like in my course about the politics of heritage tourism, which includes 10 days in Japan. (https://news.nus.edu.sg/exploring-japans-heritage-and-tourism-in-kyushu/), I also continue to write about Japan and field-based research, including a book about the landscapes and labor of Japanese hospitality called "Ryokan: mobilizing hospitality in rural Japan" (2022).

I treasure my time at CU ��«��Ƶ and my luck at becoming an accidental Geographer.

Chris (left), with Dan Trudeau (PhD, CU-��«��Ƶ) and Ken Foote (former faculty CU-��«��Ƶ) at the 2024 AAG meetings

Chris observing the sunset in Aso, Japan with a student

Chris in the field with students in Fukuoka, Japan

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David Kimmett: Generations of Geography: Reflecting on a Legacy of Learning at CU GEOG

Anonymous — Wed, 15 May 2024 19:35:01 +0000

David Kimmett: Generations of Geography: Reflecting on a Legacy of Learning at CU GEOG Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/15/2024 - 13:35

My time wandering the halls and climbing the central staircase of Guggenheim really was a long time ago – Class of 1994?!? Heck, that’s pre-internet! However, it doesn’t feel like a galaxy far, far away…I learned so much about so many things in such a short-but-immensely influential epoch during my years at CU…and indubitably the best knowledge stemmed from The Best Building On Campus, The Simon Guggenheim Bvilding!  No doubt this present-day tangibility with my time at CU can partially be attributed to wandering through campus on occasion, as I both live and work nearby. However, the core reality is that my education at the University and in particular the pedagogy that sifted into my noggin during those Geography baccalaureate years represented a sea change in my understanding of the world and how to make one’s way through life with a more conscientious approach.  The multiple sparks of imparted knowledge stoked internal fires of curiosity, and if you walk over to the “trophy case” by the Geography Office, you can see some bloke with my name on the Albert W. Smith Scholarship for 1993-1994.

Since that time, I’ve been a high school social sciences teacher in Denver Public Schools; an AmeriCorps volunteer for a year in southern Georgia; a GIS analyst in Fremont County, Colorado; and following a Master of Urban & Regional Planning (greatest degree acronym of all-time: MURP) degree from CU-Denver, fell into my current career a few years back as the manager of planning at ��«��Ƶ’s JUWI Inc., a utility-scale solar energy facility development, engineering, and construction firm. Best job of all: dad to two kids, one who graduated from our wonderful archrival CSU with a zoology degree last weekend and the other…give it a minute! My wife and I have raised our kids mostly in the lovely burg of Longmont, along with a few chickens and goats.

Many a professor influenced my years in GEOG, though perhaps no one more than Brock Brown, who happened to provide an intro to the University during an orientation session for College of Arts & Sciences incoming Freshman in Chem 140, where among other things he spoke about The Big Picture Of Human Decision Making, focusing on America’s prolific focus on growing a plant that can’t be consumed – Kentucky bluegrass lawns – and the repercussions of that decision. That single orientation session cemented my already smoldering passion for All Things Geography into a flame that burns brightly today. Which brings me to…

A MOST IMPORTANT SIDEBAR:  my 18-year old son Quinn Kimmett is an incoming Freshman this Fall at CU and…drumroll…his major?  GEOGRAPHY!  I promise I didn’t force this upon him…must be something genetic or in the water!  I’m soooooo so so excited for him to enter the wide world that the CU Geography Department will open for him.

A special thanks to Morteza Karimzadeh who asked if I could write something for this newsletter! AND a well-earned KUDOS to all of the professors in GEOG who are crafting the next generation of critical thinkers, helping to establish a foothold of hope in a tumultuous world!

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Tai Koester: Building on Undergraduate Training to Lead Research in Political Ecology and Indigenous Geographies

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2024 00:51:53 +0000

Tai Koester: Building on Undergraduate Training to Lead Research in Political Ecology and Indigenous Geographies Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/08/2024 - 18:51

My name is Tai Koester. I am a human-environment geographer and former community organizer currently based in Tucson, Arizona. I graduated with a Bachelors from the Department of Geography at CU-��«��Ƶ in 2019.

I am a Masters student in the School of Geography, Development and Environment at the University of Arizona working with Dr. Andrew Curley. My research draws from political ecology and Indigenous geographies to study environmental politics in the US West and examines how the energy transition is shaping the political and economic futures of Native Nations. My Masters research is focused on the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, a federally-recognized tribe, whose reservation is located in southeastern Montana. This is coal country, part of the Powder River Basin, the most productive coalfields in the US. The Northern Cheyenne Reservation is surrounded by large coal strip mines on three sides and is 20 miles from the Colstrip Generating Station, once one of the largest coal-fired power stations in the US. In this remote region, coal extraction represents a reliable source of income for tribal members. However, coal’s future is uncertain, and the Colstrip Generating Station has closed half of its units that produce electricity. Against this backdrop, the Tribe is exploring options for developing its own tribally-owned utility based on renewable energy production, which has the potential to reduce the Tribe’s dependence on external electricity providers (e.g. costs for heating in winter are extremely high) and could employ tribal members.

My research is grounded in qualitative methods involving interviews with tribal government officials, economic development experts, coal miners and plant operators, and renewable energy developers, among others. These interviews are supplemented by participant observation at regional energy events and conferences focused on the energy transition. My preliminary findings suggest that the energy transition seems likely to reinforce existing inequalities. The same power companies that own coal infrastructure are developing renewables that will compete with the Tribe’s own ambitions. Furthermore, existing paternalistic bureaucracy that structures the relationship tribal nations have with the federal government presents roadblocks that make it very difficult to pursue economic development in general. For example, the Northern Cheyenne must negotiate with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a federal agency, in addition to any energy developers before constructing solar on tribal trust lands, while private energy developers operating off-reservation face no comparable obstacles.

My research at Arizona builds off the research and experiences I had as an undergraduate in the Department of Geography at CU-��«��Ƶ. Under the guidance of Dr. Joe Bryan, I completed my honors thesis on the role of US public lands and historical mapping in the dispossession of Indigenous peoples, which together have gone on to shape the terrain upon which present-day Indigenous campaigns to protect southeast Utah’s Bears Ears region must struggle. This area was made famous in part by the Trump administration’s rollback of federal protections, centering on its status as a National Monument. Bears Ears, like all public lands, was mapped and managed to facilitate extraction and settlement at the direct expense of Indigenous people and the land itself, putting Indigenous claims of authority over the landscape at a significant disadvantage to the those made by white settlers and miners.

Moving forward, I hope to continue to pursue engaged research that examines the tangled legacies of colonialism and resource extraction on Native Nations in the US. I owe much of where I am to the faculty and peers I had at CU-��«��Ƶ.

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Hannah Escareno, now a geospatial Analyst, remembers her time at the Geography Department

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2024 00:35:52 +0000

Hannah Escareno, now a geospatial Analyst, remembers her time at the Geography Department Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/08/2024 - 18:35

My name is Hannah Escareno and I received my BA in Geography in 2023. Today, I am a geospatial analyst by profession, while in my free time, I’m an avid rock climber and violist with an affinity for crochet, analog photography, and poodles! Growing up, playing viola music by composers from around the world inspired a deep fascination for international cultures, while my love for animals led to a fascination with the environmental sciences. These are lifelong passions of mine and my college years were no different. However, it was not until it came time to take my gen-ed science courses and I discovered the Geography department at CU, that I realized I could combine these two passions into a degree.

I will always remember my time as a student in the geography department fondly. From playing GeoGuessr with the geography club, to late nights in the KESDA lab, and everything in between. Though the coronavirus pandemic changed my and my classmates’ college experiences completely and presented great challenges, overcoming these challenges was made possible with the support of the people that make this department what it is. Our faculty truly personifies the joy of learning and discovery. They say it takes a village and I’m lucky to have found mine in the community at CU Geography.

Following my graduation from CU ��«��Ƶ, I completed a brief contract with the Macroecology Lab at the department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona in coalition with the Santa Fe Institute as an assistant researcher conducting dendrologic land surveying out of the Mountain Research Station in Nederland, Colorado. The research conducted sought to advance towards a more predictive understanding of biodiversity and ecology by deepening our understanding of how organisms interact with each other and their environment. Today, I am a full-time geospatial analyst. In my day to day, I get to work with satellite data from all over the world to conduct imagery analysis and information extraction using GIS software. It is extremely fulfilling to see a culmination of my geography education come together as I launch my career as a young professional, and I am excited to see what the future has in store as I continue learning and growing as a geographer!

The accompanying 35mm photos are from the field!

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Ronald Cossman Obituary

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 16:48:24 +0000

Ronald Cossman Obituary Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/24/2024 - 09:48

Daily Memphian

Dr. Ronald (Ron) Edward Cossman (PhD, 2001), died on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis after a two-and-half week battle against pneumonia (caused by COVID and a subsequent routine trip to the dentist), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Ron's beloved wife, Dr. Shelley Keith, and mother-in-law, Sharon Rollow, were at his side when he died, where they had been supporting and advocating for him while he was in the ICU.

Ron was a deeply caring man who invested his time, energy and resources into those he loved. His kindhearted spirit and rich sense of humor (which often skewed on the dark side) shone through in every interaction.

He was born in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on September 13, 1955, the only child of Shirley and Harold (Hack) Edward Cossman. Ron got his adventurous spirit from his mother, Shirley Ann Barall. When he was young, Ron loved to surf and swim and take long walks on the beach with Shirley. As an adult, Ron and his mother enjoyed sharing "Shirley-tinis" and celebrating her milestone birthdays with extreme sports, such as skydiving, hot-air balloon rides, helicopter rides, race car driving, and ziplining. They also enjoyed trips to New York with his cousin BJ and Shelley to dine in fine restaurants and attend Broadway shows.

According to his friends, Ron was a joy to be around. He was a vibrant, energetic and adventurous man who exuded personality, loved to have fun, and embraced deep, meaningful conversations. He attended his first Burning Man in 2008, returning in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Ron was fascinated with this cultural phenomenon and felt deeply that it should be researched. He attended the TED Talks with the same enthusiasm as the scotch tasting camps, not to mention the art, the music and camaraderie.

Ron had a deep love of learning. After graduating from Nova High School, Ron attended the University of South Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications and political science (it was a buy one, get one free deal, as he liked to joke). He was very proud of his time working on Robert Graham's gubernatorial campaign. It was during his first stint in college that he took a job as a concert photographer, combining his lifelong loves of photography and music.

Ron went back to school in the 1990s, first at the University of North Florida, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics followed by a master's degree in demography and population studies at Florida State University (Go 'Noles!). He graduated with his doctorate in geography in 2001 from the University of Colorado, ��«��Ƶ, with his dissertation focusing on clusters of inequality in U.S. metropolitan areas. He served as a research professor at Mississippi State University from 2001 until he retired in 2022 as a Full Professor and was then granted Research Professor Emeritus. He was the president of the Southern Demographic Association in 2014. Ron secured over $4.2 million in research grants and contracts, providing much needed funds for major contributions in education, rural health and the wellbeing of children, among others.

Ron not only impacted his field but also cared about and enhanced the local community. As a member and president of Starkville in Motion, an advocacy group for sidewalks and bike lanes, he was instrumental in securing the funding for a beloved multi-use path in Starkville, MS. According to the mayor of Starkville, D. Lynn Spruill, the city had not yet fully embraced biking and walking as being important to the community when Ron began working on the project. His determination and dedication helped make the Lynn Lane bike path a reality and the citizens of Starkville continue to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Ron started dating the love of his life in 2013 where they bonded over an intense early boot camp class and living in faculty housing. Ron married Shelley on December 31, 2015, on the beach at St. George Island, Florida.

Ron and Shelley shared many adventures together - biking across Iowa (RAGBRAI); competing in the Savage Race 10k and many other running and obstacle course events; and training and competing in Taido, a Japanese martial art. A year ago, they started a new Taido club together at the University of Memphis, and Ron was training for his black belt test. He will be awarded a black belt on November 11, 2023, with two other students from Mississippi State University Taido.

Ron and Shelley loved traveling together. And as much as they both loved the beach, you would never find them lounging in a beach chair, although Ron would have loved to spend time getting a tan and catching up on all of his magazines. They swam with dolphins in Jamaica, traveled to Scotland to "reclaim Shelley's ancestral lands," as Ron liked to say, participated in a Taido competition in Japan, visited dear friends in Idaho and Colorado on a trip to see Yellowstone, and viewed glaciers from a seaplane in Alaska. Ron enjoyed accompanying Shelley at conferences to LA and Seatle, mixing a love of learning and adventure. When not on adventures, Ron and Shelley enjoyed walking hand-in-hand around the neighborhood talking about research and the latest excitement in Shelley's job.

Ron is survived by his wife, Dr. Shelley Keith; mother, Shirley Ann Barall; uncle, Dr. Ronald Tice Spangler, Jr.; cousins, Barbara (BJ), Ben, and Langdon Moss; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Sharon and Dave Rollow; sister-in-law Melissa Norris, nephew Liam Norris, and nieces, Cassandra and Amelia Rose Norris; three sweet kitties, Gabrielle, Elsa and Anna; and many friends who love and miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his father and stepfather, William (Bill) Barall.

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Brief Alumni Updates

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 19:38:19 +0000

Brief Alumni Updates Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/19/2023 - 12:38

As mentioned at the top of the newsletter, if you have any updates, please let us know using our alumni update form or send an email with your information to the department. We would love to hear from you about how your career has progressed since attending CU. The updates below came to us via the form.

Frederick (Rick) Bein, BA 1969

Completed the MA in Geography at the University of Florida 1971, Thesis: Geographic Shifts in Florida Citrus
PhD in Geography at the University of Florida 1974, Dissertation: Patterns of Pioneer Settlement in Southern Mato Grosso, two case studies.
1974-77 Visiting Professor of Geography University of Khartoum
1977-78 Visiting Professor of Geography University of North Dakota
1978-1996 Chair, Department of Geography, Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis
1996-1999 Research Professor, University of Technology, Lei, Papua New Guinea
1999-2016 Professor of Geography, Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis
2005-2006 Fulbright Professor, Universidade Eduardo Mondlani Maputo, Mozamibique
2011-2012 Visiting Professor Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
2016- present Professor Emeritus, Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis

The BA Degree at CU opened the door to an academic career in Geography. From 1964-66, I served in United States Peace Corps in Brazil. Agricultural extension in southern Mato Grosso. I've published 50 some articles and papers.

Donald Friend, MA 1988

I have not wavered from the theme of mountain geography garnered at ��«��Ƶ. I am now Distinguished Professor of Geography at Minnesota State University. I served AY 2019-2020 as a National Academies Jefferson Science Fellow in the Office of Global Climate Change at USAID.

I am honored and inspired every day to continue on as a geographer serving as a University Professor.

Andrew Canales, BA 1999

My degree in Geography set the stage for a successful 20 year career at DigitalGlobe, now Maxar Technologies.

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Molly Guiney, MA 2021: Improving Stream Function and Watershed Health

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 17:17:21 +0000

Molly Guiney, MA 2021: Improving Stream Function and Watershed Health Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/19/2023 - 10:17

My name is Molly Guiney, and I graduated in 2021 with a master’s degree specializing in fluvial geomorphology. Advised by Dr. Katherine Lininger, I studied how landscape disturbances, such as floods and fires, can influence the deposition of wood onto floodplains in the Colorado Front Range.

My time at CU ��«��Ƶ was incredibly important in building what I call my “geomorphic toolkit,” and my experiences gave me the confidence to continue developing as a geomorphologist in Colorado. After graduation, I began my own freelance consulting business to work for and with local consultants dedicated to improving stream function and watershed health. For the past two years, I have worked on a variety of projects on streams across the state, including the Yampa River (Steamboat Springs), Coal Creek (Crested Butte), and the Colorado River (Grand Junction). Some of my most interesting projects have included mapping watersheds to identify hazardous areas that people may be unaware of, such as alluvial fans. Other projects assessed watersheds for their potential in reducing post-wildfire impacts on communities. One of my favorite tasks, however, was building imitation beaver dams (beaver dam analogs)!

Most recently, I bade Colorado farewell and moved to Seattle, WA to work as a Fluvial Geomorphologist for Jacobs. In this role, I will be assessing streams for the purpose of improving salmon passage through bridge and culvert crossings, as well as working on stream restoration projects in the Pacific Northwest. I cannot wait!

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