Geography and Environmental Studies

Department Chair
Bandelier West, Room 215
MSC01 1110
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-5041

Professors
Chris S. Duvall, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison
Scott M. Freundschuh, Ph.D., State University of New York, Buffalo

Associate Professors
Ronda L. Brulotte, Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin
Constantine Hadjilambrinos, Ph.D., University of Delaware
K. Maria D. Lane, Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin
Christopher D. Lippitt, Ph.D., San Diego State University

Assistant Professors
Xi Gong, Ph.D., Texas State University
Yan Lin, Ph.D., Texas State University
Benjamin P. Warner, Ph.D., Arizona State University

Lecturer
Caitlin L. Lippitt, Ph.D., San Diego State University

Adjunct Faculty
Daniel Arreola, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Joni Palmer, Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Cody Wiley, M.S., University of New Mexico
Su Zhang, Ph.D., University of New Mexico

Emeriti Faculty
Elinore M. Barrett, Ph.D., University of California Berkeley
Olen Paul Matthews, Ph.D., University of Washington; J.D., University of Idaho
Stanley A. Morain, Ph.D., University of Kansas
Jerry Williams, Ph.D., University of Oregon

Affiliated Faculty
Craig Allen, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley; (US Geological Survey)
Karl Benedict, Ph.D., University of New Mexico; (UNM University Libraries and Learning Studies)
David Correia, Ph.D., University of Kentucky; (UNM American Studies)
Fred Gibbs, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison; (UNM History)
Laura Harjo, Ph.D., University of Southern California; (UNM School of Architecture and Planning)
Anne Jakle, M.S., Massey University, New Zealand; (UNM Office of the Vice President for Research: EPSCoR)
Kathleen Kambric, M.Arch., M.L.A., University of Virginia (UNM School of Architecture and Planning)
Elizabeth Keller, Ph.D., Oxford University, England; (Sandia National Laboratories)
Frank Norris, Ph.D., University of Idaho; (National Park Service)
Will Pockman, Ph.D., University of Utah; (UNM Biology)
Caroline Scruggs, Ph.D., Stanford University; (UNM School of Architecture and Planning)
Steve Sensie, Ph.D., University of Idaho; (US Fish and Wildlife Services)
Melanie A. Stansbury, Ph.D., Cornell University (Utton Center, UNM School of Law)
Mark Stone, Ph.D., Washington State University; (UNM Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering)
Jennifer Tucker, Ph.D., University of California Berkeley (UNM School of Architecture and Planning)
Marygold Walsh-Dilley, Ph.D., Cornell University; (UNM Honors College)

Introduction

Geography describes and explains the past, present, and future locations and spatial patterns of humans and their settlements, cultural and economic traits, and natural environment and resources. The department’s programs focus human-environment interactions by giving students skills and analytics to understand the diversity and uniqueness of place, the multiple and dynamic social and physical processes that shape our planet, and the rich geospatial methodologies that allow for the visualization and analysis of spatial phenomena. These approaches include environmental studies, geographic information systems, natural resource policy and management, cartography and geovisualization, legal geography, remote sensing, culture and ecology, global navigation satellite systems, social justice, and spatial statistics.

Geography and Environmental Studies offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The B.A. and B.S. degrees prepare majors for careers in environmental studies, GIScience, and geography or for entrance into the M.S. program. The B.A. degree focuses on providing students with a breadth of knowledge about space, place, and the environment within the liberal arts tradition while the B.S. degree offers students a more in-depth and specialized focus in place, process, or methodology.

The GIScience undergraduate minor is ideally suited for majors from many College of Arts and Sciences departments, as well as from other Schools at UNM. These technologies are finding many practical applications in the social and physical sciences, engineering, healthcare, architecture and planning, and legal professions.

The Law, Environment and Geography undergraduate minor is ideal for majors from any of the social sciences who are interested in the ways law influences and is influenced by both human and non-human environments. It is an ideal track for students who are interested in pursuing careers in law, natural resource management, criminal justice studies, urban studies, and environmental science.

Keys and Symbols Reference