Department of Geography & Planning

Faculty and Staff

Staff

Vacant

  • Geography
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Land Surveying and Mapping Sciences

Michelle Walz

  • Hospitality and Tourism
  • Planning and Community Development

(320) 308-4986 | 443 Centennial Hall

Geography

Gareth John

Gareth John

  • Professor of Geography
  • Program Director
  • Department Chair
  • Ph.D. 2003, University of Kentucky

(320) 308-6143 | SH 350

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.

Mikhail 'Misha' Blinnikov

Mikhail 'Misha' Blinnikov

  • Professor of Geography
  • Graduate Coordinator
  • GIS Graduate Certificate Adviser
  • Ph.D. 1999, University of Oregon

(320) 308-2263 | SH 337

Research Focus: Biogeography, conservation, phytolith analysis, GIS, Russia/former Soviet Union.

Feilin "Falina" Lai

Feilin "Falina" Lai

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

(320) 308-2095 | SH 335

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

Jeffrey Torguson

Jeffrey Torguson

  • Professor of Geography
  • Geography majors and minors adviser
  • Ph.D. 1993, University of Georgia

(320) 308-0961 | SH 346

Research Focus: Cartography, geographic information science (GIS), physical geography, Asia.

Hospitality & Tourism

Randal Baker

Randal Baker

  • Professor of Hospitality & Tourism
  • Hospitality & Tourism B.A. adviser
  • Ph.D. 1993, Oregon State University

(320) 308-2271 | SH 351

Research Focus: Tourism development, community development, natural resources, outdoor recreation.

Belkis Kambach

  • Assistant Professor of Hospitality & Tourism
  • M.Ed. 2004, Endicott College & GLION Hotel School, Bulle, Switzerland

(320) 308-3180 | SH 348

Research Focus: Travel and tourism, education, eco-tourism and conservation, tour management, cruise line industry, environmental interpretation, travel writing.

Hung-Chih 'Alvin' Yu

Hung-Chih 'Alvin' Yu

  • Program Director
  • Associate Professor of Hospitality & Tourism
  • Hospitality & Tourism B.A. adviser
  • Ph.D. 2008, Pennsylvania State University

(320) 308-2261 | SH 317

Research Focus: Travel and tourism; tourism management, educational tour, instructional systems. Hospitality and Tourism Club adviser.

Land Surveying & Mapping Sciences

Eric Fuller

Eric Fuller

  • Associate Professor of Land Surveying & Mapping Sciences
  • Director, Land Surveying & Mapping Sciences Program
  • M.Eng. Purdue University 2007

(320) 308-3202 | SH 340

Research Focus: Surveying, GIS, Cartography, GPS, site development, photogrammetry and remote sensing

Planning & Community Development

Luis Estevez

Luis Estevez

  • Professor of Planning and Community Development
  • Ph.D. 2012, Texas A&M University

(320) 308-3184 | SH 333

Research Focus: Housing markets, regional planning, quantitative methods and international planning.

Aspasia Rigopoulou-Melcher

Aspasia Rigopoulou-Melcher

  • Professor of Planning and Community Development
  • Director, 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

(320) 308-5225 | SH 361

Research Focus: Post-industrial urban and regional economic development, high technology development, public and private partnerships, housing, rural and community development and capacity building.

Chukwunyere 'Chuks' Ugochukwu

Chukwunyere 'Chuks' Ugochukwu

  • Professor of Planning and Community Development
  • Director, Planning Graduate Certificate
  • Ph.D. 2004, Urban Design, Jackson State University

(320) 308-2097 | SH 339

Research Focus: Heritage/historic preservation; urban design; architecture; urban/regional planning.

Student Services

Brittney Jones

Brittney Jones

  • Success Advisor (0-59 credits)

(302) 308-6075 | Stewart Hall 364

Success Advisor (0-59 credits)

Emeriti

Benjamin Richason

  • Ph.D. 1978, Michigan State University

Lewis Wixon

  • Ph.D. 1979, Indiana State University

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