The faculty within the Geography Program have a depth and breadth of expertise that covers the United States, Alaska and the Circumpolar North. The faculty are committed to student success through teaching and research that prepare geographers to address the many challenges we now face in a globalized society, particularly from a northern perspective. Particular focus is given to the unique challenges found in Alaska.

For more information, contact the program coordinator: Wanda Tangermann

 

Cary de Wit- Associate Professor of Geography/Department Chair

Research Interests - cultural geography, North American regional cultures, rural cultures, perceptual geography, and sense of place. Recent research interests are popular perceptions of Alaska and the expression of frontier ideology in Alaskan politics, culture, and landscape.

John Bailey - Assistant Research Professor, Exploring the Virtual Earth

Research Interests - physical volcanology, geomorphology, application of geospatial tools, including remote sensing and Google Earth. Use of innovative technologies to promote understanding of the forms and processes of the world around us.

Kenneth A. Barrick - Associate Professor of Geography

Research Interests - physical geography, environmental studies, natural resource management, nonmarket economic valuation (especially for wilderness areas), nutrient status and allocation in Rocky Mountain tree species, plant responses to extreme wind and oceanic salt spray, impacts of geothermal energy development on geysers and hot springs

Lawson Brigham - Distinguished Professor of Geography & Arctic Policy

Research Interests - polar environmental change, marine policy & ocean security issues, satellite remote sensing of sea ice and permafrost, marine navigation systems, coastal oceanography, polar environmental management & sustainable use.

Keith W. Cunningham -  Research Assistant Professor of Geography/Remote Sensing

Research Interests - light detection and ranging (LiDAR), synthetic aperture radar (SAR), geospatial modeling, carbon/biomass estimation, carbon trading market audit and assurance.

Current Research Programs -
1) Remote sensing for biomass estimation
2) Audit and assurance of carbon trading markets
3) Feature extraction from LiDAR & SAR 
4) Unmanned aerial systems for remote sensing

Patricia Heiser - Assistant Professor of Geography

Research Interests - landscape evolution, paleogeography and quaternary environment

Current Research Programs - post-glacial landscape changes in Lake Clark and Katmai National Parks and includes sub-projects in glacial and lake level history, vegetation change, tephra history and lake productivity

Dan Mann - Assistant Professor of Geography 

Research Interests - forest ecology, ice-age climate change, and the interactions between prehistoric humans and changing climate.

Current Research Programs -
1) Studies of environmental change at the end of the last ice age on the North Slope
2) Human impacts on island ecosystems in the South Pacific
3) Fire history in Interior Alaska; rock-dwelling microbes in Antarctica
4) Glacial history around the Gunnison Basin, Colorado
5) Human adaptations to global change in the Makalu region of Nepal
6) Fluvial responses to climate change during the Holocene on the Southern High Plains

Mike Sfraga - Director, University of Alaska Geography Program

Research Interests - polar geography, exploration, geography of Alaska, and the history of field science.

Sidney Stephens - Instructor of Science Education

Research Interests -

Current Research Programs - MapTEACH

Sarah Trainor - Research Assistant Professor

Research Interests - human dimensions of global change in the arctic and northern latitudes, vulnerability and adaptation of northern communities to climate change and envirnomental injustice and climate change in Arctic Indigenous peoples. 

Dave Verbyla -Professor of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Natural Resources