News and Events

2023

May 24 - Andrew Wallace was selected as the recipient of the Department of Geography & the Environment's 2023 Outstanding Graduate Award.

May 24 - Richie Melgoza and Heather Roberts were selected as the recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award.

May 24 - Delaney Cabral, Steven Pedroza, Aaron Chu, Santia Rodriguez, Kaitlyn Matyuch, and Jacqueline Bui were sekected as the recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Service Awards.

March 24 - The Department of Geography & the Environment proudly presents the CSUF Node of the AAG 2023 Conference, one of the biggest geography conferences in the world. CSUF is the first to host a remote node of the annual AAG conference.

March 10 - The annual All Points of the Compass and Compass Cartography Competition returns. Andrew Wallace wins 1st place in the Compass Cartography Competition. Richie Melgoza, Steven Pedroza, and Aaron Chu win Honorable Mention.

2022

May 24 - Aliza White was selected as the recipient of the Geography department's 2022 Outstanding Graduate Award.

May 24 - Denise Allen, Valeria Ferrufino, and Jesus Ochoa were selected as the recipients of the Geography department's 2022 Outstanding Undergraduate Award.

May 24 - Geography students Cameron Edwards, Paul Lewis, Kaitlyn Matyuch, and Hyewon Park were all selected as recipients of the Geography department's 2022 Outstanding Service Award.

 

2021

June 18 - Dr. Zia Salim received a sabbatical award for his project entitled, "The Contours of Creativity: Analyzing Murals in California", and Dr. Jindong Wu, received a sabbatical award for his project entitled, “Assessing Fire Risk in the Wildland-Urban Interface with Multi-Resolution Satellite Imagery.”

May 27 - Dr. Dydia DeLyser received a VOICE (Virtual & Online Innovations & Curricular Enhancements) award for her innovative teaching in Geography 300A (Geographic Thought). The award recognized excellent teaching that enhanced student engagement in the course.

May 20 - Gabriela Amaya-Williams was selected as the recipient of the Geography department's 2021 Outstanding Graduate Award.

May 20 - Shuling Chen, Omar Vallejo Estrada, Connor Lance, and Andrew Wallace were selected as the recipients of the Geography department's 2021 Outstanding Undergraduate Award.

 
2020

August 21 - Dr. Robert Voeks received the 2019 Mary W. Klinger Book Award from the Society for Economic Botany. Each year at the annual meeting of the Society for Economic Botany the Klinger Book Award is given to an outstanding book published in the discipline of Economic/Ethno Botany.

June 2 - Undergraduate students Topanga Betke and Robert Campbell were both selected as recipients of the Geography department's 2020 Outstanding Undergraduate Award.

June 2 - Geography students Topanga Betke, Julie Goldsworth, Lulu Hernandez, Kaitlyn Matyuch, and Ryan Tuong An Koyanagi were all selected as recipients of the Geography department's 2020 Outstanding Service Award.

May 12 - Dr. Jindong Wu received the 2020 Dean’s Faculty Scholarly Achievement Award from the CSUF College of Humanities and Social Sciences, for his publication "Developing General Equations for Urban Tree Biomass Estimation with High-Resolution Satellite Imagery” in the journal Sustainability.

March 6 - Dr. Zia Salim gave an invited presentation as part of the Los Angeles Geographical Society's monthly lecture series. The presentation's title was "Cultural Landscapes of Public Art in Venice, California".

 
2017

May 10 - Dr. Robert Voeks received the College of Humanities and Social Sciences' Distinguished Faculty Award.

May 4 - Elois Joseph-Pieterse and Olivia Hinton received well-deserved recognition for their research at the Annual Conference of the California Geographical Society. Elois received the McKnight graduate paper award and Olivia received the Geosystems Award.
Congratulations!

May 1 - CSUF Geography alumna Professor Aline Gregorio received Fullerton College's 2019 Teacher of the Year award and was one of 6 teachers who received the Orange County Department of Education's 2020 Teacher of the Year Award. Congratulations! 

 
2018

October 28 - As part of the K-12 outreach program, Geography's Cal-Dendro lab, volunteers from the Geography Club, and Geography faculty participated in the university's STEM Expo, in which over 400 Girl Scouts learned about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

STEMexpo

May 23 - Dr. Dydia DeLyser received a sabbatical award for her project entitled, “Hidden in the Bright Light: The Untold History of Neon Signs in America”


May 4 - Dr. Dydia DeLyser was selected as one of three recipients of the 2018 Humanities and Social Sciences Dean’s Faculty Scholarly Achievement Award. 

April 28 - CSUF Geography was very well-represented at the annual conference of the California Geographical Society at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento. Student poster presenters: Olivia Hinton, Guadalupe Maldonado, Dylan Stratton, and (coauthored) Ryan Koyanagi, Dylan Stratton, Case Takata, and Ben Kegel. Student map presenters: Greg Beringer, David Gomez, Carlos Lopez. Student paper presentations: Alexandra Borunda, Maelynn Dickson, Adam Lentz, and (coauthored) Christopher Booher and Stephanie Reiter. Faculty paper presenters: Dr. Trevis Matheus and Dr. Robert Voeks. The following students received awards for their research: Alexandra Borunda, Greg Beringer, Carlos Lopez, and Guadalupe Maldonado. Congratulations to all!

CSUFat

April 19 - At the annual University Awards ceremony, Dr. Robert Voeks and Dr. John Carroll were recognized for having contributed 30 years and 20 years, respectively, of service to the university.

April 13 - The Department hosted 76 fourth grade students from Morse Elementary School as part of the K-12 outreach program. The tour included an erosion exercise, a Google Earth exercise, and a guided exploration of the Fullerton Arboretum.

April 5 - Dr. Ray Young shared his research on innovation and diversification at Amazon in a presentation entitled "Everything Amazon: Looking Behind the Smile of a Technology Giant," at the Ruby Gerontology Center.

April 3 - Dr. Dydia DeLyser received the 2018 College of Humanities and Social Sciences Award for Outstanding Scholarship and Creativity.

March 23 - As part of the K-12 outreach program, the Department took part in the Community Science Night event hosted by the Orange Unified School District and Santiago Canyon College.

March 19 - Dr. Jindong Wu was selected as one of six recipients of the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty Legacy Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activity and Innovations in Pedagogy.

January 26 - The Geography Department hosted 55 students from La Habra High School as part of an ongoing focus on Advanced Placement Human Geography students as part of the K-12 outreach program. The students  completed a GIS exercise,  interacted with the Augmented Reality Sandbox, and toured the CSUF campus.

LHHS2018

 

2017

November 22 - The Orange County Register covered Dr. Ray Young's presentation on "Retail Competition in the Internet Age" at CSUF's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The OC Register's story, with information about Dr. Young's presentation, is here.

November 4 - The Geography Department and the Geography Club co-hosted All Points of the Compass, the annual showcase of the research of CSUF Geography faculty, students, and alumni. The conference featured an alumni panel, paper and poster sessions, and a keynote presentation by Dr. Grant Harley, of the University of Idaho. View the 2017 All Points program herePDF File .

September 10 - Dr. Robert Voeks made a presentation on the ethnobotany of Brazil’s Candomblé religion at the UCLA Fowler Museum. Dr. Voeks' presentation was related to an exhibition described by the museum as depicting a "landscape of black Brazil, built from fragments that embrace its African roots." More information about Dr. Voeks' presentation is at: https://www.fowler.ucla.edu/events/lecture-robert-voeks-on-the-sacred-leaves-of-candomble/

May 6 - Undergraduate student Matthew Vander Dussen received the Logan Scholarship from the Los Angeles Geographical Society. 

May 1 - Dr. Zia Salim received the CSUF Alumni Association's Distinguished Faculty Service Award.

April 29 - At the annual conference of the California Geographical Society in El Cajon, California, undergraduate students Klaycie Tanedo, Krista Vilimas, and Amanda Yepiz received the first place undergraduate poster award, graduate student Guadalupe Maldonado received the first place graduate poster award, graduate student Gregory Beringer received the award for best digital cartography, graduate student Pedro Chacon received the third place graduate paper award, graduate students Juan Carlos Garcia received the second place graduate paper award, and graduate students Maelynn Dickson and Guadalupe Maldonado received the Lantis scholarship. 

April 20 - Graduate student Sanford George was announced as the recipient of the 2017 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's Betty Robertson Award. The award recognizes the significant achievements of an older graduate who values and represents lifelong learning. Mr. George's thesis research examines economical ways to use virtual reality to provide immersive visualization of geographic physical and spiritual landscapes. 

February 24 - The Department hosted 57 students from Tuffree Middle School as part of the K-12 outreach program. The program included a GIS exercise and presentations on a variety of geographic topics.

 
2016

December 5 - The Orange County Register published a guest column by Lecturer Brian McCabe on the role and power of geography in today's society.

December 3 - Dr. Dydia DeLyser was the keynote speaker at the Los Angeles Geographical Society's annual banquet. Dr. DeLyser's presentation was entitled "Electrifying Times: Historical Geographies of Neon". 

December 2 - The Geography Department hosted 57 students from La Habra High School as part of an ongoing outreach to Advanced Placement Human Geography students. The program included a GIS exercise, presentations on careers and research in geography, hands-on interaction with the Augmented Reality Sandbox, and a tour of the CSUF campus.

December 2 - Students in GEOG 283 (Introduction to Spatial Data, taught by Dr. John Carroll) presented their work on the update of the CSUF Campus Tree Map at the Campus as a Living Lab showcase organized by CSUF Facilities Management. The project entailed the assessment of all 2,000+ trees on campus. The showcase highlighted successful on-campus research proejcts that provide students with real-world, hands-on experience and skill development. 

November 10 - Dr. Robert Voeks presented his research on ethnobotany in Brazil as part of CSUF's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's lecture series. Dr. Voeks' presentation was entitled "The Healing Flora of Brazil's African Diaspora". 

November 4 - The Geography Department and the Geography Club co-hosted All Points of the Compass, the annual showcase of the research of CSUF Geography faculty, students, and alumni. The conference featured an alumni panel, paper and poster sessions, and a keynote presentation by Dr. Mark Merlin, of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. View the 2016 All Points program herePDF File

October 26 - Dr. Zia Salim received an award for outstanding teaching at the annual Faculty Recognition for Teaching event.

October 20 - Dr. Jonathan Taylor was recognized for his 15 years of service at the annual university-wide awards ceremony.

October 8 - CSUF Geography was well-represented at the annual conference of the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers in Portland, Oregon. Students Gregory Beringer, Guadalupe Maldonado, and Maelynn Dickson presented posters, students Cynthia Davis, Heather Monteleone, and Cheryl King presented papers, Dr. Robert Voeks led a field trip through the Columbia River Gorge, and Dr. Zia Salim presented a paper on coauthored research with Dr. Ray Young. In addition to this excellent showing, students Kevin Goxcon and Anay Palafox received travel awards from the APCG. 

September 16 - The CSUF News Center highlighted the role that the GIS Research Center fulfills for both geography students and the wider CSUF campus community.

September 2 - The California State University's systemwide news service highlighted the department's Augmented Reality Sandbox as part of a larger story on augmented reality on campuses across the CSU.

August 15 - The Orange County Register briefly covered students Maelynn Dickson and Kristy Morehead's award for their poster on sustainability and waste management from the California Geographical Society. Their award was mentioned as part of an OC Register piece on recent faculty and student accomplishments at CSUF.

August 15 - The Orange County Register published an article on the Augmented Reality Sandbox; the article also features a slideshow of still images and a short video.

August 10 - Geography alumna Tamara Wallace '08, '13 was one of three alumni featured in a CSUF News Center article about CSUF alumni working in the areas of sustainability and the environment.

July 15 - The CSUF News Center featured the department's Augmented Reality Sandbox. In addition to the story linked below, coverage included a short YouTube video (Reality Sandbox) and a longer Facebook Live video (Facebook Live Video). Read the news story at: http://news.fullerton.edu/2016su/geographysandbox.aspx

July 5 - At the annual conference of the California Geographical Society in San Jose, California, undergraduate students Kristy Morehead and Maelynn Dickson received the first place undergraduate poster award, undergraduate student Gregory Beringer received the third place cartography award, and graduate student Elizabeth Higgins received the third place graduate poster award. See the story here: http://news.fullerton.edu/2016/07/geographybrief/

July 1 - Lecturer Brian McCabe's 2012 book, Geography is Dead: How America Lost Its Sense of Direction, was mentioned in American Association of Geographers (AAG) President Glen MacDonald's first presidential column on the health and value of the discipline of geography.

June 30 - CSUF Geographers made strong contributions to the 2016 California Higher Education Sustainability Conference. Alumna Tamara Wallace served on the conference's steering committee, alumni Frank Haselton, Emeri Pechtimaldjian, and Tamara Wallace served on the conference's host committee, alumnus Kevin Mattson led a tour of CSUF's waste management and sustainability efforts and moderated a panel on Zero Waste, lecturer Aline Gregorio presented a paper on sustainability and cultural change, Dr. John Carroll led a field trip, and Dr. Zia Salim and students Maelynn Dickson and Kristy Morehead presented a poster on research and pedagogy related to the McCarthy Hall waste audit. 

May 25 - The CSUF News Center highlighted the scholarship of Mr. Brian McCabe as part of its coverage of faculty members who were honored for authoring a book during the previous academic year. See the story here: http://news.fullerton.edu/2016sp/Geography-Faculty-Author.aspx

May 7 - Undergraduate student Gregory Beringer received the Logan Scholarship from the Los Angeles Geographical Society. 

May 7 - Undergraduate students Gregory Beringer, Maelynn Dickson, and Kristy Morehead presented their research at the Los Angeles Geographical Society's Student Research Symposium.  

May 6 - Geography was well-represented at CSUF's 4th annual Sustainability Symposium. Dr. John Carroll and Ms. Leaa Short presented innovative work that they have done in the classroom using mapping and visual media, respectively. The GIS Research Center and undergraduates Kristy Morehead and Maelynn Dickson also made presentations during the poster session. 

April 11 - Student Gregory Beringer presented the Augmented Reality Sandbox at the Humanities and Social Sciences Inter-Club Council's first annual Research Symposium. 

April 2 - Geography faculty presented research at the annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers. Dr. Dydia DeLyser, Mr. Brian McCabe, Dr. Zia Salim, Dr. Robert Voeks, and Dr. Ray Young presented their research on restoration geographies, global conflict and cooperation, affordable housing, and ethnomedicine, respectively. Dr. Voeks also served as a panelist on a panel on diasporic knowledges. Dr. DeLyser chaired and organized the cultural geographies annual lecture and a panel on collecting research materials online; she also served as one of the critics for a special "Author Meets Critics" session and as a panelist for a session on academic careers. 

March 14 - Dr. Zia Salim and undergraduate student Maelynn Dickson presented a poster on the use of campus collaborations to foster undergraduate research at the CSUF Faculty Development Center's Annual Teaching Showcase. 

 
2015

December 4 - The Geography Department hosted 100 students from La Habra High School as part of an outreach program to Advanced Placement Human Geography students (below). The program included a GIS exercise and presentations on a variety of geographic topics.

lahabra students

November 6 - The Geography Department and the Geography Club co-hosted All Points of the Compass, the annual showcase of the research of CSUF Geography faculty, students, and alumni. This year's keynote presentation featured Dr. Steve Herbert, of the University of Washington’s Department of Geography and the University of Washington's Law, Societies, and Justice Program. More info is available at:
http://geography.fullerton.edu/news_events/PointsofCompass.aspx

November 3 - Dr. Jonathan Taylor presented his research on the hallucinogenic compound DMT as part of the speakers series celebrating the 50th anniversary of the publication of Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel, “Dune.” The presentation was featured by the Daily Titan:
http://www.dailytitan.com/2015/11/parallels-drawn-between-dmt-and-fictional-drug-spice/

October 23 - Dr. Robert Voeks presented his research on medicinal plan sustainability and malaria in Southern Africa as part of a panel on Natural Resource Management. The panel was part of a speakers series celebrating the 50th anniversary of the publication of Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel, “Dune.”

September 23 - Geography graduate student Cheryl King is one of the students featured in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences' Study Abroad informational video. View the video here:
https://youtu.be/79z4wHxl0B8

September 16 - Dr. Dydia DeLyser's work was featured in the Daily Titan. See the story here: 
http://www.dailytitan.com/2015/09/geography-professor-restores-rare-car-to-old-fame/

May 8 - Undergraduate student Elois Joseph received the Logan Scholarship from the Los Angeles Geographical Society. 

May 2 - Dr. Robert Voeks received the California Geographical Society's Distinguished Service Award at the annual conference of the California Geographical Society in Arcata, California.

May 2 - Undergraduate student Andrew Shensky received the third place undergraduate paper prize at the annual conference of the California Geographical Society in Arcata, California. Andrew's paper, entitled "Enhancing Food Systems Education Through the Integration of Technology Into a School Garden Curriculum", presents the results of research he has done in conjunction with his development of an interactive school garden map for Ladera Vista Junior High School in Fullerton.