Faculty
Full-time Faculty
![denise blachard](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106741/w/2000/ldJknyIYafvo/DeniseBlanchard_web.jpg)
Dr. Denise Blanchard
Professor
Ph.D., Geography, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1992
Research Interests: Natural and Environmental Hazards, Economic Geography, Environmental Studies, Research Methods, Historical Geography
![richard boehm](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106686/w/2000/yacPW3NLih82/Boehm-1.jpg)
Dr. Richard Boehm
Director, The Gilbert M. Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education
Co-Director, National Center for Research in Geography Education
Professor and Jesse H. Jones Distinguished Chair in Geographic Education
Ph.D., Geography, The University of Texas at Austin, 1975
Research Interests: Geographic Education, Economic Geography, Applied Geography
![brian cooper](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106744/w/2000/fbWRrQ09_MDM/cooper_site.jpg)
Dr. Brian Cooper
Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Coordinator
Ph.D., Geography, Texas State University, 2012
Research Interests: I do not advise graduate students
![rebecca davio photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108180/w/2000/AWr0ARaQu_h6/davio.png)
Dr. Rebecca Davio
Associate Professor of Practice & Internship Coordinator
Director, Institute for Government Innovation
Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, 2001
Research Interests: Applied Research In Data-Driven Decision Making Across A Variety Of Topics, Policy Analysis, Recycling And Sustainability
![richard dixon photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106693/w/2000/YkLkg5zmfDzG/richdixon.jpg)
Dr. Richard Dixon
Professor
Ph.D., Geography, Texas A&M University, 1996
Research Interests: Climatology, Meteorology, Oceanography, Environmental Geography, Quantitative Methods
![ron hagelman](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108179/w/2000/tCXyyVwLuJ4k/hagelman3x3.jpg)
Dr. Ron Hagelman
Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator
Ph.D., Environmental Geography, Texas State University, 2002
Research Interests: Environmental Geography, Hazards and Disasters, Historical Geography, Land Management and Conservation, Urban Environment / Agriculture
![jennifer jensen photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108089/w/2000/Y5tKYI0wnrkY/JensenJennifer.jpg)
Dr. Jennifer Jensen
Professor & Chair
Ph.D., Environmental Science, University of Idaho, 2009
Research Interests: Remote Sensing; Vegetation Mapping and Monitoring; Habitat Modeling; Landscape Ecology; Natural Resource Management; Land Cover Land Use Change; Lidar
![jason julian photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106737/w/2000/ICL39YZXAYxv/j_julian_web.jpg)
Dr. Jason Julian
Professor
Ph.D., Geography, University of North Carolina, 2007
Research Interests: Water Resources, Parks & Protected Places, Land Use Change, Ecosystem Services
![nancy li photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106720/w/2000/-QLyUfp2NnJ8/nancyli.jpg)
Dr. Yanan (Nancy) Li
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Geography, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2015
Research Interests: Glacial Geomorphology, Paleoenvironment reconstruction, Natural Processes in Climate Change
![robert mace photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106715/w/2000/PiVzaCMUUqX6/robertmace.jpg)
Dr. Robert Mace
Professor of Practice
Ph.D., Hydrogeology, University of Texas at Austin, 1998
Research Interests: Water Policy and Science, Water Resources and Conservation, Groundwater Sustainability and Modeling, Climate Change and Water
![osvaldo muniz-solari photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108219/w/2000/kOHaqdM9Zt7T/osvaldo.jpg)
Dr. Osvaldo Muñiz Solari
Professor
Associate Director, Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education
Honorary Professor of International Studies
Ph.D., Geography, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1991
Research Interests: Population Flows, Geographical Mobility, Regional Networks, Learning Strategies in Geography Education
![colleen myles photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106703/w/2000/U3jtSvuMBbWz/mylescolleen_.jpg)
Dr. Colleen C. Myles
Professor
Ph.D., Geography, University of California, Davis, 2012
Research Interests: Human-environment Interactions, Cultural and Political Ecology, Qualitative Methods
![tom ptak photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/107862/w/2000/iHF4wVm5NJ6i/ptak_thomas.jpg)
Dr. Thomas Ptak
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Geography, University of Oregon, 2016
Research Interests: Energy Transitions & Society, Climate Change & Sustainability, Water Resources & Hydropower, Borders
![rosalie ray photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108068/w/2000/K6FF8gZvfqYQ/ray_rosalie.jpg)
Dr. Rosalie Ray
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Urban Planning, Columbia University, 2020
Research Interests: Sustainable Transportation, Transit Governance, Multi-scalar Planning, and Just Transitions
![michael solem photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106748/w/2000/iN3tfYc6U7zZ/michaelsolem_web.jpg)
Dr. Michael Solem
Professor, Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education
Co-Director, National Center for Research in Geography Education
Research Interests: K-12 curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Spatial Thinking and Learning, Powerful Geography, Geospatial Technology, Higher Education, Broadening Participation, and Workforce Development
![christi townsend photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106663/w/2000/TELUSXnl4Qz-/townsend.jpg)
Dr. Christi Townsend
Senior Lecturer
Ph.D., Environmental Geography, Texas State University, 2012
Research Interests: Environmental Geography, Geomorphology, Natural Hazards, The Geography of Agriculture and Viticulture, Research Methods
![yihong yuan photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106736/w/2000/NTYn-antQg7c/yihong_web.jpg)
Dr. Yihong Yuan
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2013
Research Interests: GIScience, Spatio-Temporal Data Mining, Big Geo-Data Analytics, Human Mobility Modeling, Urban Computing
![sarah blue](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108177/w/2000/Sje-vPcEq6kY/blue.jpg)
Dr. Sarah Blue
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, 2004
Research Interests: Migration, Gender, Political Geography, Development Studies
![ed chow photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108086/w/2000/56ENDWwWbZZG/chow-1.jpg)
Dr. Edwin Chow
Professor
Ph.D., Geography, University of South Carolina, 2005
Research Interests: Geocomputation, Human Dynamics, Hazards, Environmental Modeling
![nate currit](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106739/w/2000/KbKxS5UiIYc4/currit_website.jpg)
Dr. Nathan Currit
Associate Professor & Director, Texas Center for Geographic Information Science
Ph.D., Geography, The Pennsylvania State University, 2003
Research Interests: Uncertainty and Change in Human-Environment Systems, Remote Sensing and Land-Cover Change
![jennifer devine photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106681/w/2000/nq47OeY5f7uz/devine_website.jpg)
Dr. Jennifer Devine
Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 2013
Research Interests: Human-Environmental Relations, Latin American - US Politics, Critical Social Theory
![alberto giordano](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106680/w/2000/HtJ5QHY-mE0k/alberto_site.jpg)
Dr. Alberto Giordano
Professor
Ph.D., Geography, Syracuse University, 1999
Research Interests: Historical GIS, Holocaust and Genocide Geography, Policy Applications of GIScience, Spatial Applications of Forensic Anthropology
![su han](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108220/w/2000/qECcIpAj1Vjs/han.jpg)
Dr. Su Y Han
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Geography, San Diego State University and University of California, Santa Barbara, 2016
Research Interests: Spatial data science, social media analytics, health gis, web-based gis, gis-based decision support system, cybergis, cartography, geovisaulization, geovisual analytics, and neighborhood dynamics
![injeong jo photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106638/w/2000/wP0oUQEJq3qz/jo.jpg)
Dr. Injeong Jo
Professor & Learning Outcomes Coordinator
Ph.D., Geography, Texas A&M University, 2011
Research Interests: Geography and Spatial Thinking Education, Geography and Social Studies Teacher Preparation, Geospatial Technologies for Education, Assessment in Geography
![samantha krause photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106735/w/2000/OmseFBhY8ZDN/samantha_krause_web.jpg)
Dr. Samantha Krause
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Geography, University of Texas at Austin, 2018
Research Interests: Soil and Water Geochemistry, Tropical Wetlands, Long Term Paleoenvironmental change
![yongmei lu photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106738/w/2000/Gsqrt0zfTMVP/YongmeiLu_web.jpg)
Dr. Yongmei Lu
Professor & Associate Dean of Research
Ph.D., Geography, SUNY Buffalo, 2001
Research Interests: GIScience, Urban and Regional Analysis, Health and Medical Geography, Crime Geography
![kimberly meitzen photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106702/w/2000/rBjL7fqngxwx/MeitzenKim.jpg)
Dr. Kimberly Meitzen
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Geography, University of South Carolina, 2011
Research Interests: Fluvial Processes and Geomorphology, River Basin Management, Biogeography
![soe myint photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108269/w/2000/UKA1LOfQUQma/soe-myint.jpg)
Dr. Soe Myint
Professor and Meadows Endowed Chair
Honorary Professor of International Studies, College of Liberal Arts
Chief Conservation Officer, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 2001
Research Interests: Remote Sensing, Geospatial Technology, Environmental Issues, Water Use and Management, Landscape Ecology, Ecosystem Services
![benjamin prince photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106734/w/2000/wBXBsppqRAJ7/Prince_Ben_web.jpg)
Dr. Benjamin Prince
Senior Lecturer
Ph.D., Environmental Geography, Texas State University 2016
Research Interests: Community and Regional Planning, Environmental Geography, Agriculture-Ecological Systems
![brandon radoman-shaw photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108067/w/2000/YBqLKGIXhXtJ/radoman_shaw.jpg)
Dr. Brandon Radoman-Shaw
Lecturer
Ph.D., Geological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2019
Research Interests: Geochemistry, Planetary Geology, Mineralogy, Petrology, Meteoritics
![eric sarmiento photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/107802/w/2000/OHLQ2caTIzF4/sarmientoeric_web.jpg)
Dr. Eric Sarmiento
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Geography, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 2015
Research Interests: Urban Development, Cultural Geography, Political Ecology, Economic Geography, Social Theory, Critical Geographies of Race and Ethnicity
![john tiefenbacher photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106723/w/2000/W-WMF8rW-BKS/tief_poster.jpg)
Dr. John Tiefenbacher
Professor
Ph.D., Geography, Rutgers University, 1992
Research Interests: Global Warming, Climate Change, Spatial Change, Environmental Problems, Geography of Wine, Air Quality, Dissonance, Circus Clowns
![shelly wernette photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108066/w/2000/YEWJHXsjMmu6/wernette.jpg)
Dr. Shelly Wernette
Senior Lecturer
Ph.D., Geological Science, University of California - Riverside, 2020
Research Interests: Paleontology and Application of Fossils for Resolving Geological Time, Ancient Environments, and Paleogeography
![ben zhan](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106712/w/2000/K3z4kqdhoa9D/zhan-1.jpg)
Dr. F. Benjamin Zhan
Professor
Ph.D., Geography, SUNY Buffalo, 1994
Research Interests: Health/Medical Geography; Geographic Information Science; Spatial Data Science; Earthquake Hazards Reduction; Transportation; China
Associated Faculty
![dede bamfo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106718/w/2000/b50PxiBjE7AO/dedebamfo.jpg)
Dr. Nathaniel Dede-Bamfo
Lecturer
Ph.D., Geographic Information Science, Texas State University, 2014
Office: ELA 374
Phone: 512.245.7809
Email: nd1115@txstate.edu
Vita HB2504 website information
![shelly plante photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106629/w/2000/uZpzWyc-1Ay9/plante_shelly.jpg)
Shelley Plante
Lecturer
MAG, Geography, Texas State University, 2007
Office: ELA 362
Phone: 512.245.7976
Email: ss1331@txstate.edu
Vita HB2504 website information
![andrew sansom photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106704/w/2000/RlKU3ivSBpAz/AndySansom.png)
Dr. Andrew Sansom
Professor of Practice
Executive Director, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
Ph.D., Texas State University, Geographic Education, 2013
![steve shannon photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108202/w/2000/SZ3o7obu2Ikd/shannon_3x3.jpg)
Steve Shannon
Lecturer
Office: ELA 374
Phone: 512.245.7809
Email: bhb@txstate.edu
Vita HB2504 website information
![todd votteler photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/661854/w/2000/XRfK_JhcEMht/toddvotteler.jpg)
Dr. Todd Votteler
Texas State University, Environmental Geography, 2020
Office: ELA 374
Email: toddvotteler@txstate.edu
Vita HB2504 website information
![neil kucera](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106632/w/2000/JZdVJuWiZg75/kucera.jpg)
Mr. Neil Kucera
Lecturer
MAG, Geography, Southwest Texas State University, 2001
Office: ELA 362
Phone: 512.245.3440
Email: kucera@txstate.edu
Vita HB2504 website information
![christina lopez photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108217/w/2000/k-oq9NnWak7f/Lopez_2C-Christina.jpg)
Dr. Christina Lopez
Lecturer
Ph.D., Geography, Texas State University, 2021
Office: Spring Lake Hall 207
Phone: 512.245.2170
Email: cwr41@txstate.edu
Vita HB2504 website information
![jo beth photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106637/w/2000/Wh1UFtfvg_0f/jobethpic.jpg)
Dr. Jo Beth Oestreich
Senior Lecturer, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Ph.D., C&I, The University of Texas at Austin, 2002
Office: ELA 355
Phone: 512.245.7976
Email: jo15@txstate.edu
Vita HB2504 website information
![benjamin schwartz photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106659/w/2000/gdo8i5xKAvbj/schwartz.png)
Dr. Benjamin Schwartz
Associate Professor, Biology
Ph.D., Virginia Tech University, Geosciences, 2007
Office: FAB
Phone: 512-245-7608
E-mail: bs37@txstate.edu
Professor Kenny Tapp
![mona wells image](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108278/w/2000/1XObMTyAsSH1/wellsmona.jpg)
Dr. Mona Wells
Climate Science Director, Meadows Center
Phone: 512.245.1577
Email: mwells@txstate.edu
Vita HB2504 website information
Postdoctoral Scholars
Dr. Yuqin Jiang
Dr. Yuanhui Zhu
![molly miranker photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/661853/w/2000/vL59uXwqZhYZ/miranker_molly.jpg)
Dr. Molly Miranker
Texas State University, Doctor of Philosophy, Geography, 2023
Office: ELA 317-A
Phone: 512.245.xxxx
Email: m_m1307@txstate.edu
Research Interests: Geographic Information Science, Forced Human Migration, Migrant Mortality Mapping Portal Project, Forensic Anthropology
Retired Faculty
Dr. Byron "Doc" Augustin![byron doc augustin photo](https://img-hnd.its.txstate.edu/imagehandler/scaler/gato-edit.its.txstate.edu/dam/jcr:c6d9da30-1081-4349-886e-526c45be3af9/augustin.png?mode=fit&width=126)
Texas State University System Regents' Professor Emeritus, and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus
D.A., Northern Colorado, 1975
Research Interests: Conservation, Latin America, geographic education, Middle East
![david r butler photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106677/w/2000/kiQhsbkZZ5OE/dbutler.jpg)
Dr. David R. Butler
Texas State University System Regents' Professor Emeritus, and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Geography, University of Kansas, 1982
Research Interests: Zoogeomorphology, Dendrogeomorphology, Mountain Geomorphology, Mountain Biogeography, Mountain Environments and Environmental Change, Geomorphology in the Anthropocene, History and Philosophy of Geography, Glacier National Park (Montana)
![fred day photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106654/w/2000/KSLDdnzQQTpt/day.jpg)
Dr. Fred Day
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Geography, The Ohio State University, 1982
Research Interests: Population, Economic Development East and Southeast Asia
![rich earl photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106658/w/2000/b0jlyJ4fufIh/earl.jpg)
Dr. Richard Earl
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Geography, Arizona State University, 1983
Research Interests: Physical Geography, Water Resources, Environmental Change and Management, Field Methods
![bob larsen photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106631/w/2000/N6XHUJ7D1nXC/larsen.jpg)
Dr. Bob Larsen
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Ph.D. Geography, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Research Interests: Urban and Regional Planning, Solid Waste Management
![james peterson photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106627/w/2000/MM03QlKcWqG3/petersen.jpg)
Dr. James Petersen
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Geography, University of Utah, 1981
Research Interests: Geographic Education, Geomorphology, Applied Physical Geography
![david stea photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106930/w/2000/meMoWKXdo3lK/stea.jpg)
Dr. David Stea
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Stanford, 1964
Research Interests: Spatial Cognition, Environmental Perception, Sustainable Development
![sent visser photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106721/w/2000/0P1brQU05_99/VisserS.jpg)
Dr. Sent Visser
Professor
Ph.D., Geography, Ohio State University, 1979
Research Interests: Agricultural Geography, Economic Geography, Quantitative Methods
![brock brown photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106729/w/2000/RcdqBkQCPSUk/BrockBrown.jpg)
Dr. Brock Brown
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Geography, University of Oklahoma, 1992
![mark carter photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106740/w/2000/5puK64mrcgsh/carter_site.jpg)
Mr. Mark Carter
Senior Lecturer
MAG Geography, Texas State University, 1994
Research Interests: Quantitative Methods, Spatial Statistics, Land Use Planning Management and Conservation
![rene dehon photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106690/w/2000/SZ0RS9KM5iYx/dehonphoto.jpg)
Dr. Rene DeHon
Senior Lecturer
Ph.D., Geology/Geochemistry, Texas Tech University, 1970
Office: ELA 371
Phone: 512.245.7461
![jim kimmel photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106635/w/2000/v7jFwUNbGve2/kimmel.jpg)
Dr. Jim Kimmel
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Geography, University of Texas at Austin, 1992
Research Interests: Interpretive Environmental Geography, Nature and Heritage Tourism, River Studies, Southwestern Geography
![susan macey photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106944/w/2000/VahLfw2UqN1P/macey-1.jpg)
Dr. Susan Macey
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Geography, University of Illinois, Urbana, 1982
Research Interests: Geographic Information Systems, Environmental Hazards, Energy, Medical Geography, Behavioral Geography, Aging
![andrew sansom photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106704/w/2000/RlKU3ivSBpAz/AndySansom.png)
Dr. Andrew Sansom
Professor of Practice
Executive Director, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
Ph.D., Texas State University, Geographic Education, 2013
![phil suckling photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106992/w/2000/7l4hxlzS_z_7/suckling130px.jpg)
Dr. Phil Suckling
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Geography, University of British Columbia, 1977
Research Interests: Climatology, natural hazards
Faculty in Memoriam
![lawrence estaville photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106727/w/2000/c-hp1PpVCjHt/estaville_lawrence.jpg)
Dr. Lawrence Estaville
Texas State University System Regents' Professor and Texas State University Distinguished Professor
Director, Texas Atlas Project
Ph.D., Geography, University of Oklahoma, 1984
![jim harrison photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/108308/w/2000/AbkFwSgCovsq/jamesharrison.jpg)
Dr. James "Jim" Harrison
Professor, Southwest Texas State University
Ph.D., Geography, The University of Oklahoma, 1970
![don huebner photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106695/w/2000/_cJl0DFQ6naZ/huebner-1.jpg)
Dr. Don Huebner
Senior Lecturer
Ph.D., Geography, University of Texas at Austin, 2002
Research Interests: Environmental Geography, Coastal Hazards, Historical Ecology, Geomorphology, Texas and American Southwest, Human Perception of Risk
![ron eyton photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106644/w/2000/hfLVlR19r_IT/EytonJR.jpg)
Dr. Ron Eyton
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Illinois, 1974
Research Interests: Remote Sensing, Computer Cartography, Quantitative Methods
![allen hellman photo](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/106728/w/2000/J_uxLWya2GIv/Hellman.jpg)
Dr. Allen Hellman
Professor & Chair, Southwest Texas State University
Ph.D., Geography, University of Michigan, 1962