SECOND CALL: SEDAAG is soliciting nominations for the AAG Regional Councilor from the Southeastern Division. The Regional Councilor position, chosen by AAG members in the Southeastern Region, is a 3-year term that begins on July 1, 2020.  The Regional Councilor takes part at both the AAG and SEDAAG meetings.

Eligibility: AAG members residing within the Southeastern Division; Must not have been an AAG employee for three years from end date of employment.

Please send any nominations for REGIONAL COUNCI​LOR to SEDAAG Nominations Chair, Tom Chapman (techapma@odu.edu) by February 17, 2020. Nominees should submit a Biosketch that outlines any prior commitment to AAG and SEDAAG. Eligible voters comprise all AAG members in the Southeastern Region.

Description of Position:

If you are curious about what a Regional Councilor does, John Kupfer, the current Regional Councilor for the Southeastern Division, describes the position from his personal experience, below. If you know of qualified and interested candidates, please touch base with them to gauge their interest and commitment.

The primary role of the Regional Councilor is to serve on the AAG Council, which is comprised of the AAG President, Past President, and Vice President, as well as National Councilors elected by the entire AAG membership and Regional Councilors elected by each of the AAG regions. The Council serves as the governing body of the AAG, establishing committees and determining Association policies and procedures. As Councilor, you will be involved in appointing Editors, Assistant Editors, and Editorial Boards for the AAG’s journals, approving the organization’s budget, and developing, implementing and supporting new projects. You will likely be asked to serve on ad hoc committees associated with AAG initiatives, and you will have the opportunity to serve as liaison to a range of AAG Committees. Regional Councilors are also eligible to serve as AAG Secretary or Treasurer. In short, you’ll get to learn a lot about how the AAG works and have input that really can make a difference in the success of our organization.

Within SEDAAG, the Regional Councilor serves on the Executive and Steering Committees and thus has a role in shaping our organization’s activities and policies. You will get to review, comment on, and approve SEDAAG’s budget and any proposed financial initiatives, help to select upcoming meeting host sites, and be involved in the selection of editors for Southeastern Geographer. As with the broader Council responsibilities, it’s your chance to make a difference in the direction and success of SEDAAG.

So, your first question is probably: How much time will this take up? Regionally, the Councilor makes a short verbal report at SEDAAG’s annual meeting about important AAG activities that could affect the region, and prepares a brief report on the region that is submitted to the AAG Council at our spring meeting. We transact some business by email and phone, as well. All told, these responsibilities are fairly minor. For AAG Council, you are expected to attend two Council meetings annually, one in the fall (November, in recent years) and one in the spring (which takes place at the AAG Meeting site immediately prior to the start of the meeting). Council meetings entail an afternoon arrival and brief meetings and dinner on Day 1, a full day of meetings on Day 2, and meetings until noon on Day 3. I also served on an ad hoc committee for the Professional Geographer and a Presidential taskforce on the state of AAG regions, among other things. Most notably, I also was a member of the Search Committee to select the new AAG Executive Director following Doug Richardson’s retirement. Some assignments are fairly minor; others can be more time consuming. You have some control over how involved you get, but you need to be aware that you will serve in your role as Councilor for 3 years.

Given that, your second question might be: What do I get out of it? Primarily, you get to contribute to AAG and SEDAAG and work with a bunch of interesting people, including not only other Councilors and several AAG Presidents, but also the Executive Director, Meridian Place staff, and AAG members from around the world. I’ve made a number of good friends and professional contacts through my service, and I feel that I’ve helped the organizations in some fairly fundamental ways. I also understand better why some things work the way that they do. By the way, there is no honorarium, but AAG does cover all of your expenses for Council Meetings.

Finally, you might be wondering: Do I really have anything to contribute? The answer is almost unequivocally: “Yes”. Council needs a diverse range of viewpoints to function well. That means scholars from not only different specializations across geography, but also perspectives from people of diverse backgrounds and varied academic institutions. Many of the regional Councilors with whom I’ve served come from ‘teaching’ institutions, and the reality is that such settings make up a huge percentage of our membership. Council isn’t really about your research background – it’s about how you can contribute to helping AAG and SEDAAG better serve our members.

If you have additional questions about the position or John’s experiences, please feel free to contact John directly at: kupfer@sc.edu.

 AAG President David Kaplan will be speaking at the SEDAAG Honors Banquet on Monday, November 25th, 2019.

The title of his talk is

Expanding the Community of Geography

Two field trips are planned for the SEDAAG 2019 meeting.

1. Walking Tour of Downtown Wilmington, 10:00AM-Noon Sunday November 24, 2019: walk through downtown that highlights historical landmarks, regional history, and current planning and geographic issues of Wilmington.  To sign up email Liz Hines directly (hinese@uncw.edu).
2. Wrightsville Beach, 10:00AM-1:30PM Sunday November 24, 2019: review changing Wilmington urban environment on drive to beach; at beach observe and discuss beach landscape and current development issues.  Lunch at local restaurant (participant pay for lunch).  To sign up email Joanne Halls directly (hallsj@uncw.edu).

Both of these field trips will meet at the front entrance of the Hotel Ballast at 10AM, Sunday November 24 and are weather permitting.

Doug Gamble
Professor and Chair
Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences
UNC Wilmington

2019 SEDAAG Final Program

Students and Faculty–
November is coming up in just a few short weeks and the finishing touches are being put on this year’s edition of World Geography Bowl. Whether you are student or faculty, there is a place for you.

In case you haven’t heard of it, the World Geography Bowl is a ‘quiz bowl’ style team competition where all the questions are geographically oriented. Think Jeopardy! but with teams of six players instead of everyone competing alone, and the category is always “World Geography”. Each state in the division is invited to send a team to represent it in the competition. Please note that we will be starting with registration beginning at 10am. If you are interested, there are several ways you can get involved.

Are you a student? Then you can compete! Below are a list of state team coordinators that you can get in touch with to join. If your state is not listed, please email me at ddrake4@missouriwestern.edu to get more information.

Tennesseans wishing to play should contact Dr. Andrew Joyner, East Tennessee State University (joynert@mail.etsu.edu)

Virginians wishing to play should contact Dr. Joe Nicholas, University of Mary Washington (jnichola@umw.edu)

West Virginians wishing to plat should contact Dr. Tom Saladyga, Concord University (saladygat@concord.edu)

Students from all other states should contact me directly for more information (ddrake4@missouriwestern.edu)

Are you a faculty member? Then you have options! We are in dire need of volunteers to be judges and scorekeepers on Sunday November 24th. Don’t worry, we can train you. We are also seeking faculty members willing to coordinate teams for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and North and South Carolina. We are always seeking new volunteers on the committee. If you would like to write questions, we have openings for that as well. Just email me at ddrake4@missouriwestern.edu

And finally, whether you are a student or faculty member, I invite you to come and cheer on the teams, especially at the Monday evening November 25th Dream Team vs. All Stars and Championship rounds.

Dr. Dawn Drake

The results of the 2019 elections for various positions are out. The new officers will begin their terms following the conclusion of the 2019 SEDAAG meeting in Wilmington, NC:

President: Lynn Resler – Virginia Tech.
Treasurer: Amy Potter– Georgia Southern University.
Alabama State Rep: Caroline McClure – University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Florida State Rep: Cynthia Simmons – University of Florida.
Kentucky State Rep: Peggy Gripshover – Western Kentucky University.
South Carolina State Rep: Conor Harrison – University of South Carolina.
West Virginia State Rep: Jamison Conley – West Virginia University.
 
Congratulations to the new officers and we look forward to seeing everyone in Wilmington, NC in November.
 

Shrinidhi Ambinakudige – Secretary
For
The Executive Team

Position summary: Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, invites applications for a Ph.D. level research assistantship (RA) in remote sensing beginning Spring 2020. The student will participate in a project studying the impacts of sediment runoff and nutrients from Belize’s watersheds on the health of the coral reefs of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System in light of potential changes in precipitation as a consequence of climate change. The project is funded by the NASA A.8 Program “Sustaining Living System in a Time of Climate Variability and Change”.

Responsibilities: The student will be working with a large interdisciplinary team from the University of Georgia (UGA), University of Alabama- Huntsville, Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)- Belize. The research will involve working with NASA Earth Observations (EO) products, atmospheric correction, and water quality algorithms developed for the region of interest, and in situ measurements of water optical properties along with data on coral reef extent. The ultimate purpose is to develop sustained local capacities on the use of NASA EO and hydrological modeling for decision-making in Belize. It will involve multiple field trips to Belize and partnering with the local team for field data collection.

Required qualifications: Candidate must have proven abilities to conduct independent research and to work as part of a large scientific team. Experience in data analysis and modeling, water remote sensing background, and the ability to work in a nearshore coral reef environment are also required. Experience in or an interest in learning R, GEE, or Python also are required. Additional skills in the interpretation and synthesis of multi-platform remote sensing data, water quality or hydrological modeling also would be helpful. A strong background in statistics and coastal ecology also are suggested, but the drive and willingness to learn these skills is acceptable.

Initial RA offer includes 2 years of support through the project and the possibility of renewal for 2 more years from other sources. The assistantship will include a salary commensurate with education and level of experience, tuition waiver, and health benefits. Students will join the Mishra Lab in the Department of Geography at the University of Georgia. Interested candidates should send an email describing their past experience and their motivation for pursuing a graduate degree in the above research topic, along with a CV, GRE scores, and the names and contact information for 3 references to Dr. Deepak Mishra (dmishra@uga.edu), Professor, Department of Geography, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 by November 15, 2019. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is January 02, 2020.

The University of Georgia values diversity and all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. UGA is in Athens, GA, a vibrant mid-sized city with abundant shopping, restaurants, and cultural experiences. Interested candidates must apply online at http://grad.uga.edu/index.php/prospective-students/domestic-application-information/requirements/application-forms/ by November 15, 2019. In case of any questions, please contact Dr. Deepak Mishra (dmishra@uga.edu) (Tel: 706-542-8927), Department of Geography, UGA.

Became a SEDAAG Member Here

Submit Abstract Here

Register for the Conference Here

Book Hotel Room Here

Dear SEDAAG members,

The SEDAAG Honors Committee is seeking nominations for the annual awards given at the annual regional meeting. Please see the list of awards below, though note that these awards are separate from the Student Honors competitions. Information for those competitions is posted on the SEDAAG Website.

Complete submissions for the SEDAAG Honors nominees should be sent in PDF format (multiple file submissions are perfectly fine) to Dr. Matthew Cook, Honors Committee chair, at mcook40@emich.edu. All honors-related questions should also be directed to Dr. Cook.

AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement Award: Nominees for this award should meet the following criteria: (1) An extensive record of research and publication in scholarly journals, books, and other appropriate formats; (2) A record of excellence in teaching and advising as evidenced by teaching awards, students advised, and other appropriate measures; (3) A record of service contributions to the individual’s educational institution in the form of administrative positions, committee work, and community contact; (4) A record of support to the geography profession whether through formal services to international, national, or regional organizations or informal work in the public domain.

Research Honors Award: Nominees for this award should meet the following criteria: (1) A significant record of quality research and publication in scholarly journals, books, and other appropriate formats. This record may reflect the cumulative work of several years or the publication of important contributions in a shorter period of time; (2) Evidence of research leadership at both an institutional (college, university, industry) and organizational level (professional associations) where scholarly papers are presented and students and colleagues are advised.

Outstanding Service Award: Nominees for this award should meet the following criteria: (1) Evidence of exceptional professional commitment to geography at any level, including service to professional organizations; colleges and universities; primary and secondary education; local, state, or national government; private business and industry; (2) Examples of worthy contributions include but are not limited to appointed or elected professional offices, journal editorships, professional organization committees, speaking or otherwise providing leadership in a variety of public forums, and publication in the popular press.

Excellence in Teaching Award: Nominations are invited for the SEDAAG Excellence in Teaching Award. The award acknowledges sustained excellence and creativity in the college classroom. Nominations from current and former students are especially welcome. Nominees for this award should meet the following criteria: (1) Exceptional commitment to effective geography teaching; (2) Record of efforts to help diffuse excellent geography teaching beyond one’s immediate classroom (teaching-related publications, workshops, web sites, textbooks, etc.); (3) Recognition of teaching excellence by department, school, or other organizations; (4) Support of teaching excellence via student evaluations or comments.

Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring Award: Nominations are invited for the SEDAAG Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring Award. Some faculty spend many hours helping students to come up with research ideas, and then help students develop those ideas into poster or oral presentations without recognition as a co-author. The award acknowledges sustained excellence in undergraduate mentoring. Nominations from current and former students are especially welcome. Nominees for this award should meet the following criteria: (1) Sustained involvement as mentor or advisor to students making poster or oral presentations; (2) Record of student successes at state, regional and/or national meetings; (3) Recognition of mentoring excellence by the department, school, or other organizations can come in the form of letters, prior awards, and other documents.

Merle C. Prunty Student Scholarship: The Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers annually awards the Merle C. Prunty Scholarship to an outstanding undergraduate student from our region with the objective of encouraging talented undergraduate students to pursue professional careers in geography. Eligibility: Applicants must currently be juniors or seniors and enrolled as geography majors (or geography minors) in a college or university located within the Southeastern Division. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a professional career or the clear potential to pursue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree. Applicants are evaluated by the SEDAAG Honors Committee on the basis of scholastic record and professional promise.
Notification: Award recipients will be named at the Honors Banquet at the 2019 Division meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina. If not present, recipients and applicants will be informed of the outcome by e-mail.

Application Materials: Materials submitted in the application must include: (1) A cover letter that includes a summary of educational background and academic honors; (2) A full CV of the candidate; (3) Letters of recommendation from three persons familiar with the applicant’s qualifications; and (4) One copy of each undergraduate transcript inclusive of college course work through Summer 2019 for the Prunty Scholarship.

Southeastern Geographer 4th Annual Cover Art Photo Contest 

Each issue of the Southeastern Geographer includes a front-cover photograph of the American South by a member of SEDAAG accompanied by a short essay. To solicit images for the upcoming year, the Southeastern Geographer will hold a photo contest to select the potential covers for the four issues. The photos will be judged by conference attendees with ballots distributed to SEDAAG members in their registration packet. Attendees will be asked to vote by 5 p.m. on Monday with the winners announced at the SEDAAG Awards Banquet. 

 To enter a photo in the contest: 

Send by email a high-resolution digital photograph and a maximum 150-word description of the geographic phenomenon related to the American South captured or evoked in the photograph to Southeastern Geographer Editors at (segedit@uncg.edu) by midnight on November 18, 2019. Please indicate “SEDAAG Photo Contest 2019” in the subject line. 

For the SEDAAG meeting, bring a high-quality print of the photograph on 8×11 photo paper, and the 150 word abstract on a separate 8×11 page.