Dr. Joan M. Welch

Welch

Title: Professor
Location: 527 BPM Center
Email: JWelch@wcupa.edu
Phone: 610-436-2940

Biography

Joan M. Welch completed her Ph.D. in Geography at Boston University and started at West Chester University in the fall of 1990. Dr. Welch has published research on the spatial patterns of urban forest characteristics in Boston, impacts of deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browse on regional forests, and landscape homogenization in the Pre-Pyrenees of Catalunya. Joan teaches physical and world geography, and courses related to environmental conservation and sustainability including the geography of agriculture.

Education

  • Ph.D., Geography, Boston University
  • M.A., Energy and Environmental Studies, Boston University
  • B.A., Environmental Studies and Spanish, Saint Cloud State University

Area of Expertise

  • Human-Environment Geography/Sustainability
  • Biogeography
  • Landscape Ecology
  • Sustainable Agriculture

Professional Experience

  • 2000 - Current: Professor, Department of Geography, West Chester University
  • 2017 - Current: Finance Committee, American Association of Geographers
  • 2015 - 2018: President, Past-President, Middles States Division of the Association of American Geographers
  • 2014 - 2016: Expert Evaluator, Agencia Nacional de Evaluacion de Prospectiva (ANEP), Spanish Ministry of Economics and Competitiveness, Postdoctoral and Grant proposals evaluation
  • 2014 - 2015: Secretary, Middles States Division of the Association of American Geographers
  • 2002 - 2011, 2013-2014: Chair, Department of Geography, West Chester University
  • 1998 - 2009: Director, Institute for Women, West Chester University
  • 1995 - 2000: Associate Professor, Department of Geography, West Chester University
  • 1990 - 1995: Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, West Chester University
  • 1988 - 1990: Regional Coordinator of the National Natural Landmarks Program. National Park Service, North Atlantic Region, U. S. Department of the Interior.

Courses Taught

  • GEO 101: Introduction to World Geography
  • GEO 102: Introduction to Physical Geography
  • GEO 205: Geography of Agriculture, Food and Sustainability
  • GEO 230: Environmental Conservation and Sustainability
  • GEO 302: Geography of Latin America
  • GEO 332: Environmental Crises
  • GEO 336/536: Environmental Planning
  • GEO 400: Senior Seminar
  • GEO 404: Senior Project
  • GEO 402/585: Geographic Field Methods
  • HON 204: Science, Technology and the Environment through the lens of Agriculture
  • HON 314: Science, Technology and the Environment through the lens of Agriculture
  • Interdisciplinary 110: Applied Environmental Science
  • Interdisciplinary 502/401: Environmental Applications of GIS
  • Interdisciplinary 405: Modeling Earth Systems

Publications

  • Morales-Ramirez, Carlos A. and Joan M. Welch.  2016.  “Native and Nonnative Plants in Forest Interior Versus Edge Canopy Gaps.”   Middle States Geographer 49: 32-39. 
  • Welch, Joan. 2012. “Invasive and Native Plant Response to Fire in a Pennsylvania Piedmont Woodland.” Middle States Geographer 45: 21-28.
  • Fairchild, G. Winfield, Timothy Lutz, Gil Wiswall, Gary Coutu, Joan Welch, Christopher Robinson and Brian Ochieng. 2009. “Teaching Environmental Science using Geographic Information Systems.” In Best Practices in Teaching, Research, & Service within Global Perspectives, ed. Michael Ehi Ayewoh, Office of Sponsored Research, WCU.
  • Maurice, Keith, Joan Welch, Christopher Brown, and Roger Latham. 2004. “Pocono Mesic Till Barrens in Retreat: Topography, Fire and Forest Contagion Effects.” Landscape Ecology 19(6): 603-620.
  • Vila i Subiros, Josep and Joan M. Welch. 2001. “La Homogeneizacion Paisajistica de los Valles de Hortmoier y Sant Aniol: Caracterizacion y Evaluacion de los Cambios Ambientales en el Periodo 1957-1979-1996 con Patch Analyst.” Actas del XVII Congreso de Geografos Espanoles, Oviedo, Spain: Universidad de Oviedo, ISBN 84-9704-037-6, pp. 227-230.
  • Pinto, Josep, Josep Vila and Joan M. Welch. 1997. “Analisis de la Fragmentation de los Espacios Naturales en el Sector Sur del Area Urbana de Girona.” Dinamica Litoral-Interior Actas XV Congreso de Geografos Espanoles. Volume II. Cursos e Congresos de Universidad de Santiago de Compostela No. 107: 1099-1108.
  • Arnold, Jacquelyn and Joan M. Welch. 1996. Deer Browse in the Interior Forest of Warwick County Park. Middle States Geographer 29:139-146.
  • Pomerantz, Joanne, and Joan M. Welch. 1996. "Utilization of Woody Browse by White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Valley Forge National Historical Park." The Pennsylvania Geographer 59(2): 1-11.
  • Solecki, William D. and Joan M. Welch. 1995. "Urban Parks: Green Space or Green Walls?" Landscape and Urban Planning 32: 93-106.
  • Welch, Joan M. 1994. "Street and Park Trees of Boston: A Comparison of Urban Forest Structure." Landscape and Urban Planning 29: 131-143.

Grants and Research Support

  • Street Tree Geodatabase Data Collection Completion:  Borough of West Chester, PA.  West Chester Borough.  Joan M. Welch student supervisor.  $1300.  August-November 2018.  
  • Storm Drain Geodatabase for Mosquito Population Management:  Borough of West Chester, PA, ‘Don’t Spray Me’/Sierra Club.  Joan M. Welch student supervisor. $1300.  May-August 2018.  
  • Tree Campus USA and Tree City USA: West Chester University and the Borough of West Chester, PA, Office of Sustainability and Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Campus Sustainability Research and Creative Activities Grants.  Joan M. Welch, Principal Investigator.  $2000.  May-June 2018.  
  • Healthy Forest Fragments, Healthy People, Healthy Communities, Partnership between Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service and West Chester University. Walter Cressler, Win Fairchild, Joy Fritschle, Martin Helmke, Gerald Hertel, Jessica Schedlbauer, Charles Shorten, LeeAnn Srogi, Harry Tiebout, Greg Turner, and Joan Welch. $9,993. May 2013 – December 2014.
  • Green Legacy – West Chester University Trees. West Chester University New Funding Request. Joan Welch, Win Fairchild, Gary Coutu, Joy Fritschle, Ed Bruno and Gerry Hertel. $13,631. May 2008 – May 2009.
  • Integrating Sustainability into the Curriculum. West Chester University Pedagogy for Engagement Grant. $2,500. Paul Morgan, Joan Welch, Environmental Council. July 2007-July 2008.
  • Melding Research with Environmental Education: Stream Ecology and Restoration. Pennsylvania Sea Grant $10,000. Principal Investigator Win Fairchild, Co-Collaborators Tim Lutz and Joan Welch. June 2005-February 2006.
  • Environmental Change, Homogenization and Fragmentation Impacts on Landscapes of Catalunya. West Chester University Faculty Professional Development Council Grant May 2000-May 2001.
  • Earth System Science Education (ESSE) Program participant. September 1995-1999. Four-year multidisciplinary grant funded through NASA's Universities Space Research Association (USRA) to support development and teaching of two multidisciplinary, Earth System Science Education courses at West Chester University.
  • Using GIS as a Platform for Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Education. National Science Foundation Instrumentation, Laboratory and Instruction grant participant, 1994-98, to equip a computer laboratory, and purchase technology for use in a new introductory science course.
  • West Chester University New Faculty Development Award. Spring Semester 1992. Project Title: Forest and Agricultural Land Use in Chester County: Resources Under Siege.
  • Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Urban Forestry Program. Basic Grant 3/1 - 11/30, 1989. Project Title: An Assessment of the Structure of an Urban Forest: Boston's Neighborhoods of Roxbury and North Dorchester from 1950-1988.

Research Presentations

  • "Native and non-native plants in forest interior versus edge canopy gaps.” Carlos Morales Ramirez and Joan Welch. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. March 31, 2016. San Francisco, CA.
  • “Serpentine Barrens in Pennsylvania: Historical Trends in Size and Endemic Species.” Joan Welch and Kathleen Rengert. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. March 31, 2016. San Francisco, CA.
  • “Urban Forest Resilience and Health: West Chester University Pennsylvania Campus.” Joan Welch, Aaron Brouse, Adam Blough, Alexander Thurstlic. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. April 25, 2015. Chicago, IL.
  • “Native versus Nonnative Tree Species: The Campus Urban Forest.” Joan M. Welch, Dylan Drake, and Joy Fritschle. Association of American Geographers Middle States Division Annual Meeting. October 25, 2014, York, PA.
  • “The Campus Urban Forest: Native versus Nonnative Tree Species.” Joan Welch, Dylan Drake, John Polakowski, Kendra McMillin and Joy Fritschle. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. April 11, 2014. Miami, FL.
  • “Prescribed Fire and Woodland Canopy Tree Seedling Response.” Joan Welch. Pennsylvania Geographical Society Annual Meeting. October 25, 2013. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • “Fire in the Woods: Invasive Plants Six Years Later.” Joan Welch and Tom Saladyga. Association of American Geographers Middle States Division Annual Meeting. November 2, 2012. Shippensburg, PA.
  • “Land Abandonment and Wild Ungulates in Mediterranean Mountains.” Joan Welch, Josep Vila, and Diego Varga. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. February 27, 2012. New York, NY.
  • “Help and Harvest: Recruiting and Managing Campus Garden Volunteers.” Joy Fritschle, Heather Sowers, and Joan Welch. Seeding the Future Conference, Dickinson College. October 14-15, 2011. Carlisle, PA
  • “Fire in the Woods: Invasive Plants Five Years Later.” Joan Welch. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. April 13, 2011. Seattle, WA.
  • “Vegetated Buffer Strips and Water Quality in an Agricultural Watershed.” Joan Welch and Justin Kauffman. Association of American Geographers Middle States Division Annual Meeting. October 23, 2010. West Point, New York.
  • “Evaluating Campus Tree Benefits: CITYgreen and i-Tree.” Joy Fritschle, Eunice Alexander, Gary Coutu, and Joan Welch. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. April 17, 2010. Washington, DC.
  • “Creating a Green Legacy: Assessing and Predicting Benefits of Campus Trees.” Eunice Alexander, Joy Fritschle, Joan Welch and Gary Coutu. Pennsylvania Geographical Society Annual Meeting. October 23, 2009. West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania.
  • “Hands-on Student Learning: Developing a Tree Database on Campus.” Joan Welch, Gary Coutu, Joy Fritschle, and Eunice Alexander. Pennsylvania Geographical Society Annual Meeting. October 31, 2008. Clarion, Pennsylvania.
  • “Fire in the Woods: Native and Invasive Plant Response.” Joan Welch and Tom Saladyga. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. April 19, 2008. Boston, Massachusetts.
  • “Foreign Aid in Sub-Saharan Africa: Failure to Alleviate Poverty.” Kennedy Chesoli and Joan Welch. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. April 20, 2007. San Francisco, California.
  • “Native and Invasive Plant Response to Fire: Hardwood Forest of Chester County, Pennsylvania.” Tom Saladyga and Joan Welch. Association of American Geographers Middle States Division Annual Meeting. October 14, 2006. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
  • “Forests Lost: Invasive Vegetation and Implications for Native Habitat Restoration.” Tom Saladyga and Joan Welch. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. March 9, 2006. Chicago, Illinois.
  • “Forests Lost: Invasive Vegetation and Implications for Native Habitat Restoration through Oak Regeneration.” Tom Saladyga, Mike McGeehin, and Joan Welch. Association of American Geographers Middle States Division Annual Meeting. October 14, 2005. Chautauqua, New York.
  • “Beach Profile Area: Traditional Survey Methods versus LIDAR.” Joan M. Welch and Pedro Juan Hernandez. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. April 7, 2005. Denver, Colorado.
  • “Digital Elevation Model Accuracy in Relation to Terrain Complexity.” Joan Welch and Craig Cirafesi. Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting. March 19, 2004. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • “Classifying Woodlands for Protection.” Amy Fletcher and Joan Welch. Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting. March 8, 2003. New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • “La Evolución De La Estructura Paisajística De Los Valles De Hortmoier Y Sant Aniol (Alta Garrotxa, Girona) En El Periodo 1957-1979-1997.” Joseph Vila and Joan Welch. II Congreso Español de Biogeografía. September 22, 2002. La Gomera, Tenerife, Canary Islands.
  • “Through the Lens of Agriculture: Lessons on Redesigning a University Course to Include Gardening and Food System Issues.” Paul Morgan, Joan Welch, and students of HON204. Association for the Study of Food and Society, and Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society joint annual meeting. June 14, 2002, Chicago, Illinois.
  • “Forest Structure and Patterns: PrePyrenees of Catalunya.” Joan Welch and Josep Vila. Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, March 20, 2002, Los Angeles, California.
  • “Forest Understory Woody Plants: Trends in Deer Browse Effects.” Joan Welch. Middle States Division of Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, October 19, 2001, C. W. Post University, Long Island, New York.
  • “Landscape Homogenization and Habitat Conservation in Catalunya.” Joan Welch and Josep Vila. Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, March 3, 2001, New York, New York.
  • "Applied Environmental Science College Course: GIS as a Tool" Joan Welch, G. Winfield Fairchild, and C. Gil Wiswall. International Conference on GIS in Education, July 18, 2000, California State University, San Bernardino.
  • "Till Barrens to Forest: Topography, Fire, and Forest Contagion Effect." Keith Maurice, Joan Welch, Roger Latham, and Christopher Brown. Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, April 5, 2000, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • “Till Barrens Transition to Forest: Forest Contagion Effect.” Keith Maurice, Joan Welch, Roger Latham, and Christopher Brown. Middle States Division of Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, October 9, 1999, West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania.
  • “Forest Regeneration: A Comparison of Woody Understory Deer Browse Sites.” Joan Welch. Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, March 26, 1999, Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • “Forest Regeneration: Canopy, Understory and Deer Browse Relationships.” Poster Presentation. Joan Welch, Brady McCormick and Jenn Zuck. Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, March 27, 1998, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • “Forest Regeneration: Canopy and Understory Relationships.” Joan Welch. Middle States Division of Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, October 9, 1998, Rutgers University, New Jersey.
  • “Modeling of Earth Systems: Building on the Carbon Cycle.” Poster Presentation. Timothy Lutz, Alan Clemson, John Lea, and Joan Welch. American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting. May 29, 1998, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • "Earth System Science Education: Local Applications of Global Concepts." Joan Welch, Richard Busch, Alan Clemson, Win Fairchild, John Lea, Time Lutz, Gil Wiswall, and Jennifer Zuck. Geological Society of America annual meeting, October 21, 1997, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • "A Forest Landscape Conservation Methodology." Poster Presentation. Joan Welch, Alan Clemson, John Lea, Fran Curtis, Rhona Klein, Vince O'Rourke and Brian Tyrrell. Association of American Geographers (AAG) annual meeting, April 2, 1997, Fort Worth, Texas.
  • "Deer Browse Selectivity and Forest Regeneration in Southeastern Pennsylvania." Joan M. Welch and Joanne Pomerantz. Association of American Geographers (AAG) annual meeting, April 10, 1996, Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • "Identification and Protection of Significant Woodlands Landscapes in Southeastern Pennsylvania." Joan M. Welch, David R. Harper, Mark Cassel, Linda C. Misiura, Stephen Pitcherella, Timothy M. Shields, and Brian A. Vitulli. Poster Session. U.S. International Association for Landscape Ecology Annual Conference, March 26, 1996, Galveston, Texas.
  • "Private Forests in Pennsylvania: A Model to Predict Habitat Fragmentation" with James Higgins, presenter. Association of American Geographers (AAG) annual meeting, March 15, 1995, Chicago, Illinois.
  • "Forestry in Pennsylvania: A Model for Sustainable Development" with James Higgins, presenter. Applied Geography Conference annual meeting, October 13, 1994, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.
  • "GIRAS Data Use for Local-scale Landscape Analysis" with Todd Stell. Applied Geography Conference annual meeting, October 13, 1994, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.
  • "Deer Browse in Valley Forge National Historical Park" with Joanne Pomerantz. Pennsylvania Geographical Society (PGS) annual meeting, October 8, 1994, Somerset, Pennsylvania.
  • "Landscape Ecology of Chester County, Pennsylvania" with Mark Shumar. Association of American Geographers (AAG) annual meeting, March 31, 1994, San Francisco, California.
  • "Discriminant Analysis: A Tool to Predict Public Urban Forest Structure." U.S. International Association for Landscape Ecology Annual Conference, March 26, 1993, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
  • “Race, Gender, Class, and Ethnicity in the College Classroom: Curriculum Integration and Faculty Development.” Panelist. Eastern Education Research Association annual conference, February 20, 1993, Clearwater Beach, Florida.
  • “The Urban Forest and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Characteristics: A Factor Analysis.” . Middle States Division of Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, October 15, 1992, Syracuse, New York.
  • “Boston’s Urban Forest and the Socioeconomic and Land-use Histories that Shaped It.” Accepted for Nystrom Paper Award Session for Association of American Geographers (AAG) annual meeting, April 1992, San Diego, California.
  • “Urban Forest Structure: Street and Park Trees in Boston.” Pennsylvania Geographical Society Meeting, November 2, 1991, Millersville University, Pennsylvania.
  • “Material Selection for Real World Plantings.” Invited Presenter at Conference on Woodlands in Urban Parks, October 4-5, 1991. National Association of Olmsted Parks and Fairmount Park Commission, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • “Street and Park Trees of Boston: Similarities and Differences in Urban Forest Structure.” Association of American Geographers (AAG) annual meeting April 13-17, 1991, Miami, Florida.

Select Doctoral and Master's Thesis Advising and Committee Work

  • Anderson, Jamie N.. 2003. Land Use and Water quality of Chester County Ponds. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Atkins, John Jr. 1992. The Relationship between Land Use and Transportation Networks: Implications for Effects on Regional development. West Chester University. M.A. Committee.
  • Bane, David. 2000. Formal vs. Functional Regions: West Chester University Student Distribution. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Black, David. 2004. The Spatial Mismatch Hypothesis in Chester County. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Calvarese. Michelle. 1995. Urbanization in a Dual Society: an Analysis of Economic Factors and Policy Structure Influences on American Indian Urbanization in the United States. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Chabak, Brian. 1997. Pennsylvania’s Special Protection Waters Program as a De Facto Land Use Control. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Chesoli, Kennedy. 2007. Foreign Aid, Cold War and Sub-Saharan Africa: An Empirical Assessment. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Cirafesi, Craig. 2003. High versus Low Relief Terrain: Digital Elevation Model Error. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Constable, Kelly. 1998. A Geo-demographic Market Area Analytic Approach to Locating a New Public Golf Facility in Chester County, Pennsylvania. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Elks, Susan. 2003. Easements as a Conservation Tool Around State Parks. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Esposito, Melanie. 1999. Estimating the Effect of Demand Growth on Housing Affordability: Regional test of the Rothenberg Hypothesis. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Ferry, Robert. 1997. Reliever Airport Operations, 1980-1990: Increases in Suburban Air Travel Demand and the Suburbanization of Employment. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Fletcher, Amy. 2002. Classifying Woodlands in the Upper East Branch of the Brandywine Watershed: A Discriminate Analysis. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Frazier, Amy. 2005. A GIS Analysis of Historical Water Quality in the Valley Creek Watershed. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Goldman, Abby. 1993. Sustainable Development: Planning According to Carrying Capacity. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Grabowski, Dana. 2015. Vernal Pool Habitat Quality Assessment of Warwick County Park, PA and Stroud Preserve, PA. West Chester University M.A. Research Paper Advisor.
  • Hernandez, Pedro J. 2009. Traditional Surveying and LIDAR Data: Accuracy in Calculating Barrier Island Volumetric Change. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Hess, Lawrence M. 2001. Spatiotemporal Analysis of Water Well Depths, Atrazine Contamination, and Breast Cancer Incidence. West Chester University M.A. advisor
  • Hung To, Liu. 1999. Urban Forestry in China: A Biogeographical Study in Guangzhou City. University of Hong Kong. PhD External Examiner.
  • Kauffman, Justin. 2010. Vegetated Buffer Strips and Water Quality in an Agricultural Watershed. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Krynski, Alexander. 2014. Chester County, Pennsylvania’s Urban Street Trees and Socioeconomic Conditions. West Chester University M.A. Research Paper Advisor.
  • Kulbicki, Kathryn. 2005. Homicide Patterns and Associated Socioeconomic Characteristics: Philadelphia 1999. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • LeMaux, Dominique. 1992. Tornado Frequency and Human Deaths: An Inverse Relationship? West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Lodge, Stacey. 2005. Relationship of Land Use, Land Cover, and Mosquito Density in Salem County, NJ. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Luque, Sandra. 1996. The Impacts of Land Use Change on the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Rutgers University. PhD External Member.
  • Maurice, Keith. 1999. Forest Contagion in the Pocono Till Barrens Reserve. West Chester University. M.A. Advisor.
  • McCrary, Keith. 2005. The Role of Riparian Buffers A study of the Chattahoochee River Basin 1985-2000. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • McGeehin, Michael. 2006. Physiographic Analysis of the Witness Tree Distribution in the Pre-Settlement Forest (1730-1880) of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Miller, Karen. 1993. An Evaluation of Public Policy Implementation for Sewage Facilities in a Case Study Area of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. West Chester University. M.A. Committee.
  • Misiura, Linda. 1996. An Assessment of the Impact of the University of Scranton on its Surrounding Neighborhood. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Morales Ramirez, Carlos. Native and Nonnative Plants in Forest Interior versus Edge Canopy Gaps. 2016. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • O’Neill, Keith. 2015. North Atlantic Hurricane Duration Then Versus Now: Climate Change and Rising Sea Surface Temperature. West Chester University M.A. Research Paper Advisor.
  • Pepe, Gergana. 2007. Beach Nourishment Success : Study of Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches, Delaware. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Peticca, Mark. 2001. Regional Study on Rural Dropouts. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Rapino, Melanie. 2004. Testing Gendered travel Theory in the Context of Leisure Activity. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Reisinger, Mark. 1997. Pennsylvania Migration 1985-1995: Responses to Restructuring of the State’s Space-economy. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Rengert, Kathleen. 2015. Historical Trends in Size and Endemic Species for Serpentine Barrens in Pennsylvania. West Chester University M.A. Research Paper Advisor.
  • Rickert, David. 2003. Identifying West Jersey Pine Barrens Prehistoric Relic Sites: A Discriminant Analysis. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Rosoff, Barbara. 2001. Deer in the headlights: Roadkill in Valley Forge National Historical Park. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Saladyga, Thomas. 2006. Native Understory and Invasive Plant Response to Fire in a Mixed-hardwood Forest, Chester County, Pennsylvania. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Sarcinello, Nancikate. 2001. A Quantitative GIS Approach to Analyzing the Locational Correspondence of Toxic Release Inventory Sites and Local Socioeconomic Characteristics of Delaware County, PA. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Shumar, Mark L. 1992. Enhancement of Biological Diversity in Chester County, Pennsylvania. West Chester University. West Chester University M.A. Advisor.
  • Thomas, Patricia M. 1998. Corporate Bankruptcy Rates and Employment Structure of Metropolitan Statistical Areas: An Empirical Test of the Diversity Hypotheses. West Chester University M.A. Committee.
  • Thurstlic, Alexander. 2015. Indicators of Urban Forest Health and Resilience: West Chester University’s North Campus. West Chester University M.A. Research Paper Advisor.
  • Whitmer, Jeffrey. 2002. Estimating the Effect of School Quality on Housing Prices: A Hedonic Model of School Districts in Chester County, Pennsylvania. West Chester University M.A. Committee.

Current Professional and Academic Association Memberships

  • Association of American Geographers, Biogeography Specialty Group
  • Middle States Division, Association of American Geographers
  • Delaware Valley Geographical Association
  • Pennsylvania Geographical Society
  • Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA)
  • Women's Consortium of the Pennsylvania SSHE

University and Community Engagement

  • College of Business and Public Management UN Principles for Responsible Management program, Co-Chair, Faculty Application and Implementation Committee 2018-present  
  • Sustainability Advisory Council Organic Gardens Faculty Advisor, 2010-present 
  • West Chester Cooperative, Education Committee, Chair 2016-2018 
  • Campus Tree Advisory Council, Chair, 2011- 2019 
  • Sustainability Advisory Council, 2011-present 
  • Department Chair, May 2002-2011, July 2013-June 2014 
  • Enactus Student Group Advisor, 6/2013-12/2015 
  • College of Business and Public Affairs Sustainability Task Force for new building, Chair, 2013-14
  • Graduate Coordinator for Geography and Planning 1994-June 2014 
  • Grounds and Automotive Manager Search Committee Summer 2014 
  • College of Business and Public Affairs Dean Search Committee 2013-14 
  • Ad-Hoc Committee on Graduate Assistants, 2011-2013 
  • Environmental Council, Co-Chair 2001-2011 
  • Graduate Studies Task Force 2006
  • Facilities Administrator, Sustainability Center, 2003-2006 
  • Social Justice Task Force, Co-Chair 2003 
  • Library Director Search Committee Spring 2002 
  • Associate Provost Search Committee Fall 2002 

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