Please join us in congratulating Dr. Dawn Bowen, professor of geography, for winning the Grellet C. Simpson Award at the 2012 Commencement Ceremony on May 12.  The Simpson award is considered UMW’s most prestigious annual award for excellence in undergraduate teaching.

As her current and former students all know, Dawn’s dedication to student learning inside and outside of the classroom is unparalleled.   From introductory courses to her field programs in Guatemala, she works harder than any other member of … Read the rest

Our annual symposium was a great success and, as always, ended with our banquet down at Brock’s where we celebrated student accomplishments, caught up with about a dozen recent graduates, and learned about a new map projection – the Unterschenkel Projection (see picture).  We had a great turn out to honor the new members of Gamma Theta Upsilon and to congratulate the Class of 2012.… Read the rest

Such a busy winter, but now our early and very warm spring has taken root and it is past time to up date you on what Mary Washington Geographers are up to.

Our current crop of students are, as always, garnering well-deserved recognition.  Ethan Battone (2014) and Brian Brown (2012) each won a Writing Center Award for their seminar papers last month.  In addition, Brian was selected for an internship at the National Geographic Society – continuing the tradition Mary … Read the rest

Remember to come back to Fredericksburg on October 22 to see the new Monroe Hall and reconnect with Mary Washington Geographers!  We’ll be in the Cart Lab from 1:00pm to 3:00pm that afternoon.  Send me an e-mail (shanna@umw.edu) or leave a comment here so we know you are coming!

Check us out on the UMW Homecoming Weekend Schedule!… Read the rest

 As part of Mary Washington’s Homecoming Weekend, the Geography Department is hosting an Open House to show off our new facilities in Monroe Hall.

Please come by on October 22 between 1:00pm and 3:00pm.  We’ll serve light refreshments, play with the stream table, give a lesson in pollen analysis, and share student work and experiences from study abroad programs and GIS courses.

Afterwards, we’ll go down to the Capital Ale House on Caroline Street for drinks and conversation.

To … Read the rest

It is my pleasure to announce the 2011 recipients of student research awards funded by the Geography 50^th Anniversary Endowment.  A committee of three faculty carefully reviewed student proposals and made the following awards:… Read the rest

Quite a week!  Now that classes are cancelled on this bright, clear, sunny day, we have a moment of calm after the hurricane, thunder storm, and earthquake. So, check out the pictures of our new labs, classrooms, and other spaces just waiting to be used.… Read the rest

Wish you could travel with Donald Rallis and his students?  The next best thing is the course’s Facebook page:  UMW SA Study Abroad 2011!… Read the rest

. . . . and slowly unpacking and setting up in Monroe Hall.   All faculty are now in their new offices and most of our classroom furniture has arrived.  There’s still a lot of work to be done, however.… Read the rest

Finally, moving days are here.  Our new furniture is being delivered as I type this and our books, lab equipment, maps, pictures, coffee maker and other vital supplies will be moved over to Monroe Hall next week.  You’ll find some recent pictures below.… Read the rest