Our work
Healthy departments make the future of geography a reality
The work of the Healthy Departments committee provides coherent and engaged guidance and action that enhances the future health and excellence of academic geography departments across the country. Committee members visit departments and colleges and engage in outreach with administrators to support geography. The committee also designs and implements actions that help move leaders in geography towards these goals.
Goals:
- support departments in crisis
- assist in restructuring the curriculum to advance department goals
- offer the Healthy Departments workshop
- provide suggestions of department reviewers
- provide materials for chairs to support fundraising
- support department expansions
- provide data for benchmarking and for communicating effectively with deans
- investigate how geography departments can most effectively position themselves within their institutions by aligning themselves with the central needs and missions of those respective institutions
This page is a resource to assist department chairs and provide practical information that can improve program quality. This page will continue to evolve with new information as we are able to share it. We invite suggestions for additional resources to be included.
Resources
Information to enhance the future health and excellence of academic geography departments
The AAG Geography Department Chairs’ community is a critical resource for geography program leaders to share information on best practices, ideas, and resources for running a successful program. Incoming, current, or former geography/GIS or related program leaders are eligible to join the listserv.
Contact us to joinThis is a central repository for visitors to access and utilize data on geography higher education as a field of study. We encourage researchers to use the data as a foundation for research projects and publications, as well as insights into the field that might inform your own strategic planning.
Learn moreThe Professional Journey section of the AAG website includes information and resources on geography careers that can be used to inform students and potential majors about the many dynamic and exciting career opportunities available with a degree in geography.
- Geography Career Profiles — Learn about geography careers from profiles of professional geographers working in education, business, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.
- Private Sector Careers — Learn how geographers are creating positive change within private companies large and small as they begin to recognize the value of geographic analysis in their everyday operations.
- Federal Government Careers — The federal government has numerous, varied, and a constantly growing number of geography-related positions due to an expanding need for geographic expertise and analysis.
- State and Local Government Careers — Geographers are involved in a variety of state and local government organizations and departments that focus on transportation, health, environmental protection, urban planning, economic development, and more.
- Nonprofit and NGO Careers — With their ability to understand complex relationships between people, place, community, environment, and society, geographers are well positioned to apply their disciplinary perspectives to the nonprofit sector.
- Academic Careers — There are many academic career paths available for geographers. These can vary, from a tenured faculty position at a large institution, to part-time adjunct teaching at a community college, to influencing the younger generation as a K-12 teacher.
The AAG’s YouTube channel features a wide variety of content that can be valuable for geography program leaders. Subscribe to the channel for the latest updates!
- A World of Possibilities is Waiting for You with a Degree in Geography — With skills in geography, your students have tools to work for respected companies, universities, nonprofit organizations, and in public service for local, state, or national governments.
- AAG Geography Student Recruitment Webinar — First offered at the 2019 AAG Regional Division meetings, this workshop covers strategies and resources that can help you and your geography program in recruiting and advising students.
- Preparing Geography Students for the 21st Century Workforce: A Workshop — Created by Joseph Kerski (Esri) in collaboration with the AAG, this workshop prepares geography educators to inform their students about career opportunities for geography graduates in the modern workforce.
Founded by Professor Ken Foote of the University of Connecticut with the support of the National Science Foundation and the AAG, the Geography Faculty Development Alliance (GFDA) offers an annual Department Leadership workshop for all geographers interested in improving their programs — chairs, deans, associate chairs, academic advisers, provosts and other administrators, as well as all faculty interested in leadership issues. The workshop is particularly well suited for individuals who may soon assume leadership positions. Coming soon: 2024 Department Leadership workshop (June 17-18, 2024).
Learn MoreThe AAG annual meeting typically includes many in-person, virtual and hybrid sessions within its wider professional development curated track that are relevant to geography department leaders. If you plan to attend the annual meeting, consider attending the featured sessions below organized by the Healthy Departments Committee:
Who we are
Committee members
David H. Kaplan
Kent State University
Chair
David H. Kaplan
Chair
Gary Langham
AAG
Ex officio
Gary Langham
Ex officio
Derek Alderman
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Derek Alderman
Perry Carter
Texas Tech University
Perry Carter
Mike DeVivo
Grand Rapids Community College
Mike DeVivo
Ken Foote
University of Connecticut
Ken Foote
Jon Harbor
Purdue University
Jon Harbor
Jacqueline Housel
Sinclair Community College
Jacqueline Housel
Deborah Martin
Clark University
Deborah Martin
William Moseley
Macalester University
William Moseley
Alec Murphy
University of Oregon
Alec Murphy
Benjamin Ofori-Amoah
Western Michigan University
Benjamin Ofori-Amoah
Shannon O’Lear
University of Kansas
Shannon O’Lear
Aondover Tarhule
Illinois State University
Aondover Tarhule
History
Background on the initiative
AAG Past President Vicky Lawson launched the Healthy Departments Initiative to strengthen the leadership and administrative skills of department chairpersons in the discipline. The project has organized a series of workshops to facilitate department chairs and facilitate sharing of successful strategies for maintaining healthy departments.