Hello from the Department of Geography! I write to wish you well and share recent news and highlights.
We are proud of how all members of the department have come through this extraordinarily difficult year, showing grit, flexibility and commitment to one another and especially to students. We are delighted to be granting nearly 150 Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. degrees – our newest group of remarkable UW Geography alums. If all goes as planned, we expect to be back to campus and in Smith Hall for autumn quarter!
In student news, we’re delighted to announce Lizzy Theirl as the first recipient of the Gerald W. Halmo Scholarship, awarded to undergraduate geography students to support their research, public service, or other projects that benefit communities and further their development as geographers. Lizzy will collaborate with colleagues at Granite House, a residential home for young adults living with brain trauma, around design and construction of therapeutic sensory outdoor spaces, a project that brings together elements of her double degree in geography and neuroscience. The Halmo Scholarship is made possible by a gift from the family of Gerald W. Halmo, a 1960 UW Geography B.A. alum who showed an inspiring lifelong commitment to public service and equity. Meanwhile, our undergraduate student research group, Plenum, has played a crucial role in keeping students connected with each other and with the department this year, thanks to its leadership team: Arghya Kannadaguli, Bukhari Shakil, Aditi Teriar, Stella Qiu, Kaiji Obras and Melissa Xie. Plenum publishes an online journal of undergraduate research (hot off the press is the 2020-2021 edition!) and organizes co-curricular events for geography students. Ph.D. student and singer-songwriter Austin Crane was interviewed in American Songwriter about the how his education as a geographer shaped his recently released album When The Day Leaves.
Geography faculty continue to put their research and expertise to work in vital forums. Professor Vicky Lawson lectured on “Reimagining Social Care and Racial Justice” in 2020: The Course, a campus-wide undergraduate course exploring how UW’s leading scholars and educators are working to meet the challenges of this moment - from racial political violence to starkly unequal impacts of the COVID19 pandemic, and much more. Professors Carrie Freshour and Kim England were leading voices in a vital panel discussion for Labor Archives of Washington, “Essential Stories of Frontline Workers: The Struggle for Rights & Survival During COVID-19," together with a panel of workers in the healthcare, grocery/food processing, agriculture and hotel sectors. Emeritus professor Bill Beyers received a commendation from Governor Inslee for his decades of work on the Washington State Input-Output Model, a crucial economic analysis tool. Gov. Inslee writes: “It is a tribute to your foresight and engagement that Washington is one of the only states in the country with a unique version of this tool, using state-specific data.”
As friends and alumni, you play a crucial role in supporting these accomplishments. We are so grateful for your gifts, your involvement in department events and programs, and your efforts to champion geography in your professional and personal communities. Special thanks to all who made gifts to the department for Husky Giving Day 2021, vital contributions that unlocked a generous challenge gift from one of our alums. Please keep in touch as we are always happy to hear from you!
Warm wishes,
Sarah Elwood-Faustino, Professor and Chair
