Newsletter, Spring 2006
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UTK GEOGRAPHY Newsletter of the University of Tennessee Department of Geography Spring 2006 Growth and Change by Bruce Ralston The Depart- research relationships with excellent faculty ment of members in several other departments at UT. Geography is We have been able to increase our scholar- going through ship, improve our curriculum, and continue our a significant outreach programs. I have enjoyed basking in growth spurt. the glow of the hard work of others. We will add I also have learned many new things two new in the past six years. Among the most impor- faculty mem- tant have been aspects of human nature bers at the start of the next academic year. (mostly my own), the importance of liberal Dr. Liem Tran, who works in GIS and envi- arts education, and the central role we can ronmental geography, has accepted an ap- play in that endeavor. The University of pointment as an Assistant Professor. He Tennessee is populated by many extraordinar- already has research projects with our col- ily gifted and dedicated people, some of the leagues at ORNL and TVA. Also joining our best of whom are in this department. Working faculty will be Dr. Ronald Kalafsky. Dr. with the students, faculty and staff of the Kalafsky is a leader in the study of global Department of Geography has reinforced my trends in industrial geography. His work is belief that cultures of excellence and civility fascinating and appeals not only to geogra- need not be mutually exclusive. For this I will phers but also to anyone interested in the always be grateful. changing global economy. We are thrilled to have Drs. Tran and Kalafsky join our faculty. Another area of growth is in external funding. The TGA Turns 20 Drs. Sally Horn and Ken Orvis, along with The Tennessee Geographic Alliance Lynn Champion of the College of Arts and was created in 1986 by Dr. Sid Jumper as one Sciences, have been awarded a $1.97 million of seven pilot Alliances under the newly grant for earth science outreach from the established Geography Education Program of National Science Foundation. That program the National Geographic Society. Mr. Gilbert will start this semester. Grosvenor, President and Chairman of the Change is also in the offing, as this Board of the National Geographic Society, had marks my sixth and final year as Department created the Geography Education Program to Head. The past six years have witnessed address the alarming state of geographic substantial growth in the Department. When I illiteracy among the nation’s youth, as well as became Department Head, we were just among its adult population. Mr. Grosvenor moving into the Burchfiel Geography Building. offered a small amount of start-up funding Over the past six years, the number of majors ($6,000), and a promise of matching up to has increased by at least a factor of four, the $50,000 in support obtained from state govern- Dept. of Geography 304 Burchfiel Bldg. amount of externally funded research has ments and other sources to help fund Alliance Knoxville, TN 37996 risen sharply, we have added three new programs focused on K-12 geography literacy. faculty lines, our students have won numerous Opportunities were also provided through the awards, and we have developed collaborative NGS Geography Education Program for the Continued on Page 2 TGA...Continued from Page 1 education, and provided 42 Tennessee Alliance to select some seven workshops of teachers in 1986, five in 1987, and four during one to four ensuing years, to attend four-week all-expenses- weeks in paid geography institutes at the National Geo- duration to graphic Society in Washington, DC. Those who 1,061 teachers. attended the NGS institutes in 1986, 1987, and Through beyond, have joined hands with others complet- partnering ing Tennessee Alliance institutes to provide a with organiza- core of excellent and dedicated Teacher Con- tions such as sultants which continues to grow and mature. the Population The Tennessee Alliance, initially operating Reference only within the Knoxville area, decided that its Bureau, the first task should be to go directly to experienced United States teachers for information about their needs. In Geological response to a randomly distributed invitation to Survey, Ameri- local area schools, a surprisingly large turnout of Sid Jumper can Geophysi- 123 teachers attended an exploratory meeting on cal Union, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus Public Education Foundation and the Great during the spring of 1986. The teachers were Smoky Mountains National Park, the Alliance virtually unanimous in asking for help in acquir- has been able to offer unusually creative and ing geographic content, and in asserting an beneficial programs for teachers. Moreover, already sufficient background in teaching in 1997, Mr. and Mrs. J. Harrison Livingston methods. They also asked for help in acquiring donated $250,000, which was matched by the maps and teaching materials. Thus came the National decisions of the Alliance to emphasize content Geographic over method, to provide as rich an array of Society materials to teachers as possible, to treat Education teachers as first class professionals, and to Foundation provide continuing opportunities for them to (NGSEF) to interact with distinguished university and private establish a sector geographers. The Alliance has also been $500,000 guided by a philosophy that promotes self- endowment for learning, that encourages development of the Alliance. “learning frameworks” rather than memorization Additional sums of places and facts about places, that provides were provided for active student involvement in their own for the endow- learning, that emphasizes analytical processes ment (and through which students can adequately interpret matched by the dynamic world in which they live, and that NGSEF) by the views the desired end product of education as family of Bruce an open door to discovery rather than “knowing” Ted Schmudde Ralston, and a particular set of facts and figures. Emphasis through contri- is given to an understanding of utilizing the butions from teachers who had benefited from “geographic perspective” rather than memoriza- Alliance programs, to raise the endowment tion of places and facts about those places. total to some $740,000. Later, after declines Under the leadership of Sid Jumper and in the stock market resulted in erosion of the Ted Schmudde, who served as co-coordinators endowment to approximately $600,000, the through the late 1990s, and now under the National Geographic Society (NGS) trans- guidance of Kurt Butefish, the Alliance has ferred $400,000 into the Tennessee Alliance grown to over 5000 members with area chapters endowment from the Williams Fund, a major in eight cities around the state. The organization has expended over $3.5 million on geography Page 2 Continued on Page 4 Investment Opportunities in Geography Gifts to the Geography Department may be designed for a specific purpose or fund or given to the department’s Enrichment Fund as discretionary funding. Be assured that it will make a difference! Existing funds are shown below. Please contact Bruce Ralston if you would like more information or if you would like to target your gift for a purpose not shown. The Development Offices of the College and University would be pleased to have you ask about other forms of giving, such as bequests, charitable lead trusts, and gifts of the remainder interest in a personal residence or farm, and they are set up to help you evaluate the tax ben- efits of different gift options. All contributors making gifts of a hundred dollars or more are eligible for University recognition via the Gift Club. The Tennessee Geography Education Fund – Robert G. Long Outstanding Graduate This endowment began in 1997 with gifts from Student Award Fund – The Robert G. Long J. Harrison Livingston and the Tennessee Award, established to honor Professor Long Geographic Alliance that were matched by the who retired in 1979, honors one or two gradu- National Geographic Society. Another endow- ate students each year for superior scholarship ment is being established and the National and service to the department. The students are Geographic Society can match an additional recognized on a plaque and receive checks of $500,000. $50. Stewart K. McCroskey Memorial Fund – Geography Department Scholarship Fund – Established by the McCroskey family after This fund provides one or more tuition scholar- Stewart’s death. This fund supports field ships to outstanding undergraduate geography research and professional travel by Geography majors. students and faculty. The Geography Department Enrichment Sid Jumper Teachers’ Scholarship Fund – Fund – This fund may be used to meet special Established in 1995 when Sid Jumper stepped needs as determined by the department faculty. down from the role of Head of the department, In recent years, it has supplemented our this fund supports graduate training for K-12 operating budget and provided travel support to teachers. professional meetings for faculty and students. Bill & Donna Cobble Geography Enhance- The Geography Technological Enrichment ment Endowment – Proceeds from this fund, Fund – Established in 1995 by two anonymous established in 1995 by Bill & Donna Cobble in donors, the funds are used to provide our support of undergraduate education in Geogra- computer research labs and classrooms with up phy at UTK, are used to enhance the educa- to date equipment and software. tional experiences of undergraduate students. Geography Endowment Fund – Donations are Edwin H. & Elizabeth H. Hammond Endow- invested by the university. The principal ment Fund in Geography – Established to generates quarterly interest to the Geography honor Professor Hammond, who retired in 1987 Enrichment Fund. and who continues to match gifts to the fund, this endowment brings a distinguished lecturer to the department each year. Please send your gift to: Department of Geography, 304 Burchfield Geography Building, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-0925.