Volume 42, Number 4 • April 2007 In This Issue Enhancing Diversity in Geography uring the past five years, the Darden, long a leader in diversity AAG has undertaken a compre- research, mentoring, and actions, as well D hensive survey of the state of as the chair of the AAG’s current Task diversity in geography, and initiated a Force, will be honored as recipient of the focused set of actions to enhance diver- AAG’s 2006 Enhancing Diversity Award. sity within our discipline. From the Meridian ....................2 While these activities have been 2006 AAG Enhancing President’s Column....................3 broad based and included many AAG Diversity Award AAG Washington Monitor ........9 members, the core organizing force Since beginning his career in academe Quarter Century ........................14 behind those efforts has been the AAG as a young assistant professor in 1969, Joe New Appointments ..................14 Diversity Task Force, chaired by Joe Darden Darden has been both a personal and pro- Members of Note ......................15 Darden. It is fitting that two significant fessional role model for African-American Call for Papers..............................15 milestones relating to these diversity initiatives will geography students, and he has long provided leader- Grants and Competitions ......16 occur at this year’s AAG Annual Meeting. ship for AAG efforts to achieve greater inclusion of Grants and Awards....................19 First, the AAG Diversity Task Force will present its African-Americans, Latinos, and women in our society Books Received ..........................20 “Final Report and Recommendations for the AAG and Award Deadlines........................20 for Departments as Agents of Change.” Second, Joe Continued on page 2 Jobs in Geography....................22 New Members ............................30 Events ............................................31 S.F. Bay Area Family Activities f there was ever an AAG meeting for the whole cars for no additional fare. Pick up a MUNI Map family, this is it. San Francisco offers something while you’re there – it’s great for finding your way I for everyone in your family, from babies to around town. Finally, check out free walking tours grandparents. available from City Guides www.sfcityguides.org before you leave home Preparing for your Visit You won’t need a car and you’ll Walking Tours have lots of trouble parking if Chinatown isn’t far from the conference hotel. you’ve got one. For out-of-town Grant Avenue’s small shops offer intriguing and inex- outings, look into short-term pensive goods. Turn left on Jackson Street from rentals including Zipcars http:// Grant and loop through Exquisite Supernatural to www.zipcar.com. For getting admire all kinds of paper items to burn in temples for around town, MUNI (the Munic- your ancestors’ benefit: paper money, cell phones, ipal Railway) is best. A weekly jewelry, toothbrushes and more. Turn left on Ross MUNI Fast Pass available at a Alley halfway up the street to visit Golden Gate For- modest cost ($15 adult/$10 child) tune Cookie Factory (hot samples are free; fresh for- from the Visitor Information tune cookies are $3 a bag.) One block further, turn onto Stockton Street, the Chinese shopping street; CREDIT: JACK HOLLINGSWORTH Center on Market Street at Pow- Family-oriented activities abound in San Francisco. ell lets you ride buses, trolleys, MUNI subway lines and cable Continued on page 6 Take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) from S.F. International Airport to the conference hotel (Powell Street) for only $5.15. www.aag.org AAG Newsletter 1 April 2007 From the Meridian Enhancing Diversity continued from page 1 AAG Newsletter and in the discipline of geography. His research achieving substantial progress in diversifying of the Association of American has been at the forefront of diversity and equity geography. It also undertook action on a set of Geographers issues in geography for three decades. Darden doable activities by working in close coordina- has worked beyond academia to bring local, tion with AAG staff and AAG Council, includ- state, and national attention to the inequalities ing co-sponsoring race/ethnicity and place forced on African-Americans in the U.S. This conferences; establishing a diversity clearing- Douglas Richardson, Publisher work included serving as a consultant for the house; developing strategic relationships with and Managing Editor NAACP in assessing the status of blacks in Howard University and other minority serving Jim Ketchum, higher education, for the Chicago Board of institutions; developing career information to Editor Education in evaluating Chicago’s potential for promote geography to underrepresented groups; AAG Voice 202-234-1450 desegregation, and for the U.S. District Court conducting a survey on the state of diversity in AAG Fax 202-234-2744 in reviewing county school departments; continuing out- [email protected] desegregation plans. reach that promotes diversity in www.aag.org A leading scholar in urban the AAG newsletter; encourag- social geography, Darden’s ing participation of underrepre- USPS 987-380 ISSN 0275-3995 extensive publications include sented undergraduates at the landmark studies analyzing race AAG annual meetings in part The AAG Newsletter ISSN 0275-3995 relations in three North Ameri- through the AAG Conference is published monthly with July/August can cities: Afro-Americans in Pitts- Assistants Program; supporting burgh: The Residential Segregation of a AAG funding proposals that combined, by the Association of Amer- People (1973); Detroit: Race and enhance diversity at various ican Geographers, 1710 16th Street Uneven Development (1987); and points of intervention from K- NW, Washington, DC 20009-3198. The Significance of White Supremacy Richardson 12 through university levels; and The cost of an annual subscription is in the Canadian Metropolis of Toronto bridging to existing initiatives $25.00 The subscription price is (2004). Darden’s research has been highly influ- ongoing throughout the discipline. included in the annual dues of the ential in urban social geography, and addresses The resulting final report documents Association. Not available to non- both basic theoretical questions in geography progress made toward these ten targets and members. Periodicals postage paid in and applications to practical problems. He is provides geography programs with a variety of Washington, DC. All news items and also author or co-author of a lengthy list of strategies to alter “business as usual” to mark letters, including job listings, should be technical reports on a variety of racial issues, “measurable change” in increased representa- sent to the Editor at the address below including school desegregation, housing dis- tion of women and minorities. The Task Force or to [email protected]. crimination, and the status of African-American recommendations draw from past experience All Newsletter materials must women, for such entities as the U.S. Department with diversity initiatives, incorporate informa- arrive at the Association office by the of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. tion gathered from departments, consider the 1st of the month preceding the month Census Bureau, and the Rockefeller Foundation. current national demographic context of of the publication. This includes job The AAG’s Enhancing Diversity Award under-representation, and take into account listings. Material will be published on will be presented to Joe Darden at the AAG elements of other model disciplinary initiatives a space available basis and at the dis- Awards Luncheon on Saturday, April 21, that have affected change. cretion of the editorial staff. 2007, in San Francisco. The DTF concludes that departments— When your address changes, please as the reproductive core of the discipline— notify the Association office immediate- Diversity Report Focuses on are best positioned to break the historical ly. Six weeks notice is necessary to Departments as Agents of Change cycle of underrepresentation in geography. insure uninterrupted delivery of AAG The AAG Diversity Task Force (DTF), cre- Detailed recommendations for departments publications. To assist the AAG office in ated by AAG Council in 2003, will present its address recruitment strategies, departmental final report and recommendations at the AAG climate, mentoring, student financial sup- your address change, include the address Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The report port, curriculum offerings, and other topics. label with your change of address. culminates a three-year effort to enhance The AAG’s Diversity Task Force Report Postmaster: Send address changes diversity in geography, reflecting the most will be presented in a special session on Thurs- to AAG Newsletter, 1710 16th Street recent organized institutional effort by the day, April 19 at 3:00pm in the Mendocino NW, Washington, DC 20009-3198, or AAG to promote a more diverse discipline. Room of the Nikko Hotel, directly across from [email protected]. The DTF focused its efforts on better under- the San Francisco Hilton. standing the status of diversity in the discipline and on development and recommendations for Continued on page 5 2 AAG Newsletter www.aag.org President’s Column Volume 42, Number 4 Fundraising and Healthy Departments f all the tasks that department chairs alumni are looking for opportunities to Getting involved in fundraising and and program directors take on, reconnect with their department in a sub- development can be remarkably simple. A O there