Huge congratulations to Dr. Katrina Stack (PhD ‘26), who will be joining the University of South Florida this fall as Assistant Professor of U.S. Public History!

Officially a Swiftie Geographer ✨ read “‘A Place in This World’: Critical Placemaking and Identity Formation at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour,” published now in GeoHumanities! www.tandfonline.com/eprint/FYJDV...

“‘A Place in This World’: Critical Placemaking and Identity Formation at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour” was co-authored by Dr. Katrina Stack while she was completing her PhD in our department. The article is now published in GeoHumanities! Read it at the 🔗 here: www.tandfonline.com/eprint/FYJDV...

Dr. Seth Kannarr (PhD, Spring ‘26) and Dr. Derek Alderman just published a new article for @theconversation.com, “Summer camps remain a battleground over what it means to be American.” Read it now at the 🔗 below! theconversation.com/summer-camps...

Summer camps remain a battleground over what it means to be American

At a time when Americans disagree deeply over the meaning of citizenship, belonging and education, summer camps remain places where visions of the nation are communicated to young people.

theconversation.com

Proud to publish w/ @sethographer.bsky.social. Summer camp nostalgia hides hard questions. Who got to attend? Who was excluded? What values were taught? And what vision of America did camp ask children to embrace? @geographers.bsky.social @utkgeography.bsky.social theconversation.com/summer-camps...

Summer camps remain a battleground over what it means to be American

At a time when Americans disagree deeply over the meaning of citizenship, belonging and education, summer camps remain places where visions of the nation are communicated to young people.

theconversation.com

Can you believe it’s been exactly a month since the doctoral hooding ceremony? We’re so proud of UTK Geography’s newest PhDs — Drs. Caleb Gore, Katrina Stack, and Seth Kannarr! 🎓🍊

At a time when geographic names are turned into political weapons, we need principled frameworks that are participatory, research-driven, reparative, & paired with education. New piece w/Christine K. Johnson on Reconciliation in Place Names @utkgeography.bsky.social escholarship.org/uc/item/4tp6...

A recent article in the GR by Jack Swab explores #Northwestern University as a preeminent center for geographic thought in the U.S. Read it here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... @utkgeography.bsky.social @americangeo.bsky.social

Congratulations to Ian Scott, who received an Achievement Award in Natural Sciences 2026 Exhibit of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURECA). Ian worked with Professor Sally Horn to develop a long-term fire history from a lake sediment core. • • 📸: Sally Horn

Join us for our Lunch & Learn with our Earth Day speaker, National Geographic Photographer and BBC Cinematographer Martin Gregus! 📅 Thursday, April 23 🕦 11:30AM-1:00PM 📍 Frieson Black Cultural Center 102/103 🍛 Catered by Tarik's North African

Join us on Thursday for our Earth Day Speaker, National Geographic Photographer and BBC Cinematographer Martin Gregus! 📅Thursday, April 23 🕞 Reception at 3:30pm with seminar to follow at 4:00pm 📍 SU 262 B/C

Huzzah! Drs. Katrina Stack and Reagan Yessler (PhD ‘25) just published a new article for @theconversation.com, “As renaissance fairs become big business, can they retain their counterculture roots?” Read it now at the 🔗 below! theconversation.com/as-renaissan...

As renaissance fairs become big business, can they retain their counterculture roots?

To what extent has the line between playful community space and commercial spectacle been blurred?

theconversation.com

Join us this week for our Spring 2026 Colloquium Series Ralston Speaker, Dr. Shih-Lung Shaw, and his presentation "Humans in GIScience and GeoAI." 📅 Thursday, April 16 🕒Reception: 3:00–3:50 PM (BGB 406) 🕓 Presentation: 4:05 PM (WAB M307)

Congratulations to Andrea Staten, who successfully defended her MS thesis, "Planning for Future Energy Demand: A GIS-Based Approach for Strategic Grid Expansion." Special thanks to her advisor, Dr. Shih-Lung Shaw, and her committee members, Drs. Hannah Herrero and Hyun Kim.

Congratulations to Dr. Caleb Gore who successfully defended his dissertation: “Fueling the Climate Crisis? Developing the New Carbon Economy in Appalachia.” Special thank you to his advisor, Dr. Nikki Luke, and his committee members Drs. LaToya Eaves, Gabe Schwartzman, and Paul Gellert (Sociology).

We 🫶 our grad students! Our master’s and doctoral students do it all—balancing coursework and thesis or dissertation research while showing up as incredible TAs, teaching associates, and research assistants.🧡🌎 #gpsaw #gradstudentappreciationweek

Congratulations to Dr. Seth Kannarr, who successfully defended his dissertation: “What’s in a Name? Reimagining the Geography of Naming Designations in the USA National Park System.”

Curious about AI+Research in Geography? Join us for a webinar April 30th with guest expert, Prof. Bing Zhou of @utkgeography.bsky.social Sign up by April 29!

IGU/UGI Research Methods in Geography@igumethodsgeog.bsky.social · 4mo ago

In this edition’s featured essay, Graduate Student Brian Boyce @utkgeography.bsky.social reflects on the importance of diasporic place-making in the academy and the curation of the Caribbean Currents exhibit at @utknoxville.bsky.social Read the essay at the link in our bio.

CGSGNewsletter_Vol5 : simplebooklet.com

CGSGNewsletter_Vol5 : simplebooklet.com

simplebooklet.com

Join us for our next colloquium speaker, Dr. Jessie Wilkerson! Dr. Wilkerson will present a talk titled: "Are We to Be Subjected to This Always: Feminism, Sexual Assault, and Women in the Prison Movement in the South." 📅Friday, March 27 🕧12:30pm-1:30pm 📍BGB 301

PhD Candidate Brian Boyce has been selected as a 2026 NYU Faculty First Look Scholar! Hosted by NYU Arts & Science , this highly competitive national program recognizes emerging scholars with exceptional potential to become future faculty leaders.

We’re excited to share a brand‑new funding opportunity for undergraduate students majoring or minoring in Sustainability — the S. David Freeman Sustainability Scholarship! ✨ ✈️ The scholarship will provide support for travel for study abroad, conferences, or workshops

Where can you find UTK at #AAG2026 next week? Scroll this 🧵 or click the 🔗 below to check out some of the papers, posters, and panels we’re part of at the annual meeting in San Francisco starting March 17! www.canva.com/design/DAHCq...

❗️Publication alert ❗️Dr. Sally Horn and collaborators have published a paper in Physical Geography on a new sediment record of environmental history from a landslide-dammed lake in Costa Rica. Read it at the 🔗 here: www.tandfonline.com/eprint/EMIUG...

Michael Camponovo (GIS Outreach Coordinator), Tim Kane (GIS Lab Manager), Ellie Bernstein (Undergraduate Student), and Linus Parrish (Research Specialist, UTIA) were in the field recently, collecting UAV data in support of a community outreach project with Keep Knoxville Beautiful and Knox Heritage.

Last week, the Friesen Black Cultural Center hosted “Taste of Appalachia,” featuring regional food and live bluegrass music. Huge shoutout to our own Jake Watkins for helping plan the event, and it was wonderful to see folks from our department there in support!

Dr. Derek Alderman, Dr. Katrina Stack, and PhD Candidate Seth Kannarr recently published a new article, “Bringing The Conversation into the Geography Classroom: Public Storytelling as Authentic Learning” in The Professional Geographer. Read at the 🔗 here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Dr. LaToya Eaves and her co-authors recently published a new article, “Fostering Harassment-Free Geography Departments: Proactive Strategies for Departments and Their Leaders” in The Professional Geographer. Read it at the 🔗 below! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... @spacedemands.bsky.social

At AAG Detroit in 2025, Dr. LaToya Eaves was in dialogue with Drs. Katherine McKittrick, Willie Jamaal Wright, and Kevin Grove about the pathbreaking book, Black Geographies and the Politics of Place. @spacedemands.bsky.social @blackgeographies.bsky.social @geographers.bsky.social

Dr. Nikki Luke just published a new article for The Conversation US, “Data centers told to pitch in as storms and cold weather boost power demand.” Read it now at the 🔗 here: theconversation.com/data-centers...

Data centers told to pitch in as storms and cold weather boost power demand

The government directed data centers to turn on backup generation in parts of the US. Expanding distributed generation could improve grid resilience.

theconversation.com