THE DEPARTMENT OF GLOBAL STUDIES AND GEOGRAPHY ANNUAL REVIEW, 2016-2017
Welcome to the Department of Global Studies and Geography On behalf of the Department, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to our overview of the 2016-17 academic year. This year has seen the continued growth of our Geographic Information Systems (GIS) programs. Our new BS major in GIS will enroll our first students in the Fall. This enables students in the Natural Sciences and Computer Science/Engineering to add a skill set that is increasingly sought by employers in multiple industries. With the Department of Computer Science we have also introduced a new joint minor in Computer Science and GIS. We also substantially redesigned our BA Geography major, providing students with more diverse course options. All incoming majors now need to declare either a general Geography track or a specialization in GIS. These changes are already bearing fruit, as we have seen a very large growth in our GIS and Geography enrollments. We have also continued to adjust our Global Studies major and minor to allow students to take advantage of new courses as they are added to the Hofstra curriculum. This was another successful year in terms of the quality of our majors and graduates, and in the various professional, academic and personal successes of our alumni. It is always a pleasure tracking our alumni, as they pass their professional exams, finish their graduate degrees, change careers, travel and so forth. It is a testament to the strong bond that we have created in this Department, that it remains easy to follow these career and personal milestones; they stay in touch with us, sometimes directly, but also on our Department’s Facebook and LinkedIn Groups. The successful and varied career paths of our graduates never cease to amaze – medical doctors, news anchors, lawyers, teachers, corporate leaders, advocates in public policy institutions, GIS practitioners, urban planners, PR gurus, journalists and even a college lacrosse coach! As can be seen from the news section of our website, our faculty continue to be highly productive in service to the university and broader community and in scholarly productivity. Despite our busy research agenda, we remain a student focused department, always making time to provide advisement for students and continuing to receive excellent student teaching evaluations. I would like to thank the Provost, Dr Gail Simmons, who has continued supporting our important Department events, including providing funding for the Geography Honors Society lunch and our student club‘s (Get Global), ‘Diversity Dinners.’ A thank you also to the Cultural Center for funding Professor Francis Galgano’s, well-attended presentation held during Geography Awareness Week. We are also grateful for the funding from the Provost’s Office to help our students present papers and posters at national conferences. This support is much appreciated, as is the very helpful environment, fostered by the Dean of HCLAS, Bernard Firestone, and the various members of his office. Dean Firestone is retiring this year and I want to especially acknowlege his crucial advocacy for the creation of the Global Studies major and his support for a freestanding Global Studies and Geography Department in 2008. We owe him a great debt of gratitude and wish you success in your post-Dean career at Hofstra! Congratulations to all of our excellent graduates and I want to thank all the faculty, staff, administrators and students that have made the running of the Department possible. I trust that the next academic year will be as productive and enjoyable. Dr. Grant Saff, Professor and Chair Grant.Saff@hofstra.edu
THE ADVANTAGES OF GLOBAL STUDIES AND GEOGRAPHY • We offer the following Programs: • BA, Geography • BA Geography with a concentration in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) • BA, Global Studies • BS, GIS • Pre-Health, Geography or Global Studies • Computer Science/GIS minor • We prepare students for a wide-variety of future careers. Geography has become more sought after by employers particularly for those with knowledge of GIS, while Global Studies was recently named among the top 10 majors for “the new economy.” • We encourage all of our majors to study abroad and/or do for-credit internships. • Our Spring semester “European Odyssey,” provides students with the opportunity to earn a full semester of credits while studying in Europe. • We help students tailor a program of study that’s right for them and help them shape rewarding post-Hofstra careers. • We provide dedicated advisement to help students complete our programs as costeffectively as possible. • Many of our majors are also in Honors College and we encourage our students to undertake Departmental Honors. • We have an active student club, Get Global, and Mu Kappa our own our chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the Geography Honors Society.
Global Studies, providing careers for a global economy Global Studies is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with the theoretical and practical tools to critically analyze the processes of economic, political and cultural change that have collectively become known as ‘globalization.’ Global Studies draws on the theoretical and practical insights from disciplines and programs across the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and business, providing students with the tools and knowledge to interpret our interconnected and constantly changing world so that they can excel in today’s global marketplace.
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“We get that our greatest opportunities are now global — we can be the generation that ends poverty, that ends disease. We get that our greatest challenges need global responses too — no country can fight climate change alone or prevent pandemics. Progress now requires coming together not just as cities or nations, but also as a global community.” Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook
Educating students for the the new economy • Employers seek graduates with an interdisciplinary background, who have studied abroad, completed internships and who understand global society. • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a “high growth industry,” with an estimated 10-year growth of over 330,000 geospatial professionals. • We offer the relevant and rigorous courses needed to compete within the global economy.
Geography, more in demand than ever “The job category of "geographer" is poised for …. dramatic growth, with job openings projected to increase nearly 30 percent by 2020.” Doug Richardson, Executive Director, American Association of Geographers, 2013
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GeoLounge notes eight ways geographic skills enhance your resume: *GIS Expertise *Design Skills *Environmental Management *Resource Finder *Multiculturist *Multidisciplinary Generalist *Field Researcher *Market Researcher Source
Map created by students in our Geography 7 class, “Fun with Maps and GIS” under the direction of Dr. Dalton
GIS, providing new jobs across industries and sectors. We offer both a BA and BS major in GIS
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Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Industries Include:
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Knowledge of GIS and Geography are now more critical for healthcare professionals Diseases do not respect international boundaries and it is increasingly necessary for medical professionals to have knowledge of other societies and how disease vectors spread globally. Medical professionals also are making use of GIS skills to map and track diseases both within and between countries and even within the human body. We offer Pre-Health majors in both Global Studies and Geography and some of our graduates are pursuing their education in healthcare professions, including entering medical school. To quote a recent article from MIT (Sloan School), the “Prognosis for GIS in Health Care is Excellent.� Source
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Global Geo Services are creating jobs and helping drive economic growth “…Google announced…mapping technology has helped create jobs and push economic growth worldwide. Mapping tools such as GPS, location data, satellite imagery, and apps like Google Maps and Google Earth have caused mapping to flourish…The report reveals that the global geo services industry grosses up to $270 billion per year and dishes out $90 billion in wages, in addition to employing more than 500,000 people. Source
Majors, Tempe Staples and CJ Burka at the AAG Meeting, Boston, 2017
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Globally engaged faculty
Dr. Craig Dalton was co-organizer and panelist on “Critical Cartography, Critical Data: Confronting New Forms of Geospatial Information at the 2016 North American Cartographic Information Society annual meeting. Dr. Grant Saff, at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 11/21/16.
Socially relevant programs, promoting critical thinking “Global Studies has…helped me see the world from another's perspective…A common theme throughout every class has been "stay open minded.” Global Studies has provided understanding how seemingly isolated factors actually interact and helped me see how I could actually predict social, economic, and political events that will effect causes I care about. I have a greater appreciation for the political process, dissecting the news, and moreover, I have a greater ability to ask critical questions and maintain a healthy level of skepticism…Having taken GIS and a cartographic design class, I have been able to produce maps revealing social determinants of health, like the association between poverty and postpartum depression. Most importantly, I have learned being a cartographer gives me the power of narrative, a great power that comes with greater responsibility to uphold the truth and protect people's rights…I hope one day for my research and advocacy work to benefit equitable access to care and change negative cultural attitudes that marginalize women. In doing so, I know I'll be touching the lives, and in a way, helping raise the next generation to be better.” 2016 Graduate (double major, Global Studies & Geography with a minor in Community Health)
Students and faculty at the People’s Climate March, New York City, 2014
March for Science, D.C., 2017
We focus on teaching excellence Our faculty are among focus on teaching excellence and we do everything we can to make our classes relevant, challenging and interesting for our students.
Professors Lippencott and Girma I am constantly captivated by her lectures.
He is such an amazing professor. He knows what he is talking about and makes the class interesting.
iGlobalization is one of the best classes I’ve ever taken at Hofstra. Dr. Jensen is one of Hofstra’s finest professors. She is a mentor, teacher, and friend to all.
Dr. Jensen, Hofstra Mentor of the Year, ‘14
Our Full-Time Faculty
Her knowledge about global issues is amazing. Professor Qiu
Professor Korattyswaroopam
She has been to most of the places she teaches about. Amazing professor! I first took an online class with her and then added Global Studies as a second major because of her.
Professors Janer, Longmire, Saff (Chair), Dalton, Rodrigue, and Jensen
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Delivering Academic Excellence
Students and faculty at the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting in Boston, April 2017
Sarah Gerwens, ‘17 receives the Undergraduate Library Research Award. She is pursuing a graduate degree at the London School of Economics.
Jeremy Moscow, ‘16 receives The Washington Center’s Award for Civic Engagement
Students presenting at UG Research Day, Fall 2016
Students presenting at UG Research Day, Spring 2017
In 2014/15, almost half of our graduating seniors earned Departmental honors, University honors, or Latin honors. Between 2011/14, 70% of all social science students who graduated with Departmental Honors were our majors. • In 2011, 2012 and 2017 one of our majors won the Undergraduate Library Research Award. • In 2015, more of our majors graduated with Latin Honors than any other Major in the Social Sciences. • In 2016, 41% of all departmental honors in the Kalikow School were from our Department. • In 2014 (the first year of the award) and 2015, one of our majors won the Firestone Award for summer research, • Every Spring, many of our majors present their research at the Colonial Academic Alliance Conferences and students also present work at Regional and International Geography Meetings.
Professor Francis Galgano, Villanova Univ. was the keynote speaker for Geography Awareness Week, November 2016.
Welcoming internationally diverse students
Ebube Ezeh, Nigeria
Samantha Spagnoli, France
James Eager, Colombia
Mishiana Joseph, Haiti
Xiling Ye, China
Ama Mensah, Ghana
Athraja DeSilva, Sri Lanka
Kathleen Marcel, Haiti
Carys Swan, Canada
Sarah Gerwens, Germany
Meshack Eshun Addy, Spain
Xinyun Zou, China
Aika Kobayashi, Japan
La Rainne Pasion,
Danny Bautista,
Philippines
El Salvador
Amanda Skeene, Trinidad and Tobago
Monica Strzelecki, Poland
Tricia Wildman, Jamaica
Since becoming a Department in 2008, we have graduated over 200 majors! Geography Graduates, 1962 – 2017 Global Studies Graduates, 2010 – 2017
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2017
2016
2015 2014
2016 2015
2012
2013
2011
2010
2009
Graduation 2017
Grace Finlayson
Gibson Laroche
Zach Davis
Ray Baierwalter
Sarah Linder
Sarah Gerwens Tricia Wildman
Elyse Carmosino
Jasmina Dzurlic
Matt Christian Breanna Stanco
Carson Cuevas
Sabrina Clarke
Zach Wolpoff
Tempe Staples, CJ Burka, La Rainne Pasion, Suha Khandker
Recent Departmental Honors Graduates
Tempe Staples, ’16 with committee: Place, Policy, Poverty, and Maternal Mental Health
Anastasia Cassisi, ’16: Justice for All? An analysis of police brutality in the United States, England & Canada
Sarah Gerwens, ’17 with committee: Anglicisms – Nein Danke? Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of the Occurrence and Usage of English Loanwords in Contemporary German(y). Winner of the Undergraduate Library Research Award
Elizabeth Driscoll, ’14 with committee: Here to Stay: Guidelines for a Legal and Balanced Compromise on the Use of Drones
Bahvneet Kaur Anand, ’16: India’s Medical Diversity: Hybridization in people’s use of medicine in Adhi, Punjab
Honors dissertations, 1996 - current, are available on our website
Clara Schopf, ’15: What’s Brewing in Wisconsin? Why America’s Dairyland Votes for Democrats in Presidential Elections and Republicans in Gubernational Elections
Athraja de Silva, ’15: Lasting Impressions: the New Face of Tourism in Sri Lanka.
We encourage students to double major • Most of our students are double majors, particularly combining Global Studies with Geography and/or Journalism, Political Science, Public Relations, Economics, or History. • Our new BS in GIS is a very attractive double major for students in the Natural Sciences, Computer Science and Engineering. • Many of our double majors are from the School of Communications. • We have a growing number of Pre-Health Majors and LEAP majors. • Our minors are attractive to students in the Business School, especially those majoring in International Business.
The advantages of a double major • •
Consistent with national trends, the average cumulative GPA for declared dual majors at Hofstra is almost 10% higher than the average for students with single majors. Around 30% of all dual majors in Hofstra College are from our Department. We even have a handful of triple majors!
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Eleanore Saintis, ‘15, triple major in Global Studies, Geography, and Sociology. Matthew Christian, ‘17, triple major in Global Studies, Geography, and Sustainability.
Tom Vogel, ‘16, triple major in Global Studies, Geography, and Chemistry.
Julie Rafatpanah ‘15, triple major in Global Studies, Geography, and Political Science.
We are committed to excellent advisement and provide innovative help and advice to students
“She convinced me to add Geography as a second major. Gave me great career advice as well! Always available during or outside of office hours.”
“She is very understanding and helpful and gives a lot of opportunity for guidance.” “His office hours were so very helpful in so many ways I wouldn't know where to begin. From day one whether declaring my major to study abroad to planning for grad school. I feel like I planned out my life in his office.” (Student comment: Ratemyprofessors.com)
Our excellent advising is appreciated by students “…In my time at Hofstra, the Department was very hands on and really took the time to know the majors and minors. I not only received a great education but also extremely valuable advisement…The faculty…have been extremely influential in my life and I really valued my time in the department.”
“…I have a relationship with the professors and they happily sit down with me for hours discussing exactly what I need to do to be able to graduate on time. They are knowledgeable and have only ever advised me to do what is best for me.”
“… The faculty are very vested in our interests and what we want to do and they take the time to reach out to us…” “… The faculty in the department are by far some of my favorite people I’ve ever met. They’re all so open minded, so giving and they genuinely want to help you…” “… This department helped me find myself and find a place within the University and my future…” Associate Dean, Bert Binder, from University Advisement, providing expert advisement during one of our Spring 2017 Advisement Open House events, while Dr. Saff meets with another student to discuss her future plans and map an appropriate course of study. We hold multiple no-appointment open house advisement events every semester.
In Spring we offer the semester-length European Odyssey Program
• The Program has been running successfully for over 20 years. • Students can take up to 15 sh of GS and Geography credits on the program. • Hofstra Scholarships can be used toward tuition for these classes.
Read the 2017 Odyssey Blog
We Promote Internships
Sarah Gerwens, ‘17 discusses her internship in Germany.
La Rainne Pasion, ‘17 talks about her internship experience.
James Eager Rising senior, James Eager, recently completed a semester-long internship as a Creative Mapping Scholar at the American Geographical Society in Brooklyn. Current senior, Connor Mayes is interning with them for the summer and will be working in the GIS department creating maps for their ‘Map of the Week’ section of the website as well as participating in outreach programs that include implementing AP GIS classes at local high schools.
Connor Mayes
Rising senior, Emilie Beck, is interning at the Global Network of Women Peace Builders as a Peacebuilding Policy Strategist.
Our Mu Kappa chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon (International Geography Honor Society) continues to grow:
17 new members were inducted on April 26, 2017
Mu Kappa earned the prestigious Honors Chapter Award for the second year in a row.
CJ Burka Marissa Duhaney Jasmina Dzurlic James Eager Kelly Gallo Hewan Girma Celene Guzman Sara Hicks Mannat Kamboj Nisha Korattyswaroopam Connor Mayes Claudia Modica Dr. Kari Jensen and Dr. Veronica Lauren Morgan Lippencott serve as President Capri Pappalardo and Vice President, respectively Ying Qiu Rachel Scarpino John Van Fossen
Keynote speaker: Dr. Marianna Pavlovskaya, Professor at Hunter College and CUNY Graduate Center.
We have a thriving student club: “Get Global”
We have a Facebook Group that posts jobs, internships, department news and events. We also have a LinkedIn Group to facilitate networking and jobs
We also have a Department Facebook Page
We post articles of general interest
Our most popular Facebook post reached over 12,000 people! It is not often a post about Geography beats a post about Miss America (our second most popular post)
Dr. Masaharu G. Inaba Memorial Endowed Scholarship Awarded annually to an undergraduate student who is a declared Global Studies and/or Geography major, and selected on the basis of demonstrated academic achievement or potential and economic need. The following criteria will be applied to this scholarship: a) A recipient must have successfully completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of Global Studies and/or Geography courses. b) A recipient must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 within the major. Awarded by the Office of Financial Aid and upon the recommendation of the Chairperson of the Global Studies and Geography Department, in consultation with members of the department. The scholarship award is in ADDITION to any financial aid and/or other awards that the recipient receives. In 2016/17, the award amount will be between $6,000 and $7,000 for the academic year. The scholarship was donated by the Inaba family, in memory of the late Dr. George Inaba who taught geography in the Department from 1959-1993.
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Peer Teachers
Our Department encourages and supports students to apply to work as Peer Teachers. Since 2008 around 20% of Peer Teachers at Hofstra have been from our Department.
Spring 2017 Peer Teachers and Professors
“Being able to peer teach World Regional Geography for Dr. Jensen and Professor Girma has been a really enriching opportunity for me. It was great getting to work closely with them and the students of the class and it enhanced my knowledge of the course material.� Emilie, 2017
Global Studies and Geography Career Advice This past year we held two successful “Career Nights.” Alumni volunteered to speak in person and via video-conference to share their post-grad experiences pursuing additional degrees and establishing themselves in careers. They offered insight into how to students can make the most of their college careers, tips for the job search, networking and securing funds for grad school as well as answered questions from current students.
Students can also take advantage of the ‘Career Corner’ in our lounge that offers resources including: sample interview questions, resume guidelines, and correspondence templates.
Lasting impacts on lives and careers “…As a result of my experience in the Geography Department and the support of the staff, I was able to travel to Senegal for two months and Amsterdam for five months while I was enrolled at Hofstra… Today, I am a Vice President at a multinational tech company with employees in seven countries, as well as a proud Hofstra alumni, both thanks to the amazing people at Hofstra's Geography Department.” Michelle, 07
A Testimonial from a 2016 Graduating Senior … this department will always hold a special place in my heart. I really do believe I found my home in this department not just with other students, where I have made friends for life, but with the professors as well… My best work is always required and I always want to turn that in...This department has been so welcoming and encouraging to all students to travel, dream big, do better, and to become active… a place for me to discuss politics, philosophy, social injustices, and everything in between. This department has made me a better person…My life has forever been changed by the knowledge I gained during my time here. I am truly sad not about graduating from Hofstra, but to leave this department …Every professor I have had in the department has impacted me in someway and made me change and see things for the better. Words cannot describe how truly thankful I am for what this department has done and I can tell you right now, other students feel the same way. I would do anything for this department, whether I am here at Hofstra or (hopefully) at a job. [HAPPY POSTSCRIPT, UPON GRADUATION SHE WAS OFFERED A PUBLIC POLICY JOB IN WASHINGTON, DC]
Since 2011, of the alumni that have pursued graduate degrees • About 30% have attended Law School. • Over 20% have attended programs in GIS, Urban Planning and/or Geography. • Around 20% have attended programs in various forms of public policy. • Around 15% have attended programs related to education, teaching or public service (including Teach for America and the Peace Corps). • Some have attended Medical and Dental School, while others have pursued MBAs.
Where our post-2008 alumni have furthered their academic education • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
American University • Rutgers University (Urban Planning and GIS, multiple graduates) Brown University • School for Oriental and African Studies, Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School University of London (UK) Binghamton School of Management • St. George's University (Medical School) Brooklyn Law School (multiple graduates) • State University of New York at Albany Columbia University • Stony Brook University Cornell University Law School • Syracuse University CUNY, Graduate Center CUNY Hunter (Geography and Urban Planning) • Touro University Law School • University of Connecticut Duke University • University of Illinois at Chicago East Carolina State University • University of South Florida George Washington University • University of Pennsylvania Law School Harvard University (Extension School) • Villanova Law School Hofstra University School of Education Hofstra University Graduate School of Business Hofstra University School of Law Hofstra University Medical School London School of Economics (UK) (multiple) Northeastern University Newcastle University (UK) Kevin Catherine Sam Colvin ‘13, Oxford University (UK) Ardrey ‘14 Tamerler ‘14 London School of Josh Ettinger ‘13, Brown Univ. Oxford Univ. Cornell Law. Penn State University Economics.
The varied careers of our graduates • • • •
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Senior Vice President at Citibank, NY President, Polo Ralph Lauren, NY GIS Technician, Apple, Cupertino, CA Documentation officer with Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, NY Attorney, Center for Family Representation, NY Medical Doctor, Western Michigan University School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI Journalist, WABC-TV Eyewitness News, NY Advocate for Public Policy, Epilepsy Foundation, RI Senior Environmental Consultant, First Energy, OH Founder and CEO, KJR Home LLC, NY Urban Planner, Monroe County Dept. of Planning & Development, NY Corporate Manager, Toyota Financial Services, CA Human Resources Manager, Paris, France Project Director, Charter School Program Grant, New Jersey Dept. of Education, NJ Political Strategist/Policy Manager, National Federation of Independent Business, D.C. Assistant Planner, Greater Chicago Area, IL Tech Representative at U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms, D.C. Assistant Transportation Planner at MTA, NY Planning Commissioner, Mercersburg, PA Executive Operations Coordinator, American Association for the Advancement of Science, D.C. Program Associate, Kettering Foundation, PA
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Multimedia Journalist, Utrecht, Netherlands Legislative Liaison at Long Island Board of Realtors, NY AML Compliance Officer at Pershing, BNY Mellon, NY Manager of Advocacy and Digital Strategy at Latino Justice, NY Executive Assistant to Chairman, Volcker Alliance, NY Policy analyst, NYS Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery Educational Liaison at Right Reason Technologies, NY Producer, Real News Network, Baltimore, MD Associate Director, Research Partnerships for The Michael J. Fox Foundation, NY Anchor, Producer and Reporter, ETV Ghana Associate Editor, Psychology, Macmillan Learning, NY Associate Attorney at Bond, Schoenieck & King PLLC, NY After School Director, Plymouth, MA Food Resource Coordinator, Marion-Polk Food Share, OR Executive Recruiter at Randstad, NY Teacher of English for Academic Purposes, Newcastle University (UK) Staff Attorney, the Legal Aid Society, NY Production Coordinator at Oxygen Media, NY Northeast Service Manager at Scientific Games, NJ Gallery and Research Assistant, Rafael Gallery, NY Sharlys Leszczuk Assistant Account Executive & Social Media Manager at Feintuch Communications Greater New York City Area
Melanie Martha Executive Assistant to the Chairman at The Volcker Alliance Greater New York City Area
Our Alumni Work at a Wide Variety of Companies & Organizations
Networking via our Department LinkedIn Group Victoria Rametta Political Strategist at National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Washington, D.C. Christiaan Perez Manager of Advocacy and Digital Strategy at LatinoJustice PRLDEF Greater New York City Area Simon Burke Human Resources Director and Asst. General Manager at Fat Tire Tours, Paris Paris Area, France Ebube Ezeh Executive Assistant at Junior Achievement Africa – Regional Operating Center Ghana Jenny Hart Contributor, Travel Weekly at Northstar Travel Media Greater New York City Area Christina Hoffman Planner II at Monroe County Department of Planning & Development Rochester, New York Joshua Gwin Food Resource Coordinator at Marion-Polk Food Share Salem, Oregon Steve Fredericks AML Compliance at Pershing, a BNY Mellon company Greater New York City Area Justin Ederheimer Technology Representative at United States Senate Sergeant at Arms Gambrills, Maryland
William K. Wertling Executive Recruiter at Randstad HR Greater New York City Area Cristina LoCurto Law Clerk at Karon Law, LLC Boston, Massachusetts Etana Jacobi Program Associate at Kettering Foundation Dayton, Ohio Area Rebecca (Galin) Macri Spanish Teacher at CREC West Hartford, Connecticut Ama P. Mensah Anchor, Reporter/Producer at ETV Ghana Ghana Josh Ettinger Senior Communications Associate at AAAS Washington, D.C. Metro Area Matthew Craig Director of Development at Teach for America Greater Philadelphia Area Cate Misczuk General Assignment Writer at SFG Media Group, LLC Utrecht Area, Netherlands Katie Pachnos Associate Editor, Psychology at Macmillan Learning Greater New York City Area Caron Bricks Assistant Planner at Village of Homer Glen Greater Chicago Area Monica Strzelecki Teacher of English at INTO Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Alumni, giving back
Grace Finlayson, 2017, The Fresh Air Fund, New York City
Danny Bautista, 2013, Peace Corps, Indonesia
Jennifer Perniciaro, 2014, Teach for America, New York City
Alex Moore, 2011, Ecovillage Design Certification, Colombia and Teach for America, 2013/14, Detroit. Sol Auerbach, 2008, Peace Corps, Malawi Charlotte Granison, 2014, AmeriCorps Vista Member, Legal Assistance of Western New York
Amanda Martin, 2013, Peace Corps, Philippines Monica Strzelecki, 2011, Teacher of English for Academic Purposes at INTO Newcastle University , UK
What our alumni say about the Department “I didn't choose the GS/GEOG life; the GS/GEOG life chose me. I came to Hofstra thinking I was going to be a psycho-linguistics major, but taking Dr. Jensen's Child Labor in the World Today seminar introduced me to the Global Studies & Geography Department. I would stay after class each day and talk to Dr. Jensen about her field work and my interests in global health. Before I knew it, Dr. J had me sitting in front of Dr. Saff and I was signing my life away to a life to the best major at Hofstra.” “I had found that the department I had previously been with was impersonal, and I never felt part of a community… being part of the Geography and Global Studies Department has been the main highlight of my time at Hofstra.” “The whole department really challenges you to think critically about how you’re learning and what you learn in each class and how it impacts everything else you’re learning in other classes.”
Strategies to succeed in College • Choose a major as soon as possible (being undecided costs you time and money), • Meet with your department advisor at least once a semester, • Double (or triple) major. This is better than multiple minors, • Do well in all your classes (they all count toward your GPA), • Graduate with Departmental Honors, • Do internships, • Study abroad, • Maximize all your opportunities – volunteer, look for work in Departments, apply to peer teach, • Join student clubs and network, • Find a faculty mentor, • Ask questions, • Make yourself standout! SEE THIS GUIDE ON HOW TO COMPLETE AND STRUCTURE YOUR MAJOR
Taking advantage of all your opportunities!
2009-13: BA, Hofstra, Majors in Geography, Global Studies and Geology • Geography Honor Society, Mu Kappa, 2012 • Peer Teacher, 2012-13: Geography 60 (Intro to GIS) and Geography 106 (Urbanization in the Developing World) • GIS Intern, KLD Engineering, Long Island (2012-13) 2013-15: MS Geography, East Carolina University, with a certification in GIS Technology • Thesis focused on infrastructure damage as a result of Super Storm Sandy and using GIS to better understand factors that contributed to localized discrepancies in levels of damage sustained from the storm. 2015 to present: GIS Technician at Apple Inc.
Happy majors become become active alumni! “The Global Studies and Geography department is, quite frankly, the best department at Hofstra. They provide countless opportunities to their students, genuinely care about what they are teaching, and produce brilliant and accomplished graduates. They give Hofstra students a reason to want to come back to Hofstra …”
Contact Information and more! http://www.hofstra.edu/geography MAILING ADDRESS: Department of Global Studies and Geography 130 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549, USA OFFICE INFO 209K Roosevelt Hall Phone Number: (516) 463-5826 Fax: (516) 463-6968 Department Administrator: Ms. Jackie Geis Office Hours: Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Department Email: gsgeog@hofstra.edu
Department History
Until Next Year!