Our energetic advisory board is organizing our very first GEO golf outing, Friday, September 27, at 9 a.m. at Wheatfield Valley in Williamston. Proceeds will go to our Field Experience fund. If you are a good golfer, a marginal one, or just like swinging the club, please join us to have some fun!! See the flyer below for more details.
You are invited to the Environmental Science and Policy Program’s first student-led colloquia series on September 9, 2019 (Monday). This panel discussion and networking event features five food security experts on campus. Free snacks, beverage and food are provided. RSVP to avoid food waste: https://agtechpanel.eventbrite.com See the event information below. Contact the event organizer, Lin Liu (liulin7@msu.edu), if you have any questions. 
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Ms. Victoria Breeze will defend her dissertation
Title: China in African Agriculture: Modeling Narratives, Spillovers, and Investments
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the dissertation research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. Anyone, including faculty, students, and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Faculty are welcome to stay for this stage.
Graduate students and other non-committee members (e.g., family and friends) may attend the second questioning stage with the prior permission of the defending student. Successful completion of the defense and approval of the dissertation will be determined by a majority vote of the dissertation committee.
Committee:
Nathan Moore (Chair)
Arika Ligmann-Zielinska
Jianguo ‘Jack’ Liu (Fisheries & Wildlife)
Jaime Monson (History)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles ruggles@msu.edu if you would like an electronic copy of the dissertation.
Read More →Ms. Libbey Kutch will defend her dissertation
Title: INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UV-B RADIATION EXPOSURE AND PREECLAMPSIA: A MEDICAL GEOGRAPHY STUDY
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the dissertation research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. Anyone, including faculty, students, and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Faculty are welcome to stay for this stage.
Graduate students and other non-committee members (e.g., family and friends) may attend the second questioning stage with the prior permission of the defending student. Successful completion of the defense and approval of the dissertation will be determined by a majority vote of the dissertation committee.
Committee:
Sue Grady (Chair)
Julie Winkler
Sharon Zhong
Masako Fujita (Anthropology)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles ruggles@msu.edu if you would like an electronic copy of the dissertation.
Read More →Ms. April Frake will defend her dissertation
Title: Scaling Irrigation and Malaria Risk in Malawi
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the dissertation research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. Anyone, including faculty, students, and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Faculty are welcome to stay for this stage.
Graduate students and other non-committee members (e.g., family and friends) may attend the second questioning stage with the prior permission of the defending student. Successful completion of the defense and approval of the dissertation will be determined by a majority vote of the dissertation committee.
Committee:
Joseph Messina (Chair)
Sue Grady
Leo Zulu
Edward Walker (Microbiology and Molecular Genetics)
Pouyan Nejadhashemi (Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles (ruggles@msu.edu) if you would like an electronic copy of the proposal.
Read More →Mr. Brad Peter will defend his dissertation
Title: Integrated remote sensing and crop system modeling for precision agriculture across spatial and temporal scales.
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the dissertation research, and a subsequent two stage questioning session. Anyone, including faculty, students, and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Faculty are welcome to stay for this stage.
Graduate students and other non-committee members (e.g., family and friends) may attend the second questioning stage with the prior permission of the defending student. Successful completion of the defense and approval of the dissertation will be determined by a majority vote of the dissertation committee.
Committee:
Joseph Messina (Chair)
Leo Zulu
Kyla Dahlin
Sieglinde Snapp (Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles (ruggles@msu.edu) if you would like an electronic copy of the proposal.
Read More →Ms. Shiqi Tao will defend her thesis at the following date and time:
Title: Urban Expansion and Urban Environmental Evaluation in Chengdu, China
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the thesis research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. All faculty and students are welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Geography graduate students and other non-committee members may attend the second questioning stage with permission of the defending student.
Committee:
Jiaguo Qi (chair)
Kyla Dahlin
Carolyn Malmstrom (Plant Biology)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles (ruggles@msu.edu) if you would like to an electronic copy of the thesis.
Read More →Ms. Kara Komoto will defend her thesis
Title: A CLIMATOLOGY OF PERSISTENT HIGH RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE LOWER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH AND AGRICULTURE.
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the thesis research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. All faculty and students are welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Geography graduate students and other non-committee members may attend the second questioning stage with permission of the defending student.
Committee:
Julie Winkler (chair)
Kyla Dahlin
Martin Chilvers (Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles at, ruggles@msu.edu if you would like to an electronic copy of the thesis.
Read More →Ms. Judith Namanya will present and defend her dissertation proposal
Title: Investigating Uganda’s Persistently High HIV Prevalence among Young Women in an Era of Widespread Gains in HIV Prevention and Treatment
Two hours will be allowed for the presentation and subsequent questioning. An initial uninterrupted presentation of the proposed research should be 20-30 minutes in length. Anyone, including faculty, students, and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation. The student’s Advisor will moderate the question session that follows, and all Guidance Committee members will actively participate. However, all persons attending may ask questions and offer comments
Committee members:
Leo Zulu (Chair)
Sue Grady
Clifford Broman (Sociology)
Robin Miller (Psychology)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles (ruggles@msu.edu) if you would like an electronic copy of the proposal.
Read More →Ms. Nafiseh Haghtalab will present and defend her dissertation proposal
Title: Evaluating Climate Variability and Coupling Strength of Land-Atmosphere Interactions Across the Amazon Basin
Two hours will be allowed for the presentation and subsequent questioning. An initial uninterrupted presentation of the proposed research should be 20-30 minutes in length. Anyone, including faculty, students, and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation. The student’s Advisor will moderate the question session that follows, and all Guidance Committee members will actively participate. However, all persons attending may ask questions and offer comments.
Committee members:
Nathan Moore (chair)
Joe Messina
Jeff Andresen
Pouyan Nejadhashemi (Dept. of Biosystems Engineering)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles (ruggles@msu.edu) if you would like an electronic copy of the proposal.
Read More →Ms. Mattie Kelepile will defend her dissertation
Title: Antiretroviral (ART) and Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) Therapies Adherence In Greater Gaborone, Botswana: A Mixed Methods Health Geographic
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the dissertation research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. Anyone, including faculty, students and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Faculty are welcome to stay for this stage. Graduate students and other non-committee members (e.g., family and friends) may attend the second questioning stage with prior permission of the defending student. Successful completion of the defense and approval of the dissertation will be determined by a majority vote of the dissertation committee.
Committee:
Sue Grady (chair)
Julie Winkler
Leo Zulu
Anne Hughes (Social Work)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles at, ruggles@msu.edu if you would like to an electronic copy of the dissertation.
Read More →Ms. Gabriela Shirkey will present and defend her dissertation proposal
Title: Integrating Unknown Socioeconomic Processes into Landscape Carbon Production Estimates
Two hours will be allowed for the presentation and subsequent questioning. An initial uninterrupted presentation of the proposed research should be 20-30 minutes in length. Anyone, including faculty, students, and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation. The student’s Advisor will moderate the question session that follows, and all Guidance Committee members will actively participate. However, all persons attending may ask questions and offer comments.
Committee members:
Jiquan Chen (chair)
Kyla Dahlin
Ashton Shortridge
Annick Anctil (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles (ruggles@msu.edu) if you would like an electronic copy of the proposal.
Read More →Ms. Sara Torres will defend her thesis
Title: NEAR AND DEAR: A STUDY ON PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIORS
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the thesis research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. All faculty and students are welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Geography graduate students and other non-committee members may attend the second questioning stage with permission of the defending student.
Committee:
Sue Grady (chair)
Julie Winkler
Aaron McCright (Sociology)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles at, ruggles@msu.edu if you would like to an electronic copy of the thesis.
Read More →Mr. Thomas Bilintoh will defend his thesis
Title: Remote sensing for mapping and modeling presence of armyworm infestation on maize in Ejura, Ghana
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the thesis research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. All faculty and students are welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Geography graduate students and other non-committee members may attend the second questioning stage with permission of the defending student.
Committee:
Ashton Shortridge (chair)
Raechel Portelli
Jiaguo Qi
Please contact Sharon Ruggles at, ruggles@msu.edu if you would like to an electronic copy of the thesis.
Read More →Mr. Albert Fulton will defend his dissertation
Title: LATE HOLOCENE NATIVE AMERICAN LAND-USE IMPACTS ON THE VEGETATION OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK STATE, USA:
AN INTEGRATED HISTORICAL AND PALEOECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the dissertation research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. Anyone, including faculty, students and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Faculty are welcome to stay for this stage. Graduate students and other non-committee members (e.g., family and friends) may attend the second questioning stage with prior permission of the defending student. Successful completion of the defense and approval of the dissertation will be determined by a majority vote of the dissertation committee.
Committee:
Catherine Yansa (chair)
Alan Arbogast
Jeffrey Andresen
Jodie A. O’Gorman (Anthropology)
John P. Hart (New York State Museum)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles at, ruggles@msu.edu if you would like to an electronic copy of the dissertation.
Read More →Ms. McKenzie Kulseth will defend her thesis
Title: An Evaluation of Hot-Dry-Windy Index Skill Using Multiple
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the thesis research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. All faculty and students are welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Geography graduate students and other non-committee members may attend the second questioning stage with permission of the defending student.
Committee:
Sharon Zhong (chair)
Jeff Andresen
Joseph Charney (U.S. Forest Service)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles at, ruggles@msu.edu if you would like to an electronic copy of the thesis.
Read More →Ms. Qiong Zhang will be presenting and defending her dissertation proposal
Title: IMPACTS OF HAZE ON MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH IN XIANYANG, CHINA
Two hours will be allowed for the presentation and subsequent questioning. An initial uninterrupted presentation of the proposed research should be 20-30 minutes in length. Anyone, including faculty, students, and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation. The student’s Advisor will moderate the question session that follows, and all Guidance Committee members will actively participate. However, all persons attending may ask questions and offer comments.
Please contact Sharon Ruggles (ruggles@msu.edu) if you would like an electronic copy of the proposal.
Committee members:
Sue Grady (Chair)
Julie Winkler
Sharon Zhong
Eric Freedman (Knight Center for Environmental Journalism)
Ms. Kelsey Nyland will defend her dissertation
Title: STAIRWAYS TO HEAVEN: ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF CRYOPLANATION TERRACES
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the dissertation research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. Anyone, including faculty, students and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Faculty are welcome to stay for this stage. Graduate students and other non-committee members (e.g., family and friends) may attend the second questioning stage with prior permission of the defending student. Successful completion of the defense and approval of the dissertation will be determined by a majority vote of the dissertation committee.
Committee:
Fritz Nelson (co-chair)
Randy Schaetzl (co-chair)
Ashton Shortridge
David Lusch
Grahame Larson (Earth and Environmental Sciences)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles at, ruggles@msu.edu if you would like to an electronic copy of the dissertation.
Read More →Ms. Lisa-Marie Pierre will defend her dissertation
Title: ENTREPRENEURIAL PROPENSITY: THE CONSTRAINING AND ENABLING FACTORS OF INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS ON WOMEN FACULTY IN ENGINEERING
The defense will consist of two steps: a 30-60 minute uninterrupted presentation by the student summarizing the dissertation research, and a subsequent two-stage questioning session. Anyone, including faculty, students and staff, is welcome to attend the presentation and to participate in the initial portion of the question session, which will be moderated by the Advisor. The Advisor and Guidance Committee will ask questions in the second stage of this session. Faculty are welcome to stay for this stage. Graduate students and other non-committee members (e.g., family and friends) may attend the second questioning stage with prior permission of the defending student. Successful completion of the defense and approval of the dissertation will be determined by a majority vote of the dissertation committee.
Committee:
Elizabeth Mack (chair)
Joe Darden
Igor Vojnovic
Steven Gold (Sociology)
Please contact Sharon Ruggles at, ruggles@msu.edu if you would like to an electronic copy of the dissertation.
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