Western Illinois University Department of Geography

2005 – The Departmental of Geography Year in Review

New Faculty Members. In August, the Department welcomed three new assistant professors – two tenure track and one visiting.

Yongxin Deng, a 2005 graduate of the University of Southern California, teaches classes in soils, conservation and management of natural resources, GIS and world regional geography. His research interests include environmental modeling, digital terrain analysis and fuzzy classification methods.

Redina Herman, a 2003 graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, teaches meteorology courses including atmospheric dynamics. A postdocotral associate at the University of Illinois from 2003 to 2005, Dr. Herman's research interests relate to the impact of aircraft emissions on the environment and analysis of interactions between gravity waves and large-scale atmospheric flows.

Su-Yeul Chung, a 2005 graduate of the Ohio State University, teaches world regional geography. His research interests include examination of urban racial and ethnic segregation.

Secretary Janet Nichols leaves Department.

Part-time secretary Janet Nichols left the Department of Geography at the end November when she and her husband moved out of town. Janet joined to the Department in 2001 and worked extensively with the graduate program.

Associated Faculty Appointed as Institute Directors.

In August, Bill Doe was named director of the Institute for Environmental Studies (IES) within WIU’s College of Arts and Sciences. Bill serves as a professor of geography and directs Western’s environmental studies minor.

In July Christopher Merrett was named director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs. As director, he provides leadership to more than 30 faculty and staff, spearheads research on rural issues, and works with state and federal leaders on rural policy issues. He has been a faculty member at IIRA since 1995, with teaching duties in the Department of Geography and the WIU Centennial Honors College.

Department-Sponsored Presentations. The Department sponsored three excellent Presentations during the fall semester, including two during Geography Awareness Week.

In October, WIU Geography Department alumnus Dr. Thomas Graff presented "Wal-Mart's Impact upon Grocery Retailing: An Example from Macomb." Dr. Graff is a a professor and past chair in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arkansas. For the past 15 years he has pursued research on the geography of retail activities, with particular emphasis on Wal-Mart.

During Geography Awareness Week, Dr. Don Wuebbles presented "Human-Induced Climate Change: Is It Real? Is It Important?" The author of over 300 publications and one of the leading authorities on global climate change Dr. Wuebbles is Department Head and Professor of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

During Geography Awareness Week, Dr. Ken Smith presented "Market Area Research: Geographic Concepts and Applications in the Development Process for Department Stores." Dr. Smith is the Vice President of Area Research for The May Department Stores Company, the nation’s second largest traditional department store group.

Faculty Member Activities. Members of the Department of Geography continue to be active in all facets of teaching, scholarship and service. Here are some of the highlights of the last half-year.

Publications

Jongnam Choi
- Choi, Gwangyong, Jongnam Choi, and Ho-Jang Kwon. "The Impact of High Apparent Temperature on the Increase of Summertime Disease-related Mortality in Seoul: 1991-2000," Korean Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 38(3): 283-290.
- Kim, Kwang Chung , Siyoung Park and Jongnam Choi. "Demographics and Residential Distribution," in Koreans in the Windy City, by Hyock Chun, Kwang Chung Kim and Shin Kim, eds. Chicago: East Rock Institute for The Centennial Publication Committee of Chicago. p. 37-53.
Su-Yeul Chung
- Brown, Lawrence A., Sag-Il Lee, Linda Lobao and Su-Yeul Chung. "Continuity Amidst restructuring: The US Gender Division of Labor in Geographic Perspective, 1970 and 1990." International Regional Science Review, 28(3): 271-301.
Christopher Merrett
- Merrett, Christopher D. Book review of "Challenges for Rural America in the Twenty-First Century" by L. David Brown and Louis Swanson, eds. Journal of Rural Studies, 21(2): 259.
Siyoung Park
- Kim, Kwang Chung , Siyoung Park and Jongnam Choi. "Demographics and Residential Distribution," in Koreans in the Windy City, by Hyock Chun, Kwang Chung Kim and Shin Kim, eds. Chicago: East Rock Institute for The Centennial Publication Committee of Chicago. p. 37-53.
Richard Rieck
- "Inscriptions, Rocks, Weathering, and Time," in Historic Inscriptions on Western Emigrant Trails, Oregon-California Trails Association: Independence, Missouri, Appendix C, p. 413-417.

Christopher Sutton
- Sutton, Christopher. "Courir du Mardi Gras: The Cajun Mardi Gras of Mamou, Louisiana," Bulletin of the Illinois Geographical Society, 46(2): 3-15.
- Marr, Paul and Christopher Sutton. "Impacts of Transportation Changes on the Craft Furniture Industry of Mexico's Purépeche Region," The Geographical Review, 94(4): 440-461.
- Sutton, Christopher and Suzanne Traub-Metlay. "Web Site to accompany Diversity Amid Globalization, Third Edition."

Presentations

Jongnam Choi
- "The Geography of Korea." Fulbright Program's Understanding Korea Today: Traditional Values and Modern Technology, Seoul, Korea.
- "New method of defining heat waves based on the statistical deviation of daily maximum and minimum apparent temperature," Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
- "A New Method of Defining Heat Waves," Illinois Geographical Society Annual Meeting, Rock Island, IL.
Raymond Greene
- "African-Americans and Alabama's 2003 Tax Referendum," Illinois Geographical Society Annual Meeting, Rock Island, IL.

Redina Herman
- "A Discussion of Scientific Issues Surrounding Global Warming," Science Journal Club.
Christopher Merrett
- Confronting the Second Gilded Age: Cooperatives as a Community Response to Globalization," Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
- "Some thoughts on Geography," St. Paul's School, Macomb, IL.
- "Cooperatives as a community development tool" USDA-Rural Community Development Initiatives Workshop, Western Illinois University.
- "Policy challenges to ag-based rural economic development," Ag-Biotech conference, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
- "The role of cooperatives in rural community and economic development," Peace Corps Fellows Program, Macomb, IL.
- "Trends in new generation cooperative development: The role of relationships and community," National Value-Added Agriculture Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
Siyoung Park
- "Residential Assimilation of Asian Americans in the Chicago and Atlanta Metropolitan Areas," Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
- "A Comparative Study of Asian American Residential Patterns in Major U.S. Cities," Illinois Geographical Society Annual Meeting, Rock Island, IL.
- "Fulbright Experiences: Korea," Dealing with Difference Institute, Western Illinois University.
- "Korea Today: Tradition and Modern Society," First Christian Church, Macomb, IL.
- "From Proposal to Program: A Fulbright Group Study Aborad Grant," NAFSA Association of International Educators, Regional Conference, Springfield, IL.
Richard Rieck
- "The Geography of Death and Graves on the Oregon/California/Mormon Trails, 1840-65," Oregon/California Trails Association, National Meeting, August 17, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Christopher Sutton
- "Town Accessibility and Isolation in the Purepecha Region of Michoacan, Mexico," Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
- "Cities, Skylines and Civic Identity," Illinois Geographical Society Annual Meeting, Rock Island, IL.
- "McDonough County GIS Center," 2005 Annual Dean's Conference, September 30, Macomb, IL.
Samuel Thompson
- "What's Playing in Peoria: An Urban Planning Profile," Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
- "Transportation Service for Senior Citizens of McDonough County," Illinois Geographical Society Annual Meeting, Rock Island, IL.
Tom Williams
- "Tornado outbreaks in the central Plains in late May 2004: A storm chaser's perspective," Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
- Dr. Williams demonstrated weather instruments for Even Start and Family Literacy programs for McDonough and Hancock Counties, June 21, Macomb, IL.

Grants

Chris Merrett
- Technical Assistance Grant, Rural Development Cooperative Grant, U. S. Department of Agriculture, to support the Illinois Cooperative Development Center, $287,780.

Siyoung Park

"Understanding Korea Today: Traditional Values and Modern Technology" Fulbright-Hays Group Study Abroad Grant, $67,000.

Interviews

Christopher Merrett
- "The role of consumer cooperatives in rural community development, WGEM News, Quincy, September 29.
- "USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant, " Macomb Journal, September 22.
- "The mission of the Illinois Value-Added Rural Development Center," Farm Week, August 30.
- "The vision for the IIRA under new leadership," WKAI-FM, Macomb, July 26.
- "The future of the IIRA," WIUM-FM, Macomb, July 24.
- "Merrett selected as new director of the IIRA," Macomb Journal, July 17.
- "Promoting local agriculture: The fourth annual 'Taste of the Tri States'", rebroadcast, WUIS, Springfield, July 15.
- "Farmers share entrepreneurial business ideas," Illinois Agrinews, July 1.
Christopher Sutton
- "Macomb Community Charrette," on Public Perspectives, WJEQ-FM, October 29.
- "No idea too wild for charrette." Macomb Eagle. November 3.

Awards

Christopher Sutton
- Dr. Sutton was named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2005.
- Dr. Sutton received the 2005 Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching with Technology from the Western Illinois University College of Arts and Sciences.
- Dr. Sutton received the 2005-2006 Provost's Award for Academic Excellence: Excellence in Teaching with Technology.

Consulting

Richard Rieck
- RiverStone Group, Inc., Moline, IL, November. "Geomorphic Examination Of The Floodplain And Natural Levee In The NE¼, Section 26, T. 9 N., R. 1 W, Along Cedar Creek, Warren County, Illinois," 17 p., unpublished report.

Panels and Discussions

Christopher Merrett
- "A Critical Geography of Canada and the United States: John Hudson's Across this Land," Panelist, Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
Redina Herman
- "Hurricane Katrina: Environment, Poverty and Race Politics in 21st Century America," African American Studies Department Forum, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL.
Siyoung Park
- Korea Workshop: The Koreas in a Transforming East Asia, Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies. University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
- Fulbright Group Projects Abroad, WIU Office of Sponsored Projects.

Other Professional and Scholarly Activities

Raymond Greene assumed editorship of the Bulletin of the Illinois Geographical Society. Christopher Sutton was named cartographic editor of this publication.

Siyoung Park
- Dr. Park and Patti Jones led twelve U.S. high school social studies teachers to Korea June 15-July 14 as part of their Fulbright-Hays Group Study Abroad Award "Understanding Korea Today: Traditional Values and Modern Technology."
- Dr. Park led a three-day field trip to Southern Illinois and Missouri dealing with city planning and community development for Geography graduate students.
Richard Rieck. As part of continuing research, Dr. Rieck transcribed the following material.

Presented to the National Frontier Trails Center in Independence, MO:
- Bradley, Henry, 1849, Journal, 81 p., 19,300 words.
- Gardner, Daniel B., 1850, Journal, 95 p., 14,700 words.
- Koon, John, 1850, Journal, 87 pages, 16,300 words.
- M'Clung, J. S., Journal, 81 pages, 17,500 words.
- Morse, A. C., 1850, Journal of an Overland Trip to California, 11 p., 18,500 words.
- Ogle, William B., 1850, Diary, 132 p., 42,200 words.
- Wagner, William, 1852, Journal, 262 p., 44,000 words.
- Watts, Benjamin Marion, 1849, Diary, 24 p., 8,300 words.

Presented to the Bancroft Library, University of California–Berkeley
- Blackman, Aretas J., 1849, Journal, 57 p., 17,500 words.
- Freeman, John Francis, 1852, Diary, 26 p., 16,100 words.
- Stitzel, Jacob, 1849, Diary, 206 p., 18,900 words.
- Sumner, Cyrus, 1849, Journal, 168 p., 23,200 words.
- Thomas, William L., 1849, Diary, 61 p., 21,800 words.
Presented to the National Park Service, National Trails System Office, Salt Lake City

Richardson, Caroline L, 1852, Journal, 184 p., 35,000 words.

Samuel Thompson
- Dr. Thompson organized a paper session and led two field trips at the Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting in Denver, CO.
- Dr. Thompson led a field trip to Nauvoo as part of Geography Awareness Week activities.

Tom Williams
- Dr. Williams continued to compile weather forecasts which were published on the departmental web site, in the Macomb Journal, and broadcast on WKAI-FM and WIUM-FM (Tri-States Public Radio).
- Dr. Williams served as Event Captain (Meteorology Event) for the Western Illinois University Regional Science Olympiad.