KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 26, 2025

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents has honored Kennesaw State University’s geography and geospatial sciences programs with the Teaching Excellence Award for Department or Program.

Housed within the Department of Geography and Anthropology in the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the programs were recognized for their interdisciplinary approach to learning. The programs integrate research, technology, and hands-on experiences to prepare students for emerging challenges in their fields. This award adds to the programs’ accolades, which include the 2021 American Association of Geographers’ Award for Bachelor Program Excellence.

The Board of Regents award is designed to showcase an outstanding department or program that promotes, supports, and recognizes excellence in teaching and innovative approaches to serving students. A special committee composed of faculty and administrators from across the USG who are experienced in teaching and learning practices reviews the nomination portfolios and recommends finalists for each award.

“Our esteemed faculty in the geography and geospatial sciences programs have exemplified their willingness to continue improving the way they educate to stay ahead of the curve,” said Ivan Pulinkala, KSU provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Their passion for teaching and dedication to their fields of expertise reaffirms KSU’s commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience.”

The recognition is a significant milestone for the programs and the faculty who work closely with students.

“This recent award from the Board of Regents just reinforces how we continue to be innovative and how we continue to grow,” said Paul McDaniel, professor of geography. “We continue to try lots of different things in and out of the classroom to provide enriching experiences for our students."

Vanessa Slinger-Friedman, co-founder of KSU’s Food Forest and OwlSwap, emphasized that the award acknowledges years of dedication from faculty and hopes it will draw more students to the programs.

"It’s the effort of all the geography and geospatial science faculty that have built these programs and contributed to student success," Slinger-Friedman said. “We hope that it brings attention to the programs, highlights their impacts, and attracts students to KSU and to our department."

The programs began in 1997 with an undergraduate certificate and are now able to provide courses to over 6,000 students annually, including students from other majors.

Department chair Brandon D. Lundy said the programs take undergraduate scholarship seriously as faculty and students co-present and co-publish research.

“In the last two to three years, we’ve established four new laboratories focused on geography and geospatial sciences,” Lundy said. “This gives students access to hands-on research experiences."

Graduates in geography and geospatial sciences pursue careers in crime analysis, emergency services, engineering, epidemiology, environmental management, forestry, housing, marketing, military sciences, sustainability, land surveying, transportation, urban planning, and utilities.

The geography and geospatial sciences programs incorporate cutting-edge technology in its curriculum, including laser scanning, 3D printing, and drone technology, allowing students to gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools.

"Geography, and maps really, are a fundamental language for understanding the world,” McDaniel said. “When students learn how to work with that technology, it helps them provide a framework for organizing and communicating all of that knowledge."

– Story by Darius Goodman

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.