Welcome baaaaaaaaaaaack, everyone!!!

I cannot believe the time has come to start the fall 2020 semester. If you’re anything like me, you are feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety as we all work together to ensure we stay safe and healthy while we pursue our mission of learning and discovery here at Mizzou. To that end, I have a few really important reminders to bring to your attention straight away:

• If you have not done so already, download and use the #CampusClear app to monitor and report Covid-19 symptoms: https://renewal.missouri.edu/resources/symptom-monitoring-app/. This is required of all students, faculty, and staff who are physically present on campus.
• While in Stewart Hall, you are required to wear a facemask unless you are behind a wellness shield, face shield, or in a personal office with door closed and no other occupants. Forgot your facemask or do you see someone not wearing one? Go to the main office, Stewart Hall 202, for a free one-time disposable-use facemask.
• Please visit and read the ShowMeRenewal (renewal.missouri.edu/) page for additional important and required information and procedures

As long as we are all on the same page and vigilant, we can focus on what we really love: Geography—and exploring our world!

Now (drumroll please…), join me in welcoming our new (first-time and transfer) undergraduate Geography BA majors:

• Alia Abu-Shanab, Jake Evans, Seth Fredrickson, Curt Hooker, Morgan Hurt, Susana Nordmann, Noah Scott, Jack Snelling, Jack Stevens, Hannah Williams

What a fine and distinguished class! More information will be forthcoming, but we are planning a way for everyone to meet our new majors, and for our existing majors to see one another again—even if it has to be done virtually. In the meantime, please think about participating in Geography Club this year. Lots of things in the hopper even despite the unique challenges this semester presents. Email Geography Club/GTU President Jefferson Daubitz (jldnpv@mail.missouri.edu) for more information.

Next (more cowbell, please…), join me in welcoming our new graduate Geography MA students:

• Samuel Frimpong, Dakota Ioanis, Sarah Kammeyer, Seth Kannarr, Troy Moore, Michael Terhune, John Thomas, Chris Willis, Brandon Young

Also a fine and distinguished class—and one of our largest entering classes in recent memory with interests that range from biogeography and virtual reality to historical geography and geospatial science!

Finally, if you are new to the department (or had a summer so crazy you forgot), a few introductions are in order—

• Deb Cutler is the department’s administrative assistant and she staffs the front desk in the Geography Department Office, Room 202 Stewart Hall.
  • We are installing a wellness shield on Deb’s desk so that she does not have to wear a facemask all day. However, it does not arrive until tomorrow. For today, please knock before entering so that Deb can don her mask. There will be a sign on the door to remind you!

• Andy Emerson (225 Stewart) is the department’s fiscal officer, and Tom Vought (213 Stewart) runs the Missouri Spatial Data Information Service. If you are an undergraduate student, you will likely not need to interact with Andy, though I can attest he is a wonderful human being! Tom is someone you should talk to if you are interested in GIS and cartography, especially how it intersects with the work of agencies in the State of Missouri.
• Theresa Hathman is the custodian for Stewart Hall. She keeps the building sanitized and safe for us to occupy. Please thank Theresa and her team for all their tireless work on our behalf when you see her in the hallway!!
• Dr. Doug Hurt is the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Joe Franklin is the department’s undergraduate academic advisor, and Dr. Matt Foulkes is the Director of Graduate Studies.
  • Some of you undergrads asked me over the summer, “Whatever happened to Dr. Hurt?” now that Joe Franklin is your academic advisor. Please know this was no demotion or forced reassignment! We are lucky to have Mr. Franklin from A&S Advising help you undergraduate majors with your plans of study and registration advising. Dr. Hurt remains the Director of Undergraduate Study and will now be able to focus on “big picture” items in our undergraduate program and the undergraduate geography experience. Please know that as Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Hurt (hurtd@missouri.edu) is still here for you to discuss your own professional goals and career plans!
• You can find out more about the MU Geography Faculty by visiting our web page: https://geography.missouri.edu/people.
• I am the Chairperson of the Scholar’s Ship Geography. I have regular office hours on Tuesdays 9-11am in Stewart 227 and drop-in on Zoom (https://umsystem.zoom.us/j/93455698032). I am also in the office quite often, so please do drop by if/when you are in Stewart.
• As long as campus remains open, you are welcome to use the Jesse H. Wheeler Library (max capacity of three people) in room 217 on the second floor of the building. It is a beautiful place to study!

I’ve already overloaded you with information on a Monday morning, so I think I will leave things at introductions. Rest assured next Monday will bring another exciting What’s New @MizzouGeog? update! If you have any news to share, please let me know.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you strength, confidence, and good spirit as you begin this fall semester, whether it’s your first time on campus, or your senior year. Remember to take care of yourself, look out for one another, and focus on what matters most.

M-I-Z!

(G-E-O!)

Soren

Professor & Chair

Department of Geography

University of Missouri