Good Monday morning and welcome to the Fall 2021 Semester!

A few pre-game announcements before we get started…

Make sure you wear a mask inside campus buildings where social distancing is not possible, even if you’re vaccinated.

If you’re exposed to someone with Covid-19 and you’re vaccinated, get tested in 3-5 days of exposure, and continue with normal activities, wearing a mask in public.

If you’re exposed to someone with Covid-19, and you’re unvaccinated, quarantine yourself, and get tested in 5-7 days.

If you test positive for Covid-19, you must self-report on https://renewal.missouri.edu within four hours of receiving your result.

Feel sick? Stay home! Get tested! https://www.muhealth.org/conditions.../coronavirus/testing

Now that we’ve got that out of the way…

…Welcome back, geographers all, to another exciting semester of Mizzou Geography! You all are welcome to come to the New Majors Geography Orientation today at 4pm. Meet at the West Entrance of Stewart Hall (the doors that face Memorial Union). From there, you’ll embark on an orienteering course through Stewart Hall where you’ll meet the faculty, learn about the program, pick up cool swag and free maps, and get oriented, literally, to your new home on campus. This orientation is especially encouraged for those who declared during Summer Welcome or who have taken online courses only…but all are welcome!

We’ve got a bunch of great events lined up this semester. Make note!

Geography Camp Out at Arrow Rock

Friday, Sept. 24 – Saturday, Sept. 25 | Special Use Camping Area, Arrow Rock State Park

Cost: $2/per person. Tours of Santa Fe Trail, Arrow Rock Historic Site, and Todd’s Ferry Landing.

Alumni Roundtable/Wheeler + Ioanis Dedication

Friday, October 8 | Time and Place TBA

MU Geography Alumni describe strategies for success in Geography careers. Expand your professional network! Dedications: Jesse H. Wheeler Library and Dakota Ioanis Memory Tree.

Homecoming Tailgate/Book + Map Sale

Saturday, October 9 | Tiger Terrace, Time TBA

Mingle with alums, students, staff, & faculty before the football game! Brats, burgers, and veggie options; Urban Coyotes on the Terrace; Geography Club Book & Map Sale!

Colloquium: Dr. Aída Guhlincozzi

Monday, Oct 18, 4-5pm | Room 216 Stewart Hall

Come learn about our newest Geography colleague’s research in qualitative GIScience and Latina health geographies in the Chicago suburbs! Reception to follow.

That last item on the agenda reminds me: our newest faculty member, postdoctoral scholar Dr. Aída Guhlincozzi, has moved into her new office in 212 Stewart Hall. Dr. Guhlincozzi comes to Mizzou from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where her dissertation research focused on Latinx health geographies in the Chicagoland area. Stop by, say hi, and learn more about all that Dr. Guhlincozzi does!

Also, remember that your academic advisor, Mr. Joe Franklin, moved into his new office, 215 Stewart Hall, over the summer. How convenient to have your advisor right here in Stewart Hall!

Last but certainly not least, drumroll please…I am thrilled to announce that Tom Vought was awarded the Missouri GIS Advisory Council’s Outstanding Contribution in GIS Award at last week’s MO GIS Conference--which he himself hosted on behalf of MU Geography! The conference was awesome—a real “win” for MSDIS/Mizzou Geography all the way around. Thanks, Tom, for your leadership on that conference, and congratulations on your well-deserved award.

So…in one sweep, you can stop by Room 212 to say hi to Dr. Guhlincozzi; Room 213 to congratulate Tom; and Room 215 to see Mr. Franklin (just ignore room 214…it’s the storage closet!)

On behalf of the faculty and staff at MU Geography, I wish you the happiest, healthiest, and most rewarding of semesters.

M-I-Z!

G-E-O!

Dr. Larsen