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Alumni Spotlight

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Alumni Spotlight

Allison Erickson

By Brandon Plewe
March 03, 2020 11:53 AM
In the first interview of our alumni spotlight series we caught up with Allison Erickson.
2 Min Read
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Alumni Spotlight: Weston Murch

By Ryan Shields
March 02, 2020 10:42 AM
Live from St. Louis, Missouri
2 Min Read
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Women in Geography

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Alicia Seeley

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Alicia Seeley, former active duty for the Army National Guard and a graduate of BYU in Geography: Urban Planning is in her first semester at Harvard University Graduate School of Design: The Department of Urban Planning and Design. Alicia talks about her journey to go to school, graduate, and then go to school again since she never felt like she was going to go to school in the first place. She shares thoughts about qualifying experiences and walks students through other admissions/networking tips and tricks for shy students.

WATCH NOW
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Kari Rasmussen

Senior Development Officer, American Indian Science and Engineering

Kari Rasmussen, a graduate of Geography: Environmental Studies from BYU talks with students about her trajectory and how she ended up providing leadership development for educators and professionals as a consultant. From completing multiple internships and talking with others about her dreams, she has created and sustained multiple roles impacting environmental education in profound ways. Kari is always open for new adventures and encourages students to take risks in order to get what they want.

WATCH NOW
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History of the Geography Department

Brigham Young University has offered geography classes since its opening. BYU’s first president Karl G. Maeser taught many of the core geography classes.Geography was originally part of the Geology Department, with Elliott Tuttle and a couple geology professors teaching courses in geography.agencyToday the geography department offers six major emphases and four minors. We have 12 full-time faculty members and a number of adjunct professors. The Geography Department is a part of the college of Family Home and Social Science and works with many different cities and governments on a variety of projects. The BS Geography degree introduced in the Geology & Geography Department. 1953 Robert Layton (Cartography, Human Geography) and Albert Fisher (Human Geography) hired 1954 The independent Geography Department was created, housed in the Eyring Science Building, consisting of three full-time faculty, chair: Elliott Tuttle. 1955 Keith Duke (Regional Geography) hired as our 4th professor (he left for Stanford in 1960) 1956 We moved to the new David O. McKay Building 1957 Marion Millett hired as our 5th professor 1958 Geography moved to the Jesse Knight Building; the first Master’s degree is awarded by the department 1960 Russell Horiuchi (Human Geography) hired, Chair: Robert Layton (for the next 20 years!); the University standardizes the 3-digit course numbering system, a few classes have miraculously survived from then to the present with the same number! (101, 120, 211, 312) 1961 Geography moved to the Heber J. Grant Building, our home for the next 19 years. 1962 Alan Grey (Physical Geography) hired. 1964 Melvin Aamodt (Human Geography) hired as our 6th professor. 1965 Dale Stevens (Regional, Physical Geography) hired as our 7th professor. 1966 A more well-defined Master of Science Degree program is introduced. 1968 Thomas Hinckley (Cartography) hired. 1972 Two new majors are introduced in Planning and Cartography, along with a Planning/Cartography Associate Degree; Kelly Nielsen hired as the first full-time staff cartographer, providing services for faculty in the department, across the campus, and the Church (including the maps for the Church (including the maps for the 1981 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants). 1974 New emphasis (Bachelor and Associate) in Travel & Tourism introduced. 1976 Several new degree programs replace the emphases: BS Resource Management, GS Geography Teaching, BS Travel & Tourism, BS Planning, MS Cartography, MS Planning. 1979 The department weather station was established—now the David James Memorial NWS Weather Station. 1980 The Geography Department moved into the 6th floor of the Spencer W. Kimball Tower (it’s current location); BS Cartography introduced; Chair: Russell Horiuchi (-1988). 1981 Perry Hardin (GIS) hired (the first new faculty in 16 years); he soon created the Geographic Information Systems lab; Jeff Bird hired as the new staff cartographer. 1987 Robert Ford hired, Chair Dale Stevens (-1995). 1988 Associate degrees are eliminated in our department and across the university. 1989 Jim Davis (Human Geography/Tourism) hired as 8th professor. 1990 Matthew Shumway (Human Geography) hired as 9th professor; the Planning and Resource Management degrees combined. 1991 Chad Emmett (Human Geography) hired; the masters degrees are merged into a single program with three emphases. 1992 Cartography degree renamed to Cartography and Geographic Information Systems. 1993 Chair Richard Jackson (-2000). 1995 Brandon Plewe (GIS) hired; BS Cartography and Geographic Information Systems renamed to Geographic Information Systems1997: Sam Otterstrom (Human Geography, Planning) hired. 1996 Jeff Durrant (Human, Physical Geography) hired; Travel and Tourism changed to an emphasis in BS Geography. 1998 Mark Jackson (GIS) hired, Chair Matthew Shumway (-2012). 2000 Matthew Bekker (Physical Geography) and Renee Gluch (GIS) hired as new 10th and 11th faculty positions; the emphasis in Environmental Studies introduced; the staff cartographer position is replaced by the student-staffed Mapping Services Lab that eventually evolved into ThinkSpatial. 2001 The first Chauncy Harris Distinguished Lecture; Global Studies added as the third emphasis of BS Geography, Planning renamed “Urban, Rural, and Environmental Planning.” 2003 Clark Monson (Physical Geography) hired. 2004 The Planning and GIS degrees become emphases of the BS Geography; Geospatial Intelligence added as a 6th emphasis. 2006 Ryan Jensen (GIS) hired. 2007 The Geography Teaching degree is eliminated. 2008 Last Master Degrees awarded; Graduate program furloughed to focus more resources on undergraduate education. 2010 Michael Clay (Planning) and Clark Monson (Physical Geography) hired, bringing our department to 12 full-time faculty. 2011 Ryan Jensen becomes 7th chair. 2012 ThinkSpatial established as a student-run GIS/Cartography consulting agency. 2013 Daniel Olsen (Tourism) hired. 2014 Jim Davis retires. 2019 Ruth Kerry (Environmental Science) hired. 2020 Richard Jackson (Human Geography, Planning) hired. 1969 Lloyd Hudman (Human Geography, Tourism) hired; Dr. Horiuchi called as a mission president in Japan. 1970
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Professor Elliot Tuttle teaching a class

Professor Elliott Tuttle, 1958 posing with our immortal chalkboard globe. “The Father of BYU Geography” was a mentor to many during his long career, including several future department faculty; one of our department scholarships is named in his honor.




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student discussing in front of a map

Students posing in front of a map, 1958




Bob Layton and students studying maps

Bob Layton and students studying air photos, 1958. Starting as our first cartography professor, Layton was instrumental in developing the professional aspects of the growing department, overseeing the introduction of programs in cartography, planning, and tourism.