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Distinguished Speakers on Film

Distinguished Speakers and GRCC Geography

2009-2022

The GRCC Geography program has played a significant role in contributing to the arrangement of more than twenty speakers and roundtable discussions in Grand Rapids since 2009. Listed here are only those which were filmed and made available on youtube through GRCC TV. The World Affairs Council’s Great Decisions series, a GRCC conference devoted to peace studies, and a symposium commemorating the founding of the United Nations offered forums for a number of speakers. Yet, a majority of lectures were delivered as part of the annual conference on Race, Ethnicity, and Identity, which emerged from an annual symposium on African American history in 2010. Of the four keynote speakers in the last conference, which was held in March of 2015, three were geographers. Visiting Geographical Scientists, sponsored each year by the International Geographical Honor Society and the Association of American Geographers, continue to be scheduled as part of a lecture series devoted to Race, Ethnicity, and Identity.

Jennifer Devine, Associate Professor of Geography, Texas State University.

Conservation on Drugs: Challenges and Solutions
21 February, World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series and GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Lecture Series

*Lindsay Naylor, Assistant Professor of Geography, University of Delaware.

Fair Rebels? Fair Trade in Movement and the Possibilities of Being in Common
19 March 2019, GRCC Social Sciences Lecture Series on Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Lecture Series

Cadey Korson, Lecturer in Human Geography, Massey University.

Separatist Movements and the Quest for Independence: A Case Study in the South Pacific.
6 December 2018, World Affairs Council Fall Lecture Series & GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Lecture Series

*Jonnell Robinson, Assistant Professor of Geography and Director of Community Geography, Syracuse University.

Points Lines, and People: Connecting People and Place Through Community Geography
27 March 2018, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Lecture Series

Desiree Cormier, Senior Director, Albright Stonebridge Group (formerly U.S. Department of State).

South Africa at a Crossroads: Implications for U.S. – South Africa Relations
19 March 2018, World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series

*Karen Culcasi, Associate Professor of Geography, West Virginia University

The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Syrian Women Refugees in Jordan
29 March 2017, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Lecture Series

*Maria Fadiman, Associate Professor of Geography, Florida Atlantic University

People and Plants: Conservation of Forests and Cultures
11 April 2016, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Lecture Series.

Jessie Clark, Assistant Professor of Geography, University of Nevada, Reno

Our Allies in the Middle East: The Future of Kurdistan
29 February 2016, World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series

Anne Bonds, Assistant Professor of Geography and Urban Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Colorblindness and Geographies of Racial Violence
26 March 2015, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Conference

Courtney Gallaher, Assistant Professor of Geography and Women’s Studies, Northern Illinois University

Linking Environmental Justice and Community Empowerment through Urban Agriculture in Southern/Eastern Africa 
24 March 2015, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Conference

*Marie Price, Professor of Geography and International Affairs, George Washington University

Diffusion, Deflection and Diversity: A Geographic Perspective on Contemporary Migration
23 March 2015, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Conference

Becky McDonald, President, Women at Risk International, Amanda Colegrove, Coalition Organizer, Coalition Against Trafficking & Exploitation, Crime Victim Advocacy Center, St. Louis, Missouri, Judy Emmons, Senator, Michigan 33rd District

Human Trafficking: In Everyone’s Backyard
23 February 2015, World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series

Alicia Decker, Assistant Professor of African Studies and Women’s Studies, Purdue University

Recalling the Legacy of Amin: Ethnicity, Gender, and Religion in the Shaping of Memory in Uganda
19 March 2014, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Conference

*Caroline Faria, Assistant Professor of Geography, Florida International University

Styling a Nation: Fear and Desire in the Southeast Sudanese Beauty Trade
18 March 2014, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Conference

Yael Aronoff, Serling Chair in Israel Studies and Associate Professor in International Relations at James Madison College, Michigan State University

U.S.-Israeli Relations in a Changing Middle East
24 February 2014, World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series

Michael DeVivo, Professor of Geography, Grand Rapids Community College, Gerald Nyambane, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Davenport University, and Deborah Steketee, Associate Professor of Sustainable Business, Aquinas College

Out of Africa: Food Security and Water Shortages
17 February 2014, World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series

Leon Yacher, Professor of Geography, Southern Connecticut State University

The Role of Journalism in Post-Soviet Central Asian Countries
21 October 2013, UN 2013–Grand Rapids: A Symposium to Commemorate the Founding of the United Nations

Yael Aronoff, Serling Chair in Israel Studies and Associate Professor in International Relations at James Madison College, Michigan State University

In Pursuit of Peace: Israel and the Palestinian Authority
21 October 2013, UN 2013–Grand Rapids: A Symposium to Commemorate the Founding of the United Nations

Michael DeVivo, Professor of Geography, Grand Rapids Community College

Global Citizenship and Higher Education (begins at the one-hour mark)
21 October 2013, UN 2013–Grand Rapids: A Symposium to Commemorate the Founding of the United Nations

Gordan Vurusic, Associate Professor of Political Science, Grand Rapids Community College, Keith St. Clair, Professor of Political Science, Grand Rapids Community College, and Joel Westra, Associate Professor of Political Science, Calvin College

The United Nations: Retrospect and Prospect
21 October 2013, UN 2013–Grand Rapids: A Symposium to Commemorate the Founding of the United Nations

Alyson Mabie, President, Lambda Upsilon Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, Grand Rapids Community College, Heather Pribble, Secretary, Lambda Upsilon Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, Grand Rapids Community College, Tony Baker, Director, Ferris State University Center of Latin Studies, Rosa Fraga, Principal of San Juan Diego Academy, John Matias, Community School Coordinator, Arbor Circle, at Burton Elementary and Middle School, Martha Gonzalez-Cortes, CEO, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan

Hispanic Education in Western Michigan
27 March 2013, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Conference

*Rebecca Sheehan, Associate Professor of Geography, Oklahoma State University

Identity, Tourism, and Racialization in New Orlean’s Jackson Square
25 March 2013, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Conference

*Kate Swanson, Assistant Professor of Geography, San Diego State University

Exploring Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Childhood in the Andes: A Geographical Perspective
29 March 2012, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Conference

Brian Woodin, Adrienne Ozinga, Kara Apodaca, Sarah Nusbaum, and Lindsey Harris, Lambda Upsilon Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, Grand Rapids Community College

Field Studies in Geography at GRCC: Ethnicity and Food in Western Michigan and Searching for Understanding South Africa
27 March 2012, GRCC Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Conference

*Leon Yacher, Professor of Geography, Southern Connecticut State University

Ethnicity, Settlement, Conflict and Reconciliation in Central Asia: A Geographical Perspective
7 April 2011, GRCC Race and Ethnicity Conference

Donald Mansir, Professor of Theology, St. Mary’s College and formerly the Vice-President for the Pontifical Council for Palestine

Peace, Nature, Nurture, Theology, and Culture in the Conflicts of the Holy Land
29 September 2010, GRCC Peace Studies Conference

Bryan Groves, Colonel, U.S. Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

Peacekeeping and Stability Operations: Participation in UN, Regional Organization Peacekeeping Operations
28 September 2010, GRCC Peace Studies Conference

*Marie Price, Professor of Geography and International Affairs, George Washington University

Immigration in a Global Age: Cities, Ethnicity, and the Politics of Place
18 February 2010, GRCC Race and Ethnicity Conference

*Leon Yacher, Professor of Geography, Southern Connecticut State University

African Americans in New Haven, Connecticut: A Historical Geography
26 February 2009, GRCC African American History Conference

*Visiting Geographical Scientist Distinguished Speaker

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