UNM Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

Yesterday was a proud and exciting day for the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies as we gathered at the UNM Alumni Memorial Chapel to celebrate the Class of 2026.

The afternoon gave us a chance to recognize our graduates, celebrate their accomplishments, and gather with the families, friends, alumni, faculty, and staff who helped mark this important milestone. We were especially excited to recognize Dr. Teddy Woldeyohannes, who was conferred his doctoral degree through our Ph.D. program.

It was also a special moment for the department as our newest faculty members, Dr. Marcela Suarez and Dr. Su Zhang, completed their first year as Assistant Professors in Geography and Environmental Studies.

Congratulations to all of our graduates. We are so proud of you and excited to see what comes next.

Carving Cultures and Landscapes (previously Geology, Society, and Justice) will examine the intersection of environmental justice, geology, and water in the southwest.
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Students will learn about the history of Geosciences, and interdisciplinary perspectives in the construction of place and identity in geoscience. We will have several field trip opportunities during the class including a half-day Rio Grande rafting trip.
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Please reach out to Cam Chavez Reed [email protected] if you have any questions!

The University of New Mexico Art Museum is proud to present BioSymposium — a showcase of interdisciplinary research and creative practice that spans the intersections of art, science, and technology.
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Join us this Friday, November 15th from 5:30 – 7:00 PM at UNMAM, in connection with The University of New Mexico’s Research & Discovery Week 2024.
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Exploring themes and concepts from UNMAM’s current exhibition, Hindsight Insight 5.0, BioSymposium brings together a selection of artists and researchers who are leading creative innovations and cross-disciplinary explorations at the University of New Mexico.
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Our lineup of speakers includes Dustin Roberto (Population Health), Blair Mirka (Geography and Environmental Studies), Dr. Chanee Choi (Film and Digital Arts) and our keynote speaker, Basia Irland (professor emerita, Department of Art).

**Updated Sponsors + Reception Location!**
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Mark your calendars for this fall’s Richard Murphy Annual Memorial Lecture happening during UNM’s Research & Discovery Week (which also happens to be Geography Awareness Week)!
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Our Murphy speakers are world renowned geography scholars who are doing cutting-edge research that intersects with multiple disciplines. This year we are excited to host Dr. Kirk Goldsberry whose work blends journalism, computer science, spatial statistics, mapmaking, and data visualization with sports. The Murphy Lecture “The Geography of Pro Basketball: How Cartography and Spatial Thinking Helped Define the Modern NBA” will take place Friday, November 15th from 3-4 pm in the KIVA Lecture Hall, and is free and open to the public.
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Kirk Goldsberry is an NBA analyst at ESPN and the Executive Director of the Sports Business Institute at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. He has formerly served as the lead analyst for Team USA Basketball, and as the Vice President of Strategic Research for the San Antonio Spurs. His expertise in basketball analytics focuses on spatial analyses and visual analytics. After receiving a Ph.D. in Geography from UC-Santa Barbara, he worked as a professor at Michigan State University and Harvard University before joining the faculty of the University of Texas.
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Speaker: Dr. Kirk Goldsberry. Associate Director of the Center for Leadership and Ethics, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin

Talk title: The Geography of Pro Basketball: How Cartography and Spatial Thinking Helped Define the Modern NBA

Where: KIVA Lecture Hall, UNM Main Campus, Albuquerque NM

When: 3-4pm Friday, November 15
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The lecture will be immediately followed by a reception with light appetizers at **University Club** 1923 Las Lomas Rd NE. Everyone is welcome to join!
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Please share widely with your networks. We look forward to seeing you there.

Dear GES Students + Faculty,

Please join us at the Open House on Monday, November 11th from 4-6:30 PM in the PAÍS first floor lobby! There will be a student poster competition (including GES students!!), door prizes, the unveiling of the 2025 ASPIRE calendar and more.

We will also have food from Sahara! Hope to see you there!

Dear GES Grad Students + Community,
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Next week (November 11th - 15th) is Geography Awareness Week. There will be events in the UNM SUB Atrium on Wednesday and Thursday, with the Richard Murphy Annual Memorial Lecture happening on Friday, November 15th. With reception to follow immediatly after at University Club, 1923 Las Lomas Rd NE, 87106.
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See the flyer from more detailed information on location, times, and specific programming.
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Volunteers are needed for the Wednesday and Thursday events in the sub, please sign up for a timeslot if you’re able! >
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Hope to see you soon!

SAGES and

**UPDATED LOCATION FOR RECEPTION FOLLOWING LECTURE** Please join us at UNM's University Club for a reception immediately following lecture!

Mark your calendars for this fall’s Richard Murphy Annual Memorial Lecture happening during UNM’s Research & Discovery Week (which also happens to be Geography Awareness Week)!
🏀
Our Murphy speakers are world renowned geography scholars who are doing cutting-edge research that intersects with multiple disciplines. This year we are excited to host Dr. Kirk Goldsberry whose work blends journalism, computer science, spatial statistics, mapmaking, and data visualization with sports. The Murphy Lecture “The Geography of Pro Basketball: How Cartography and Spatial Thinking Helped Define the Modern NBA” will take place Friday, November 15th from 3-4 pm in the KIVA Lecture Hall, and is free and open to the public.
🏀
Kirk Goldsberry is an NBA analyst at ESPN and the Executive Director of the Sports Business Institute at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. He has formerly served as the lead analyst for Team USA Basketball, and as the Vice President of Strategic Research for the San Antonio Spurs. His expertise in basketball analytics focuses on spatial analyses and visual analytics. After receiving a Ph.D. in Geography from UC-Santa Barbara, he worked as a professor at Michigan State University and Harvard University before joining the faculty of the University of Texas.
🏀
Speaker: Dr. Kirk Goldsberry. Associate Director of the Center for Leadership and Ethics, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin

Talk title: The Geography of Pro Basketball: How Cartography and Spatial Thinking Helped Define the Modern NBA

Where: KIVA Lecture Hall, UNM Main Campus, Albuquerque NM

When: 3-4pm Friday, November 15
🏀
The lecture will be immediately followed by a reception with light appetizers at **University Club**. 1923 Las Lomas Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. Everyone is welcome to join!
🏀
Please share widely with your networks. We look forward to seeing you there.

Mark your calendars for our fourth departmental colloquium of the semester!

Dr. Ria Mukerji, UNM GES PhD Graduand
“Pathways of participation: Community engagement & collaborative adaptation in disaster contexts across diverse environments”

Friday November 1st
Bandelier East 105
3-4 pm

Join us 🌾t o d a y 🍂for Harvest Festival🍁! 4-5:30 pm at Lobo RED garden on Abq Main Campus near the corner of Vassar Dr NE and Campus Blvd NE

Mark your calendars for our on-going Colloquium speaker series!