Richardson holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. (1980) in geography from Michigan State University. He worked closely with American Indian tribes for over twenty years on natural resources, cultural, and ecological issues. His firm, GeoResearch, Inc. achieved international prominence with the invention, development and patenting of the first interactive GPS/GIS (global positioning system/geographic information system) technology, which led to major advances in the way geographic information is now collected, mapped, integrated, and used within geography and in society at large. As President of GeoResearch, Richardson directed many large-scale mapping, environmental, natural resources, and transportation research projects for domestic, overseas, and international agencies and firms.

     In announcing Richardson's selection, M. Duane Nellis, AAG Vice President and Chair of the AAG Executive Director Search and Selection Committee said "Dr. Richardson is superbly qualified to lead the Association of American Geographers at this particular point in its history." The search and selection committee consisted of Nellis; AAG President Janice J. Monk; AAG Past Presidents Susan Cutter, Reginald G. Golledge, Judy M. Olson, Harold M. Rose, and Thomas Wilbanks; former AAG Councillor and Treasurer Joel Morrison; and AAG Councillor Cort Willmott. The Committee's selection of Richardson for the position of executive director was unanimous.

     "I look forward to working closely with members representing the full breadth of the discipline to build the AAG into a model organization and to advance geography on all fronts at this pivotal stage in its evolution," said Richardson. "It has been a great privilege and pleasure to work with our talented membership and staff in the past, and I look forward to expanding those friendships from every corner of the discipline as we work together to strengthen geography in the years ahead. We have before us a unique window of opportunity to create a far more central place for geography in both society and the university. Our success in realizing this potential will not only benefit the discipline internally, but will enable geography and geographers to more effectively meet the many pressing needs of our society and the world at large" Richardson concluded.

     Richardson will be the Association's eighth full time executive director. Three individuals (Arvin W. Hahn, Saul B. Cohen, and John Fraser Hart) served for one year each in 1963, 1964, and 1964 respectively. J. Warren Nystrom served as executive director from 1966 to 1979, followed by Patricia J. McWethy (1979-1984) and Robert T. Aangeenbrug (1984-1989). Abler was appointed executive director in August 1989 and will continue as executive director until 31 December 2002. The AAG's affairs were managed by its elected officers from its founding in 1904 until 1963.