You are invited to the 22nd annual GFDA Department Leadership workshop, offering two days of virtual sessions to help you meet the many challenges our departments and programs face now. Sessions are offered starting at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with panels, discussions, and interactive activities throughout each day.
This year’s workshop looks at the tools and frameworks department leaders can use to strengthen their planning, administration, and mentoring. From collaborative vision setting and long-term strategy-building to heeding early distress signals, confronting challenges to academic freedom, and addressing the needs of students and junior faculty, this two-day intensive aims to address current conditions in geography programs.
The first day of the 2025 GFDA Departmental Leadership workshop will focus on planning and general administration in the context of university-wide priorities. Day Two will focus discussion on academic freedom and aspects of mentorship, from looking out for international students to anticipating issues for graduate students, post-docs, and junior colleagues, including funding and international travel.
This workshop is for all geographers interested in improving their programs‐‐chairs, deans, associate chairs, academic advisers, provosts and other administrators, as well as any faculty member interested in leadership issues, including those who have just been appointed to leadership roles or may soon assume one.
For questions or further guidance about any of these opportunities, please email [email protected].
Invited Speakers
- Julie Cidell, Department Head, Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- Patricia Ehrkamp, Arts & Sciences Distinguished Professor, Professor of Geography, University of Kentucky, and 2024-2025 AAG President
- Ken Foote, Deputy Head and Director of Urban and Community Studies, Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies, University of Connecticut, 2010-2011 AAG President
- David Kaplan, Professor, Department of Geography, Kent State University, 2018-2019 AAG President
- Rebecca Lave, Associate Dean for Social and Historical Sciences, Professor, Geography, Indiana University-Bloomington, 2024-2025 AAG President
- Leslie MacLees, Undergraduate Director, Senior Instructor & Advisor; Program Director, General Social Sciences, University of Oregon
- Shannon O’Lear, Joint appointment with Environmental Studies Program, Professor, KU Chancellors Club Teaching Professor 2024-2029, University of Kansas
- Risha RaQuelle, Chief Strategy Officer, AAG
- Sue Roberts, Associate Provost for Internationalization, Professor of Geography, University of Kentucky
- Petra Zimmerman, Chair, Departments of Environment, Geology, Natural Resource, and Department of Geography, Meteorology, Ball State Universit
Registration fees
AAG members: FREE!
Individuals whose AAG memberships are current may attend the workshop at no cost. Registration is required and may be completed by selecting the button above and following the directions to sign in to your AAG account.
Non-AAG members: $250
The fee for non-members includes access to all sessions and materials. Select the button above to register and follow the instructions to sign up for an AAG account. If you already have an account sign in to your account.