Gail Hobbs

Gail Hobbs passed away on February 8, 2009. A well-known advocate of geography education, she was a member of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) for over 20 years and served as its President in 1999. Hobbs was born in Chicago but grew up in North Hollywood, California, and both areas played significant roles in her professional life. She earned a B.A. in education from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois and a master’s degree in geography from UCLA. Concordia later presented Hobbs with an honorary doctorate.

Hobbs served as Professor of Geography Department of Anthropological and Geographical Sciences at Pierce College in Los Angeles, where she taught a wide range of courses. Over her 22-year career she played an instrumental role in strengthening geography at Pierce College by developing a GIS laboratory, classrooms and related coursework and by forming strong bonds with students.

In addition to her association with NCGE, Hobbs was a longtime member of the AAG, the California Geographical Society, the Los Angeles Geographical Society, and the Society of Women Geographers. A skilled organizer, she served as co-coordinator of the Southern California Geographic Alliance from 1987 to 1997.

Gail Hobbs (Necrology). 2009. AAG Newsletter 44(5): 14.