William R. Strong to Receive AAG Gilbert Grosvenor Geographic Education Honors

The 2016 Gilbert Grosvenor Geographic Education Honors are presented to William R. Strong in recognition of his extensive contributions to geographic education. Through his foundational work with the Alabama Geographic Alliance and the National Geographic Society’s education program, Strong has worked, and continues to work, with educators and geographers to improve the teaching of geography at the primary and secondary school levels. As a faculty member and long-term chair of the Department of Geography at the University of North Alabama, Strong is also an outstanding geographic educator in his own right while diligently advocating for geography in higher education. Between his work in geographic education and his work as a geographic educator, Strong has had a significant impact on the landscape of geographic education in the United States.

A citation for William R. Strong follows. 

William R. Strong, Emeritus Professor, University of North Alabama

The 2016 Gilbert Grosvenor Geographic Education Honors are presented to William R. Strong in recognition of his extensive contributions to geographic education.

Through his foundational work with the Alabama Geographic Alliance and the National Geographic Society’s education program, Strong has worked, and continues to work, with educators and geographers to improve the teaching of geography at the primary and secondary school levels. Strong was a founding member of the Alabama Geographic Alliance in 1987 and continues to serve as its coordinator, a span of twenty-eight years. As the Alabama coordinator, Strong has given countless presentations, workshops, and institutes through the years to support educators in their efforts to improve the teaching of geography in Alabama schools.

At the national level, Strong has worked not only with National Geographic but also with the National Council for Geographic Education and the Association of American Geographers to improve the teaching of geography. Through these agencies, he has been involved with the Geographic Education National Implementation Project, with the development of National Geography Education Standards, and with the Advanced Placement exam in Human Geography. He has served as the Geographer-in-Residence at the Geography Education Program at the National Geographic Society and as a Fellow of the Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education at Texas State University.

Strong is also an outstanding geographic educator and mentor in his own right while diligently advocating for geography in higher education, as a faculty member and long-term chair of the Department of Geography at the University of North Alabama. Strong served as chair of the Department for 29 years, building it into one of the best bachelors and master’s programs in the state and region. For these accomplishments he has received the University of North Alabama’s Academic Affairs Faculty Award for Outstanding Service in 2010 and National Council for Geographic Education’s Distinguished Mentor Award 2015.

Between his work in geographic education and his work as a geographic educator, Strong has had a significant impact on the landscape of geographic education in the United States and is highly deserving of this honor being bestowed on him.