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Joe Leeper

Professor and Department Chair

Contact Information:
Office: Founders Hall 110
Office Hours:
Phone: (707) 826-3945
E-mail: jsl1@humboldt.edu
Web Site: http://www.humboldt.edu/ ~jsl1

Personal Statement:

    Became a “practicing geographer” early as my father taught and coached in Montana., Washington, Nevada and Oregon. On our many trips to visit family in Montana, my father would stop at state and national monuments and talk about the people, events and significance of these places. His explanations and interpretations were fascinating and were highlighted by the interplay between history and space.
    After matriculation at Dartmouth College, experienced two years of liberal arts education and when came time to choose a major before my junior year, I realized that the one major that best fit me was Geography. Dartmouth allowed for great academic flights and the faculty went out of their way to share their research with their students and act as active and caring mentors. Also had opportunity to participate in football and rugby and remain especially proud of being member of the undefeated football team of 1965. This team won the Ivy League Championship Trophy and was received the Lambert Trophy symbolic of the best football team in the East.
    Graduate work was done at the University of Oregon and my MA was awarded in 1971 followed by a doctorate in 1974. The department was of the Sauer-Berkeley school and had strong emphasis on field work. My regional specialty focused on Latin America with special emphasis on Mexico and Central America. Was fortunate to have worked with outstanding faculty including Carl Johannessen, Gene Martin, Clyde the Glide Patton, Ev Smith and Joe Searl.
    Journeyed to the North Coast of California in the fall of 1971 to be a visiting professor for one quarter. Serendipity resulted in my receiving an offer for a tenure track position for the fall of 1972 and have been here ever since and am an avowed Humboldt lifer. My wife Lou has had an stimulating career with Humboldt County for over 33 years. Our daughter, Kirsten, was born and raised locally. She is an HSU grad and member of the class of 2000.
    HSU has allowed me a great deal of academic freedom and have offered 14 different classes: 12 syllabi in Geography and two in the Fifth Year Single Subject-Social Science Credential program. Have earned and enjoyed four sabbaticals highlighted by being a Visiting Scholar for NASA; traveling and researching in Mexico, Guatemala and Cuba; and working with public school teachers at local, regional and state levels. Currently serving either my 19th or 20th year as chair of the Geography Department.

Specialty Area:
Human/Cultural Geography, Urban Geography, Economic Geography, Field Studies, Geographic Education, Teacher Preparation-Social Sciences

Courses Taught:
•Introduction to Cultural Geography
•Introduction to Human Geography
•Latin America
•Middle America
•South America
•Urban Geography
•Economic Geography
•Advanced Urban Geography
•Advanced Economic Geography
•Geography for Teachers
•Field Methods
•Senior Field Research
•Secondary Curriculum Instruction: Social Studies
•Secondary Seminar: Social Studies
•Lab Instructor for Conservation Ethic

Education/degrees:
AB Urban/Economic Geography (1968), Dartmouth College, with Minor in
Government and Provisional Social Science Teaching Credential
MA Geography (1971), University of Oregon
PhD Geography (1974), University of Oregon
Faculty Fee Waiver Program at Humboldt State University

Research Interests:
Changing urban landscapes; impact of humankind on the earth; geographic teaching/resources; alternative economies; Latin America; and migration patterns through time.

Awards and Honors:
Dragon Society, Dartmouth College
Ford Foundation Fellowships for Latin American Studies, University of Oregon
Ochoco Scholar, University of Oregon
Visiting Scholar, Moffett Field, California, NASA
Recipient of multiple grants at HSU
Recipient of multiple grants from California History-Social Science Project
President of the California Council for Geographic Education
Recipient of Excellence of Service Award, California Geographic Society
Recipient of Friend of Education Award, Humboldt State University
Recipient of Excellence of Teaching Award, National Council for Geographic
Education

Recent Scholarly Presentations and Publications:

• Teaching Social Science Using Music as a Medium: Rock and Roll,
Teaching American History Project, HSU, October, 2005
• Using Geography to Teach History, co-presenter with Dr. Dennis Fitzsimons,
California Geographic Society, Yosemite, California, April, 2005
• Geographic Teaching Resources for K-12, co-presenter with Dr. Dennis Fitz-
simons, Teaching American History Project, HSU, February, 2005
• The Geography of Rock and Roll, Teaching American History Project, HSU,
October, 2004
• Geography as a Social Science Teaching Paradigm, Teaching American History
Project, HSU, August, 2004
• Wintu Place Names Report, co-author with Dr. Dennis Fitzsimons, HSU, Grad-
uate Studies, June, 2004
• Recipient of Grant, Wintu Place Names, Shasta County California, co-author
with Dr. Dennis Fitzsimons, HSU Graduate Studies, 2003
• Conflict, Crisis, Resolution thru Time and Space, Redwood Area History-Social
Science Project, HSU, July, 2003
• Making History Come Alive with Geography, North Coast Education Summmit,
co-presenter with Dr. Dennis Fitzsimons, February, 2003
• Changing Landscape of Arcata, California, National Geography Awareness
Week, HSU, October, 2003
• Going Beyond Where: Online Resources for Geography, SOCIAL STUDIES
REVIEW, Spring/Summer, 2003, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 85-89
• Humboldt. County and Humboldt Bay, California: An Educational Prototype,
co-author with HSU Geography Seniors and editor, HSU, May, 2003
• Cultural Assimilation in Bolivia: the Case of Highland Indians, Celebraction
Latina, HSU, April, 2003
For complete list of scholarly activities, please contact me.

 

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