150 Years of Geography at SSC

Meeting the Needs of Geographic Education and Applications: 1971 – Present

The 70's | The 80's | The 90's | The 00's

A number of new degree programs in geography were developed to prepare students for graduate school or employment opportunities. The Department also developed a productive interaction with geographers and professional associations at the regional and national level.

1971 - The Earth Science and Geography Department was separated into the Department of Geography and the Geology Department.

1971 - The Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers was held in Boston and hosted by the geographers of Boston University, Clark University, Salem State College and other institutions in eastern Massachusetts

1972 - An MAT in Geography was launched by the by department. Prior to that time, geography graduate courses had been offered as part of a Masters degree in Education.

1972 - The Department organized a B.S. degree in Geography. It was listed in the 1973 College Catalogue and it was the first bachelor of science degree offered at Salem State. The structure of the geography curriculum was based on three segments:

Traditional systematic, regional and geographic philosophy courses as the core.

Applied and skill courses in concentrations oriented toward careers and graduate school. At the outset, majors could concentrate in Urban-Economic Geography, Environment and Man, and Regional Geography. Additional concentrations in Cartography and Travel and Tourism were added later. The titles of these concentrations and related courses have changed over the years to reflect career and graduate school opportunities.

An internship and placement seminar to assist the student in gaining professional awareness and experience.

The program’s success was founded on preparing students for careers or graduate school in geography, a discipline that had relatively little exposure to pre-college students. It also relied on an accessible student oriented faculty led by John L. George, Department Chair. The department had more than 200 majors and 10 full time faculty positions by the early 1980’s. Salem offered one of the first extensive geography internship programs in the country. Its faculty members were invited to present workshops on its effectiveness of attracting, preparing and placing majors after graduation. Sites of the presentations included national meetings of the Association of American Geographers at Philadelphia (1979), Denver (1983), and Minneapolis (1986); and at regional meetings at Newport, RI (1979); Albany, NY (1985); and Hanover, NH (1988).

Mid 1970’s - The decade saw the evolution and establishment of several interdisciplinary study centers in the Department of Geography. They included the:

Marine Studies Center – James J. Centorino, Coordinator

Urban Studies Center – John L. George, Coordinator

American Studies Center – Richard O. Riess, Coordinator

1973 - The Salem Geographic Society was established to act as a faculty/student interest group for social and academic activities. It sponsored a number of holiday parties, summer outings, and speakers. The society was particularly successful in presenting a positive profile for geography at Salem each year by organizing student groups to attend the regional and national meetings of professional organizations.

1973 - A Department Speaker Series was introduced that provided for a distinguished geographer to speak a Salem each year. Guests included Brian J. L. Berry, Past President of the Association of American Geographers; John Frazier, Chair of the AAG Applied Geography Specialty Group and Chair of the Geography Department at SUNY Binghamton; Harm de Blij, author of numerous books and special geographical consultant to ABC News; and Robert T. Aangeenbrug, Executive Director of the Association of American Geographers.

1974 - The Department launched a series of annual travel/study seminars that involved class work and travel to enrich student experiences with national and international areas of interest. The first course was offered by John L. George and it was focused on “new towns” along the eastern seaboard of the United States.

1974 - A three day symposium on “Blacks in Urban America” was co-sponsored by the Department of Geography and the Afro-American Studies Center. Geographers invited to speak included Harold Rose, President of the Association of American Geographers and Donald Deskins of the University of Michigan. Theodore S. Pikora and Gerdes Fleurant were the Coordinators.

1976 - Department hosted the Annual Meeting of the New England – St. Lawrence Valley Geographical Society. David Ward of the University of Wisconsin gave the keynote address. Richard O. Riess was Program Chair and Theodore S. Pikora was Local Arrangements Chair.

1977 - The Department began offering a B.S. Degree in Cartography degree program.

1979 - Theodore S. Pikora was elected as Chair of the Department. He was elected for two additional terms afterwards and served from 1979 through 1987.

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1981 - An article in the Journal of Geography ranked the Department of Geography at Salem State College “first” in Teaching and “fourth” in the Overall category in a survey of 110 undergraduate programs around the country.
(Anthony de Souza, Ingolf Vogeler and Brady Faust. “The Overlooked Departments of Geography,” Journal of Geography. Vol.80, 1981, pp. 17-40.)

1982 - Several darkrooms and related equipment were installed to enhance a cartographic reproduction capacity of the Department. Robert H. Arnold coordinated the effort.

1982 - The Department received the “Department of the Year Award” from President James T. Amsler at the Annual Convocation of the College.

1984 - The Digital Geography Lab was launched largely as a result of donations from private industry and the efforts of William L. Hamilton.

1984 - The Department began offering a Certificate Program in Travel and Tourism to professionals who might not have a college degree or for those desiring to retrain for careers in the travel industry.

1985 - Michael S. Dukakis, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, issued a proclamation citing the Department for its close working relationship in applied geography with businesses and public agencies. The citation was initiated by an agreement signed between Geographic Systems Inc. of Andover and Salem State College in which the work of the Digital Geography Lab would be exchanged for GSI’s software and training.

1985 - The first annual James J. Centorino Award for Student Excellence was given to the major who achieves the highest GPA in the Department during their senior year.

1986 - The Digital Geography Lab received a $232,000 grant from the state and the designation “Commonwealth Center of Excellence.” William L. Hamilton designed the facility and served as Lab Coordinator, Theodore S. Pikora wrote the proposal, and John L. George sought and received the funding.

1986 - Dr. Muharem Cerabregu , Professor of Geography at the University of Kosovo, Prishtina, Yugoslavia, was the first Fullbright Fellow affiliated with the College. He worked with William L. Hamilton in the Digital Geography Lab and he shared academic interests with Albert M. Tosches.

1986 - The first annual National Council for Geographic Education Award was given to a senior major who has a high level of academic and professional achievement and plans to enter a teaching career.

1986 - The first annual American Express Award was given to the senior student who has a high level of academic and professional achievement in the Travel and Tourism Concentration.

1987 - The National Geographic Society announced that The Department of Geography at Salem would become a center for the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance along with the co-host institution of the Massachusetts Global Education Project at Winchester High School. Richard T. Anderson was named co-coordinator along with Paul Mulloy.

1987 - A College Travel Center was established in the Department to provide a training facility for students and travel counseling for the College. Katharine Heiligmann was the Coordinator.

1987 - The Department began organizing travel packages during the spring break for students and faculty. Destinations included Iceland, the Swiss Alps and Vienna among other venues. Katharine Heiligmann coordinated most of the early trips, and Stephen Matchak assumed responsibility for them during the mid-1990’s.

1987 - John L. George was elected as Chair of the Department for a fourth term and, three years later, a fifth term. This tour of service extended from 1987 to 1992.

1988 - The Eta Kappa Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the national honor society in Geography, was accepted at the Department. Theodore S. Pikora was the faculty sponsor.

1988 - An annual Student Awards Ceremony was established to recognize student achievement. The event is held in April and serves as a forum to present all student awards and to install new members into Gamma Theta Upsilon.

1989 - A student chapter of The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing was established in the Department. Robert H. Arnold was the faculty sponsor.

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1992 - The first annual J. Michael Ruane Award in Digital Geography was given to a senior student who achieved a high degree of achievement in the Digital Geography Lab. The award was named in honor of Representative J. Michael Ruane of Salem for his support of Salem State College and the Department of Geography.

1992 - Salem State College received a state grant to establish the Northeast Global Education Center. Richard T. Anderson and Louis Swiniarski were named coordinators

1992 - The Department began offering a Master of Science in Geo-Information Science degree program.

1992 - William L. Hamilton was elected Chair of the Department. He was re-elected in 1995 and served as Chair from 1992 to 1998.

1993 - The Department of Geography received an Outstanding Performance Award from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

1995 - The Department re-introduced its interest in offering study/travel seminars with topics ranging from World War I battlefields, to the cities of central Europe, and the environments of the American Southwest. Several of the courses were offered in conjunction with the History Department.

1997 - The Department hosted the 75th Anniversary Annual Meeting of the New England-St. Lawrence Valley Geographical Society. Remarks were offered by Ronald Abler, Executive Director of the Association of American Geographers and Patricia Gober, President of the AAG. Theodore S. Pikora was the Program Chair and Katharine Heiligmann was the Local Arrangements Chair.

1998 - The Departments of Geography at Boston University, Clark University, Salem State College and other institutions in eastern Massachusetts hosted the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers in Boston.

1998 - Stephen Matchak was elected Chair of the Department and re-elected for a second term in 2001.

1999 - Salem State College and other institutions in Massachusetts hosted the Annual Meeting of the National Council for Geographic Education in Boston. Richard T. Anderson was the Meeting Program Chair.

1999 - The Richard T. Anderson Mentor Fund was established at Salem State College by the National Council for Geographic Education in recognition of his work on behalf of geographic education.

1999 - The first annual Dr. John L. George Scholarship and Service Award was given to a senior major who has exhibited a high level of academic achievement and service to the Department.

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2000 - The first annual Dr. John L. George Memorial Scholarship Award, with a value of $2000, was given to a junior major who has a high level of achievement and a financial need.

2001 - The first annual Alumni Friend of Geography Award was given to a graduate of Salem who has made a significant contribution to the program development and welfare of the Department.

2002 - The Department received the Department of the Year Award from President Nancy Harrington at the Annual Convocation of the College.

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	150 Years of Geography at Salem State College
	1854 -1907 \| 1907 - 1920 \| 1920's - 1950 \| 1950 - 1971 \| 1971 - Present Home \| Readings \| Faculty
Meeting the Needs of Geographic Education and Applications: 1971 – Present The 70's \| The 80's \| The 90's \| The 00's A number of new degree programs in geography were developed to prepare students for graduate school or employment opportunities. The Department also developed a productive interaction with geographers and professional associations at the regional and national level. 1971 - The Earth Science and Geography Department was separated into the Department of Geography and the Geology Department. 1971 - The Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers was held in Boston and hosted by the geographers of Boston University, Clark University, Salem State College and other institutions in eastern Massachusetts 1972 - An MAT in Geography was launched by the by department. Prior to that time, geography graduate courses had been offered as part of a Masters degree in Education. 1972 - The Department organized a B.S. degree in Geography. It was listed in the 1973 College Catalogue and it was the first bachelor of science degree offered at Salem State. The structure of the geography curriculum was based on three segments: Traditional systematic, regional and geographic philosophy courses as the core. Applied and skill courses in concentrations oriented toward careers and graduate school. At the outset, majors could concentrate in Urban-Economic Geography, Environment and Man, and Regional Geography. Additional concentrations in Cartography and Travel and Tourism were added later. The titles of these concentrations and related courses have changed over the years to reflect career and graduate school opportunities. An internship and placement seminar to assist the student in gaining professional awareness and experience. The program’s success was founded on preparing students for careers or graduate school in geography, a discipline that had relatively little exposure to pre-college students. It also relied on an accessible student oriented faculty led by John L. George, Department Chair. The department had more than 200 majors and 10 full time faculty positions by the early 1980’s. Salem offered one of the first extensive geography internship programs in the country. Its faculty members were invited to present workshops on its effectiveness of attracting, preparing and placing majors after graduation. Sites of the presentations included national meetings of the Association of American Geographers at Philadelphia (1979), Denver (1983), and Minneapolis (1986); and at regional meetings at Newport, RI (1979); Albany, NY (1985); and Hanover, NH (1988). Mid 1970’s - The decade saw the evolution and establishment of several interdisciplinary study centers in the Department of Geography. They included the: Marine Studies Center – James J. Centorino, Coordinator Urban Studies Center – John L. George, Coordinator American Studies Center – Richard O. Riess, Coordinator 1973 - The Salem Geographic Society was established to act as a faculty/student interest group for social and academic activities. It sponsored a number of holiday parties, summer outings, and speakers. The society was particularly successful in presenting a positive profile for geography at Salem each year by organizing student groups to attend the regional and national meetings of professional organizations. 1973 - A Department Speaker Series was introduced that provided for a distinguished geographer to speak a Salem each year. Guests included Brian J. L. Berry, Past President of the Association of American Geographers; John Frazier, Chair of the AAG Applied Geography Specialty Group and Chair of the Geography Department at SUNY Binghamton; Harm de Blij, author of numerous books and special geographical consultant to ABC News; and Robert T. Aangeenbrug, Executive Director of the Association of American Geographers. 1974 - The Department launched a series of annual travel/study seminars that involved class work and travel to enrich student experiences with national and international areas of interest. The first course was offered by John L. George and it was focused on “new towns” along the eastern seaboard of the United States. 1974 - A three day symposium on “Blacks in Urban America” was co-sponsored by the Department of Geography and the Afro-American Studies Center. Geographers invited to speak included Harold Rose, President of the Association of American Geographers and Donald Deskins of the University of Michigan. Theodore S. Pikora and Gerdes Fleurant were the Coordinators. 1976 - Department hosted the Annual Meeting of the New England – St. Lawrence Valley Geographical Society. David Ward of the University of Wisconsin gave the keynote address. Richard O. Riess was Program Chair and Theodore S. Pikora was Local Arrangements Chair. 1977 - The Department began offering a B.S. Degree in Cartography degree program. 1979 - Theodore S. Pikora was elected as Chair of the Department. He was elected for two additional terms afterwards and served from 1979 through 1987. Back to Top 1981 - An article in the Journal of Geography ranked the Department of Geography at Salem State College “first” in Teaching and “fourth” in the Overall category in a survey of 110 undergraduate programs around the country. (Anthony de Souza, Ingolf Vogeler and Brady Faust. “The Overlooked Departments of Geography,” Journal of Geography. Vol.80, 1981, pp. 17-40.) 1982 - Several darkrooms and related equipment were installed to enhance a cartographic reproduction capacity of the Department. Robert H. Arnold coordinated the effort. 1982 - The Department received the “Department of the Year Award” from President James T. Amsler at the Annual Convocation of the College. 1984 - The Digital Geography Lab was launched largely as a result of donations from private industry and the efforts of William L. Hamilton. 1984 - The Department began offering a Certificate Program in Travel and Tourism to professionals who might not have a college degree or for those desiring to retrain for careers in the travel industry. 1985 - Michael S. Dukakis, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, issued a proclamation citing the Department for its close working relationship in applied geography with businesses and public agencies. The citation was initiated by an agreement signed between Geographic Systems Inc. of Andover and Salem State College in which the work of the Digital Geography Lab would be exchanged for GSI’s software and training. 1985 - The first annual James J. Centorino Award for Student Excellence was given to the major who achieves the highest GPA in the Department during their senior year. 1986 - The Digital Geography Lab received a $232,000 grant from the state and the designation “Commonwealth Center of Excellence.” William L. Hamilton designed the facility and served as Lab Coordinator, Theodore S. Pikora wrote the proposal, and John L. George sought and received the funding. 1986 - Dr. Muharem Cerabregu , Professor of Geography at the University of Kosovo, Prishtina, Yugoslavia, was the first Fullbright Fellow affiliated with the College. He worked with William L. Hamilton in the Digital Geography Lab and he shared academic interests with Albert M. Tosches. 1986 - The first annual National Council for Geographic Education Award was given to a senior major who has a high level of academic and professional achievement and plans to enter a teaching career. 1986 - The first annual American Express Award was given to the senior student who has a high level of academic and professional achievement in the Travel and Tourism Concentration. 1987 - The National Geographic Society announced that The Department of Geography at Salem would become a center for the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance along with the co-host institution of the Massachusetts Global Education Project at Winchester High School. Richard T. Anderson was named co-coordinator along with Paul Mulloy. 1987 - A College Travel Center was established in the Department to provide a training facility for students and travel counseling for the College. Katharine Heiligmann was the Coordinator. 1987 - The Department began organizing travel packages during the spring break for students and faculty. Destinations included Iceland, the Swiss Alps and Vienna among other venues. Katharine Heiligmann coordinated most of the early trips, and Stephen Matchak assumed responsibility for them during the mid-1990’s. 1987 - John L. George was elected as Chair of the Department for a fourth term and, three years later, a fifth term. This tour of service extended from 1987 to 1992. 1988 - The Eta Kappa Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the national honor society in Geography, was accepted at the Department. Theodore S. Pikora was the faculty sponsor. 1988 - An annual Student Awards Ceremony was established to recognize student achievement. The event is held in April and serves as a forum to present all student awards and to install new members into Gamma Theta Upsilon. 1989 - A student chapter of The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing was established in the Department. Robert H. Arnold was the faculty sponsor. Back to Top 1992 - The first annual *J. Michael Ruane* Award in Digital Geography was given to a senior student who achieved a high degree of achievement in the Digital Geography Lab. The award was named in honor of Representative J. Michael Ruane of Salem for his support of Salem State College and the Department of Geography. 1992 - Salem State College received a state grant to establish the Northeast Global Education Center. Richard T. Anderson and Louis Swiniarski were named coordinators 1992 - The Department began offering a Master of Science in Geo-Information Science degree program. 1992 - William L. Hamilton was elected Chair of the Department. He was re-elected in 1995 and served as Chair from 1992 to 1998. 1993 - The Department of Geography received an Outstanding Performance Award from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1995 - The Department re-introduced its interest in offering study/travel seminars with topics ranging from World War I battlefields, to the cities of central Europe, and the environments of the American Southwest. Several of the courses were offered in conjunction with the History Department. 1997 - The Department hosted the 75th Anniversary Annual Meeting of the New England-St. Lawrence Valley Geographical Society. Remarks were offered by Ronald Abler, Executive Director of the Association of American Geographers and Patricia Gober, President of the AAG. Theodore S. Pikora was the Program Chair and Katharine Heiligmann was the Local Arrangements Chair. 1998 - The Departments of Geography at Boston University, Clark University, Salem State College and other institutions in eastern Massachusetts hosted the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers in Boston. 1998 - Stephen Matchak was elected Chair of the Department and re-elected for a second term in 2001. 1999 - Salem State College and other institutions in Massachusetts hosted the Annual Meeting of the National Council for Geographic Education in Boston. Richard T. Anderson was the Meeting Program Chair. 1999 - The *Richard T. Anderson* Mentor Fund was established at Salem State College by the National Council for Geographic Education in recognition of his work on behalf of geographic education. 1999 - The first annual *Dr. John L. George* Scholarship and Service Award was given to a senior major who has exhibited a high level of academic achievement and service to the Department. Back to Top 2000 - The first annual *Dr. John L. George* Memorial Scholarship Award, with a value of $2000, was given to a junior major who has a high level of achievement and a financial need. 2001 - The first annual Alumni Friend of Geography Award was given to a graduate of Salem who has made a significant contribution to the program development and welfare of the Department. 2002 - The Department received the Department of the Year Award from President Nancy Harrington at the Annual Convocation of the College. Back to Top
Department of Geography \| Salem State College \| 150 Years...