1. 2009-2010 EDITION
In this issue:
The GIS Certificate Program was introduced in the
Department of Geography & Environmental Studies
in the Fall of 2009, after being approved unanimously
at the college and university levels. Dr. Mihir took
the lead in developing the curriculum with assistance
from Dr. Howenstine throughout the process.
The Department has two certificate programs -
The Graduate Certificate Program and the Under-
graduate Certificate Program. Students taking the
Graduate Certificate Program must be admitted to the
Graduate College, which requires an undergraduate
degree with a GPA of at least 2.75. Baccalaureate
students and students at large will be able to enroll in
the Undergraduate Certificate Program.
All students are expected to take three core courses
and two electives to complete either certificate
program. The core courses are geared towards
conceptual and theoretical knowledge of GIS, along
with hands-on experience with ArcGIS and GRASS,
and their extensions. The electives expose students
to various applications of Remote Sensing and GIS
in urban and/or natural resource management
applications. Preparation for the GIS Certificate pro-
grams should include at least one course in statistics.
For students beginning in the Fall, the program can
be completed in one academic year.
From its inception in 2009, 55 students have been
admitted to the program. 47 students are currently
working towards their certificate program. Two
undergrads and 6 graduates have already completed
the certificate.
GIS Certificate Programs
take off!
PAGE 2
Note from the Chair
PAGE 3
Belize trip a big success again
PAGE 4
• Controlled prairie burn
• Student wins multiple awards
PAGE 5
• Student studies renewable energy
in Iceland
• Campus sustainability initiatives
PAGE 6, 7
Faculty & Student News
PAGE 8
• News from Alumni and Recent Grads
• G&ES hosts speakers/event
• Stay in touch
Dr. Mihir took the lead in developing the curriculum
with assistance from Dr. Howenstine throughout
the process.
GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IN THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES at NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO, IL

2. Note from the Chair
2009–2010
The Department has more than doubled in size since 2002, and in the beginning of Fall 2010 claimed 60
Environmental Studies majors, 37 Geography majors and 35 graduate students. Fall of 2009 also marked the
beginning of two new programs – the GIS Certificate Programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
By the end of the year, approximately 50 students were working toward their GIS Certificate. Of these, 15
were not majors in the Department, meaning our entire student body was 148.
We might attribute the growth to a number of factors. A heightened national interest in environmental issues
generally – and the job market’s reflection of that trend – has certainly helped. And, although the Department
has offered Geographic Information Systems (GIS) since 1990, spatial analytical software applications have
become very popular among employers more recently. The hire of Dr. Monika Mihir in 2008 made it possible
to offer the variety of courses necessary for the two certificates in GIS.Those courses have seemed to fill as fast
as we can offer them. Students from other departments, such as biology and anthropology, are also enrolling.
Also contributing to the growth is the sustained efforts by faculty and staff in past years toward major
reorganization of curriculum. Substantial revisions to both undergraduate degrees have been successful
in attracting students, as the graph shows. Faculty continue to tweak curriculum, add and revise courses,
improve sequencing, and establish regular repeating course schedules to improve delivery, elevate content
matter, and help students graduate sooner. Although all members of the faculty have contributed substantially,
I would in particular like to acknowledge Dr. Grammenos regarding the graduate program, Dr. Banerjee for
Environmental Studies, and Dr. Mihir for the GIS Certificates. Faculty member Emily Good has become a
pioneer at NEIU in online instruction, with two popular courses now offered regularly, and was recognized
with an award for teaching excellence. David Jones also developed a new course – Citizen Participation in
Urban and Environmental Planning – based on his long experience at the former regional planning agency
NIPC. And proficiency exams have been formalized to provide alternatives to new graduate and GIS students
requiring Introduction to Geography, Introduction to Environmental Studies, or statistics.
Many of our students have also been enriched by activities with the Green Cycle Group, the Green Fee
Committee, and working with the campus GIS Vegetation Project, or burning the campus prairies.
The department now has a Facebook presence and an annual picnic – these things all contribute to building
community. It is gratifying to see the department grow this way, by all the effort and good work.
G&ES Faculty & Staff
Erick Howenstine
Chair
e-howenstine@neiu.edu
Abhijit Banerjee
Assistant Professor
a-banerjee1@neiu.edu
Emily Good
Instructor
e-good@neiu.edu
Dennis Grammenos
Graduate Coordinator
Associate Professor
d-grammenos@neiu.edu
David Jones
Instructor
d-jones1@neiu.edu
Monika Mihir
Assistant Professor
m-mihir@neiu.edu
Jerome Mostek
Instructor
j-mostek@neiu.edu
Michael Partipilo
Administrative Assistant
m-partipilo@neiu.edu
Musa Qutub
Professor
m-qutub@neiu.edu
Charles Schmidt
Instructor
c-schmidt@neiu.edu
Newsletter Editor
Abhijit Banerjee
Newsletter Designer
Michael Partipilo
GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER 2009-20102
GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER

3. The popular Belize Trip, as part of the GES 388
course, is now in its 16th year. Instructors
Libby Hill and David Jones continue to take
students deep into the small English-speaking
former British colony, independent in 1981. Hill
began leading this study trip after receiving an
M.A. in G&ES in 1994. She meets with students
as a class several times both before and after
the 8-day travel. There are several texts, as-
signments, and a major research project and
presentation, most of which is completed before
the trip itself. Then, most of the learning is done
on the ground.
In Belize, the group meets up with Wil Mahia
(Belizean environmentalist, politician, and 1994
G&ES MA grad). Mahia accompanies the group
for most of the time, accompanied by other
Belizeans. They travel by bus and occasion-
ally by boat. Her itinerary changes annually, as
conditions shift in Belize and new opportunities
become available, but the group focuses on
areas west and south of Belize City – about 2/3
of the country is covered.
In 2010, 14 students visited the Black Howler
Monkey Reserve, where curious “baboons”
came down from the trees and leaf cutter ants
cut 5-inch wide trails through the jungle. At the
small but well-stocked Belizean Zoo they saw a
jaguar, alligators, and all manner of Belizean
birds, reptiles, and mammals. There they also
met the curator, Sharon Matola; biologist,
environmentalist, and subject of a class text:
Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw. Matola had
spearheaded an effort to protect a vulnerable
nesting area for the endangered bird, and in the
process ran up against the complex political-
social-economic forces in Belize.
Students hiked through the large Jaguar Re-
serve at night, through the forested mountains
by day, climbed expansive Mayan ruins, toured
an experimental organic farm, boated through
mangroves and saw the rich coral underwater
ecosystem on a private snorkelling cruise,
where they spoke with the small coastal Port
Honduras patrol, and climbed their watchtower.
Students stayed at a Mayan village and also at
a small Creole fishing town of 200, which had
just been attached to the country’s electrical
grid. They hiked well into a large karst cave
and drove through a highly concentrated tourist
development, stopping frequently.
The trip is supported by the University’s Office
of International Programs, which usually
helps cover some of the expenses. We hope to
continue to offer this course annually.
Belize trip a big success again!
Libby Hill (center) with students in Belize
GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER 2009-2010 3

4. Kate Ekman (BA ES) made the department proud
with her numerous achievements in 2008-2010.
An Honors student, Kate is well known across campus
for her many activities that included leadership
positions in the Green Cycle Group (student environ-
mental club) as well as the Green Fee Committee.
Her crowning achievement was winning a $2,300
Fellowship from the National Wildlife Federation
Campus Ecology Program for her proposal to conduct
a Greenhouse Gas Inventory of NEIU.
An ambitious project that required meticulous
collection and analysis of mountains of data on every
aspect of university operations, such as utilities,
transportation, water, waste, grounds, etc., Kate
managed the project single-handedly incredibly
well (similar projects at other campuses are usually
executed by teams).
She presented her preliminary findings at the Illinois
Geographical Society 2010 Conference, and her final
report will be presented at future conferences.
For her many outstanding achievements and contri-
butions, Kate was awarded the Outstanding Senior
in Geography by the Illinois Geographical Society and
the Golden Eagle Award by the NEIU Student Activities
Office, both in 2009.
Student Kate Ekman wins multiple awards
Department organizes successful
burning of campus prairie again
The Department of Geography & Environmental
Studies periodically burns over the prairie areas
near the Physical Education Building on campus,
with required permits, permissions, and appropriate
notifications. Since the Swamp White Oak area east
of the P.E. Building was cordoned off in 1988, the
department has burned it 10 times. Students from
other departments are welcome to participate,
and faculty sometimes do as well. In recent years
Prof. Steve Frankel from Biology has lent his exper-
tise, and brought his students. Areas burned include
the tall grassy areas, short grasses and leaves under
the Solitary Oak and the area beneath the Swamp
White Oaks in the larger fenced-in area. Neither
the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, nor NEIU,
allows open burning without permission. Permits
are required well in advance. Neighbors, who may
be alarmed or affected by smoke, are also notified.
Police and Fire departments are also made aware of
the burn, which is done by creating a burned
firebreak downwind, and then igniting grasses at the
other end of the field. Depending on the weather
and the condition of grasses, it can be quite a
spectacular blaze. This first hand experience is a rare
and exceptional learning opportunity for our students
as well as the wider NEIU community. The next burn
is tentatively planned for Fall 2011.
Dr. Howenstine leading
the controlled prairie burn
GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER 2009-20104

5. G&ES played a leading role in various initiatives
related to campus sustainability in 2009-2010.
Dr. Banerjee as well as several students including
Nicholas Magrisso, Scott Garfinkel, Nicholas
Brandt, and Mark Kenseth (at different times)
served as voting members of the NEIU Green Fee
Committee (www.neiu.edu/~greenfee) that executes
campus sustainability projects with the $3-per-
student green fee. Main initiatives in 2009-2010
included a lengthy Green Roof Feasibility Study for
the Science Building, a solar hot water proposal,
a biodiesel workshop, a campus recycling survey,
and funding of tree planting on campus sponsored
by the Green Cycle Group (GCG). The GCG, the only
student environmental club on campus (heavily
populated by G&ES majors), was extremely successful
in 2009-2010, organizing numerous events that
included Earth Week, tree planting, community clean-
ups, workshops on bike commuting, permaculture,
guest speakers and movie screenings, in addition to
taking a leadership role in the Green Fee Committee.
Long running GCG campaigns contributed to expan-
sion of container recycling in the Science Building.
In recognition of their impressive achievements,
the GCG was awarded the NRichment Award by
the NEIU Students Activities Office. The department
continues to maintain the campus vegetation GIS
map, which is heavily used by various departments
as well as Facilities Management. After several years,
the department successfully organized a controlled
prairie burn in the southeastern part of campus.
G&ES plays prominent role in
campus sustainability initiatives Don’t
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Student Nicholas Magrisso
studies renewable energy in Iceland
Nicholas Magrisso (BA ES) had developed a passion
for renewable energy (RE) and wanted to expand
his horizons beyond what he could learn at NEIU. So
in the summer of 2009 he went to Iceland through
the SIT Study Abroad program, an internationally
recognized provider. Iceland is uniquely endowed
with many RE resources and has gained worldwide
fame as one of the highest users of RE as well as an
ultimate laboratory for researching and deploying
cutting edge RE technology. His summer program
on RE technology, economics and policy consisted of
traditional classroom and laboratory experience as well
as field learning at hydropower, geothermal, wind
and hydrogen installations. While the program was
quite challenging, Nick completed it admirably, even
as many of his fellow students were engineers, some
from top-notch universities. In addition to enjoying
the beautiful country, the most memorable experi-
ence was when the student group was able to meet
the President of Iceland who made a deep impression
on the youth with his commitment to RE. Back home,
Nick’s Iceland experience helped him to obtain an
internship with the Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC), one of the most prominent environ-
mental NGOs in the US, which ended up turning into a
full-time job offer upon graduation!
GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER 2009-2010 5

6. Faculty Achievements
Publications
Banerjee, Abhijit. 2010. Tourism in Protected Areas: Worsening Prospects for the Indian Tiger? Economic & Political Weekly XLV (10): 27-29.
Conference/Symposium Presentations and Invited Lectures
Prof. Banerjee:
• April 2010. “Regional planning without political authority: Prospects for smart growth in the Chicago metropolitan region.”
Paper presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers. Washington, DC.
• March 2010. “Economic liberalization and displacement in India: Implications for environmental justice.”
Paper presented at the 15th Annual Asian American Heritage Conference. Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL.
Prof. Howenstine:
• June 2010. “Retention and Tenure Review.” Discussion leader, 2010 Department Leadership Workshop. Association of American Geographers.
Boulder, CO.
• July 2010. “Using a Wii Remote to create a $35 Whiteboard system.” Presentation for NEIU’s Center for Teaching and Learning.
Prof. Jones:
• April 2010. “Sustainable Cuba: Urban environmental transformation in Havana.” Presentation for NEIU Earth Week.
Prof. Mihir:
• March 2010. “Mangroves and vulnerability to coastal disasters.” Paper presented at the 15th Annual Asian American Heritage Conference.
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL.
Prof. Qutub:
• March, April 2010. “Geography of the Middle East.” Invited lecture at Maine West High School, Des Plaines, IL.
Notable Service Accomplishments
Prof. Banerjee:
• Faculty advisor to the award winning student environmental club Green Cycle Group.
• Faculty representative on the NEIU Green Fee Committee that funds campus sustainability projects with the $3 student green fee.
• G&ES representative to the NEIU Environmental Science Task Force, an multidisciplinary team in charge of developing the proposed
interdisciplinary Environmental Science major at NEIU.
Prof. Good:
• Continues to serve on the NEIU Task Force on Online Learning.
• Board member of the Geographic Society of Chicago and serves as the Chair of its Education Advisory Panel.
Prof. Grammenos:
• Elected to NEIU Faculty Council on Academic Affairs.
• Continues to serve on the NEIU Faculty Senate.
• Continues to serve on the NEIU Global Studies Task Force and the NEIU Office of International Programs.
• Continues to be part of the NEIU Latino and Latin American Studies Program.
Prof. Howenstine:
• Continues to serve as Building Liaison for the Science Building (BBH).
• Served on the Search Committee for the University’s Director of Instructional Technology Strategy and Planning.
Prof. Mihir:
• Elected to the University Grade Appeals Committee again.
GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER 2009-20106

7. GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER 2009-2010
Student Achievements
Conference/Symposium Presentations
Kate Ekman (May 2010). “The benefits and challenges of conducting Greenhouse Gas Inventories in institutions of
higher education: Northeastern Illnois University’s experience.” Paper presented at the 2010 Illinois
Geographical Society Annual Meeting. Rockford, IL.
Lazar Ilic (May 2010). “The gentrification of Chicago’s East Village.”Paper presented at the 2010 Illinois Geographical
Society Annual Meeting. Rockford, IL.
Nicholas Magrisso (May 2010). “Water sales versus energy and water conservation: Evanston policies in conflict.”
Paper presented at the 2010 Illinois Geographical Society Annual Meeting. Rockford, IL.
Michael Premer (May 2010). “Landscape restoration in Northeastern Illlinois: Benefits, environmental impacts and
public opinion.” Paper presented at the 2010 Illinois Geographical Society Annual Meeting. Rockford, IL.
Nicholas Magrisso (April 2010). “Water sales versus energy and water conservation: Evanston policies in conflict.”
Paper presented at the 18th Annual NEIU Student Research Symposium.
Kimberly Blair (April 2010). “The new ‘Green’ Chicago: Urban ecotourism and an uneven playing field.” Paper
presented at the 2010 Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. Washington, DC.
Anja Claus (April 2010). “Protecting values of place: Efforts to develop democratic ecological citizenship in two
North American communities.” Paper presented at the 2010 Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting.
Washington, DC.
Paisly DiBianca (April 2010). “Bombing Bucktown and beyond: Graffiti tags in Logan Square, Chicago.”
Poster presented at the 2010 Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting. Washington, DC.
Nina Roberts (April 2010). “The appropriation of indigenous culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico: Tourism and the
production of place in the Land of Enchantment.” Paper presented at the 2010 Association of American
Geographers Annual Meeting. Washington, DC.
Notable Service and Leadership Contributions
Scott Garfinkel (MA G&ES) was elected Chair of the NEIU Green Fee Committee and served in that position during
2009-2010.
Nicholas Magrisso (BA ES) was appointed as a student voting member to the NEIU Green Fee Committee by
the G&ES Chair and served as its Secretary in 2009-2010.
Whitney Behr (BA ES) served ably as the Secretary of the campus student environmental club, the Green
Cycle Group.
Nicholas Brandt (BA ES) served on both the Green Cycle Group and the NEIU Green Fee Committee during
2009-2010. He also volunteered for animal rescue and organic farming organizations in Ecuador in the summer
of 2010.
Honors and Awards
Whitney Behr (BA ES) won the Eagle Eye Award from the NEIU Student Activities Office in 2010 for contributions
to campus life.
Nicholas Brandt (BA ES) won the Eagle Eye Award from the NEIU Student Activities Office in 2010 for contributions
to campus life.
Nicholas Magrisso (BA ES), a minor in Economics, was nominated for membership to Omicron Delta Epsilon,
the International Economics Honor Society in Spring 2010.
Green Cycle Group, the campus student environmental club, was awarded the NRichment Award by the NEIU
Student Activities Office for outstanding contributions to campus life.
Congratulations
to this year’s
graduates
Geography
Sebastian Lukasik
Nahid Bhagat
Michael Buibas
Kyle Jacobson
Jeffrey Kahan
Luis Pineda
Steven Lotz
Andrew Macdonald
Sylwia Topor
Daniel Wojtas
Environmental Studies
Kyle Jacobson
Jason Tinkey
Michael Premer
Stephanie Swenson
Whitney Behr
Stephenie Creegan
Brendon Gross
Lauren Hairrell
Shaindel Hirsch
Nicholas Magrisso
Holly Marigliano
Mark Ruckauf
Martin Tomov
Keith Voelz
MA
Ileana Blauer
Amy Houston
Matthew Richards
Adolfo Sanchez
7

8. The theme of the annual Asian American Heritage Conference in 2010 was
human rights and social justice, and G&ES was asked by the conference
organizing committee to organize several sessions on environmental
justice. Prof. Banerjee led the effort, organizing sessions on globalization,
climate change, disaster vulnerability and recovery, and displacement from
large dams in India. Invited speakers included researchers from Portland
State University, Northwestern University, Loyola University, as well as a sus-
tainable development expert from a Washington DC based international NGO.
The conference was very well attended by the entire NEIU community,
not just G&ES, and was an excellent opportunity for our students to hear
from national and international experts. The conference organizing
committee has thanked the department and expressed desire to work with
us on similar efforts in future.
G&ES hosts speakers on environmental
justice for the NEIU Asian American
Heritage Conference
GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER 2009-2010
News from Alumni and Recent Grads
Matthew Anderson (MA 2009) is working on his PhD in Geography at the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign. He just published an article
in Urban Geography based on his master’s thesis: “The discursive regime of the ‘American Dream’ and the new suburban frontier: The case of
Kendall County, Illnois.” Urban Geography 31(8): 1080-1099.
Brendon Gross (BA-ES 2009) is now Project Manager at GreenCorps Chicago currently leading teams working on community-based urban
agriculture.
Jessica Zich (BA-ES 2008) is volunteering with a wildlife center near La Paz, Bolivia.
Roxanna Llanes (BA-ES 2009) is now Sustainability Coordinator at Jet Litho, Inc. in Downers Grove, IL.
Kevin Whitney (BA-G 2008) is GIS Specialist with Municipal GIS Partners in Chicago.
Susan Casey (MA 2007) is Project Coordinator for eZing, Inc., an energy audit company based in Oak Park, IL.
Fiana Shapiro (BA-ES 2007) worked spring and summer 2010 with Sea Turtle Inc. protecting endangered sea turtles on South Padre Island, Texas.
Keith Yearman (MA 2000) is Associate Professor of Geography at the College of DuPage, IL.
8
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 N. St. Louis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
Phone: (773) 442-5640
Fax: (773) 442-5650
Email: ges@neiu.edu
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