Welcome to the University of Kentucky Department of Geography!

Generations of faculty, students, and staff have laid a strong foundation upon which we continue to build.  Geography at the University of Kentucky is internationally respected for its top quality research and for its vibrant graduate program.  We also have a strong and broad undergraduate program.  I invite you to discover more about all aspects of the Department by exploring our web pages. 

Under the wise leadership of Karl Raitz, who was our longtime Chair until stepping down in June 2008, the Department grew to nineteen faculty members.  Faculty work individually and in collaboration to conduct a broad range of research in human and physical geography and to win extramural research funding.  We have about forty graduate students, with over half enrolled in the PhD program.  Graduate students are involved in most aspects of departmental life, and often work with faculty on research and writing projects.  The departmental office staff and the staff in the Cartography and GIS labs are also significant members of the departmental team -- making sure things run smoothly and efficiently.  Students, staff, and faculty alike value the genuinely collegial atmosphere that characterizes the Department.

These are exciting times for the Department.  The University of Kentucky is a land grant public research university with a mission to become one of the US’s top 20 public research universities and Geography has been identified for special investment under the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Research Challenge Trust Fund in line with the mission. With support from the University and from the College of Arts and Sciences, we are strategically building on our existing strengths in human and physical geographic al research and in our award-winning undergraduate and graduate teaching.   

I hope you will enjoy learning more about our department as you peruse these web pages. Please contact us with any inquiries.

Sue Roberts
Chair