The Globe Official Newsletter of Hofstra’s Department of Global Studies and Geography FALL 2021 VOL. 3 NO. 1 Chair’s Welcome On behalf of the Department, I welcome you to our Fall 2021 Newsletter. This Fall semester is our first fully in person semester since the Covid shutdown in early March 2020. It has been a very difficult period for our faculty and staff, but most especially for our students. I feel for our graduates who lost their on-campus college experience and whose graduations we were unable to celebrate in person. We are slowly resuming the full functioning of the Department, and I hope that in near future we can get back to having our offices, lounge, GIS labs and seminar room buzzing with students. Since the establishment of the joint Department of Global Studies and Geography in Fall 2008, more than 400 students have graduated with a Global Studies, Geography or GIS major, and 41 students have graduated with Departmental Honors. We have also expanded the number of programs we offer to include four majors and four minors. This is no small feat given that we only have 6 full-time faculty members and no more than 4 adjunct professors. It is particularly gratifying to see the growth of our GIS program, which would not have been possible without the exceptional efforts of Dr. Craig Dalton who has been deservedly promoted to Associate Professor beginning Fall 2021 – congratulations Craig! During lockdown, the faculty and students have continued to be busy and productive. We held many events virtually via Zoom, including graduation ceremonies and the inductions into Mu Kappa our Geographical Honors Society (GTU). A great deal of thanks to our Mu Kappa faculty advisor, Dr. Kari Jensen, for guiding our chapter to receive its sixth Honors Chapter Award, bestowed to fewer than 5% of chapters annually. It is wonderful that our department continually receives recognition for the excellent performance of our Geography majors. I am particularly grateful for all the hard work that the faculty put in to make sure that we continued running smoothly during the lockdown. With the reopening of our main office, we welcome Ms. Allison Finazzo as our own Part-Time Secretary. I want to thank her for the hard work that has made the resurrection of our newsletter possible. I also want to thank Ms. Christine Jutt, the Math Department Secretary, who provided vital assistance for the department over the last year. While I was on sabbatical in Fall 2020, Dr. Zilkia Janer stepped in as Acting Chair. Her dedication and enthusiasm are much appreciated, thank you! Our Newsletter highlights the continuing achievements of our alumni. Thank you for staying in touch with us and helping to mentor our students. Please come visit any time! On our department website you can find the names of our graduates and also can peruse our department honors dissertations. Lastly, I want to thank the American Association of Geographers (AAG) for inserting information about our department into this wonderful short video promoting the advantages of studying geography. Take a look! Wishing everyone a happy and productive remainder of the year! Grant Saff, Professor and Chair 1 The Globe — Fall 2021
Faculty News Dr. Craig Dalton, Associate Professor of Global Studies and Geography, was selected as the recipient of the Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs Teacher of the Year Award for the 2020-2021 academic year as part of the Hofstra University Celebration of Scholarly Excellence. In late September 2021, Dr. Dalton also took part in the organized panel session titled “Building an Equity Agenda for Suburbs and Long Island” as part of the Hofstra Presidential Inauguration Celebration Week symposia. The event offered valuable information as it introduced people to the challenges as well as possibilities in building better suburbs. Dr. Dalton was also interviewed on BBC radio 4 as part of the “Mapping the Future” program.
Dalton, second from left, participating in panel discussion for Presidential Inauguration Celebration Week.
Dr. Zilkia Janer, Professor of Global Studies and Geography, moderated the book presentation of Lázaro Lima’s book Being Brown: Sonia Sotomayor and the Latino Question in March 2021. Dr. Janer also published two book reviews as a contributor to the Indian news website The Wire.
Dr. Kari Jensen In July 2020 and July 2021, Professor Kari Jensen gave a series of three virtual lectures at The International Summer School, University of Oslo, Norway, in the Master’s level course in International Development Studies. The titles of the lectures were “Colorism as an impediment to development: Discrimination in Bangladeshi society”, “Contemporary slavery and the fish processing industry in Bangladesh”, and “Child domestic workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh—a longitudinal and ethnographic approach”. Professor Kari Jensen gave a presentation titled “Colorism in Bangladeshi Society” as part of the Center for “Race”, Culture and Social Justice Colloquia Series, at Hofstra University on Nov 18, 2020. On October 8, 2020, Dr. Jensen organized and moderated a book launch event on Zoom with author and South Asia expert Sanjib Baruah, Professor of Political Studies at Bard College. His book, “In the Name of the Nation: India and Its Northeast”, published by Stanford University Press in 2020, won the biennial International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS) Book Prize for the Most Accessible and Captivating Work for the Non-Specialist Reader Accolade in Sept. 2021. The event was sponsored by Hofstra Cultural Center, the Department of Global Studies and Geography, and Hofstra University Honors College.
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Faculty News Dr. Veronica Lippencott, Adjunct Professor of Global Studies and Geography, was appointed Director of the Africana Studies Program in 2020. Benjamin Rifkin, PhD, Dean of Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (HCLAS), said “Dr. Lippencott’s academic background, her eagerness to grow the Africana Studies Program, and her leadership experience in working with students, faculty, and staff make her a perfect fit for directing this program.” Dr. Linda Longmire On Oct 5, 2021, Linda Longmire moderated the International Scene Lecture series talk with economist and political activist Daniel Ellsberg who discussed his book "The Doomsday Machine: Nuclear Weapons Past and Future." On September 22, 2021 Longmire moderated the International Scene Lecture series talk with author, activist and retired major, Daniel Sjursen, who discussed ”The Aftermath of 9/11: How We got into Afghanistan and the Consequences." She spent the summer of 2021 at the Triskelion Peace Center in County Donegal, Ireland. Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Professor of Global Studies and Geography, recently published the 5th edition of his textbook The Geography of Transport Systems. It is one of the world’s most used transportation textbooks. The companion website receives more than 300,000 visitors per month and about 3.5 million visitors per year.
Dr. Grant Saff, Professor and Chair of the Department of Global Studies and Geography, was on sabbatical in Fall 2020, where he spent 10 weeks in Barcelona conducting urban research. During this time, he was invited to give a lecture on pragmatism and planning in the Departament de Geografia, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB).
On October 23, 2020, he was an invited panelist on a webinar organized by the American Association of Geographers titled, “Encroachment or Opportunity? Geography in a World of Interdisciplinary Programs.” In November 2020, he acted as an external program reviewer for SUNY Geneseo’s new interdisciplinary major in Sustainability Studies that is housed in the Department of Geography. Dr. Saff also gave an invited presentation in October 2021, titled “Adapting the plan to reality: Dilemmas in urban planning and local economic development” to Departament de Geografia, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona.
Dr. Grant Saff giving his presentation to students at UAB in October 2021
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Events and Activities
DAY OF DIALOGUE The 2020 Day of Dialogue offered several informative events regarding a wide variety of social issues. Guest speaker, Lena McQuade, presented first in a series of talks on linkages between geography, history, and health, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is part of a project called "Global Health Geography and History” and involves Hofstra professors, including Dr. Kari Jensen and Dr. Craig Dalton of the Global Studies and Geography Department. Global Studies and Public Policy & Service major, Sarah Stauffer, gave a presentation on human trafficking and discussed the topic together with human trafficking survivor, Tricia Grant, and Safe Center Educational Director Keith Scott, and moderated by Dr. Kari Jensen. Global Studies and Drama major Margaret Engel performed a reading of her own human trafficking play titled Stained Glass together with other drama majors.
The 2021 Day of Dialogue presented a variety of different panels and events, featuring topics such as climate change, the Biden administration, and the pandemic. Global Studies major Antonia Moffa led a discussion with Hofstra professors on ways to overcome resistance to the COVID19 vaccine. Dr. Kari Jensen of the Global Studies and Geography Department also led a discussion with the help of other Hofstra professors and Mariah Dugan, from Climate Jobs New York, titled “Why we Shouldn’t Give up on Climate Change: Perspectives from Across Disciplines.”
GEOGRAPHY AWARENESS WEEK Geography Awareness Week (the third week in November) was established by presidential proclamation proclaimed in 1987 as a means to raise awareness of the importance of geography and the need to understand geo-special issues. Prior to COVID-19, our department always held multiple events during that week. We keep the tradition alive with virtual events during November 2020 and 2021. In 2020, the department organized a virtual panel discussion contextualizing the local geographic distribution of the pandemic’s impact on Long Island. The panel, moderated by Dr. Kari Jensen, addressed the underlying social and spatial causes of the disparities in COVID-19 cases and deaths across Long Island. Panelists included the department’s own Dr. Craig Dalton, Hofstra Associate Professor of Health Profession Dr. Martine Hackett, and Dr. Elisabeth Root, a professor in the Department of Geography at The Ohio State University.
Dr. Jim Thatcher giving his virtual presentation on gerrymandering
In 2021, Dr. Jim Thatcher, an associate professor of urban studies at the University of Washington, Tacoma provided an interesting virtual presentation and open discussion titled “Everything is Gerrymandered, but how Matters.” The event was organized by Dr. Craig Dalton and was co-sponsored by Mu Kappa, Hofstra’s chapter of the International Geographical Honors Society, GTU.
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Mu Kappa Geography Honors Society Despite the lockdown in 2020 and 2021, 31 new members were inducted into Mu Kappa, Hofstra’s chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU), a geographical honors society. Since 2018/19 academic year, the Mu Kappa has earned the prestigious Honors Chapter Award from GTU on six occasions. This honor is bestowed annually on fewer than 5 percent of GTU chapters in the US. It is wonderful to see our department receiving external recognition for the excellent performance of our Geography majors. In April 2020, Mu Kappa virtually inducted 20 new members. Keynote speaker, Dr. Burrell Montz, Professor of Environmental Geography and Planning at East Carolina University, Interim Executive Secretary and past President of Gamma Theta Upsilon, offered a lively recount of her journey to the world of geography. Sophia Hadeed '20 (Mu Kappa President), Adriana Galarza '20 (Vice President), Margaret Engel '21 (Historian), and Ligia ClaraArenivar '19 (Secretary) led the ceremony to welcome the following new inductees: Humza Bashir, Alena Etha Mae Clark, Sarah Dowd, Kyla Garcia, Christopher Richard Heilig, Robert Kinnaird, Sarah Klush, Kate Meagher, Sabrina Michael-Duncan, Antoinette Montes, Bri AnnMarie Murphy, Dante Nazzaro, Thomas Mark Anson Nielson, Anna Sofia Pasanen, Jenna Elizabeth Reda, Angela Rienzo, Hana Rubenstein, Alyson Sann, Tyler Christopher Stock and Janet Tran.
On April 12, 2021, the Department of Global Studies and Geography inducted 11 new members into Mu Kappa, Hofstra University’s chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon. The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Dr. Farhana Sultana, Recent Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and the Environment at the Maxwell School of Citizenship Department Eventsand Public Affairs at Syracuse University and Research Director for Environmental Collaboration and Conflicts in the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC) at the Maxwell School. Professor Grant Saff, the Department Chairperson welcomed the speaker and inductees and thanked the Mu Kappa President, Margaret Engel ’21, Vice President Olivia Tu ’21, Historian Christopher Helig ’21 and Secretary, Jenna Reda, 21 for all their hard work in organizing the event. The following new members were inducted: Sarah Abdelaziz, Brandon Allen , Brooklyn Francis, Nathaniel Frydrych, Carol Henry-McCarter, Kiara Kemp, Tiffany Kosek , Thomas Parisi , Ivana Rahaman, Kayla Stadeker, RJ Yovanovich.
Mu Kappa Virtual Induction Ceremony. April 2021.
Mu Kappa Virtual Induction Ceremony. April 2020. 5 The Globe — Fall 2021
Mu Kappa Diversity Dinner Although this issue of our department newsletter focuses on our activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to remind ourselves and our readers of how things used to be back in the days before the restrictions were put in place. On December 3, 2019, Mu Kappa, and the Caribbean Students' Association hosted a Trinidadian Diversity Dinner. Sophia Hadeed ’20, then-President of Mu Kappa, was the main speaker at the event. Two of Hofstra’s international students, Daena Laplaceliere ‘23 (Global Studies) and Vivek Omar ‘23 (Biochemistry), also shared their experiences growing up in Trinidad, moving to New York for Hofstra University, and explained what it means to them to be Trinidadians. The island rhythm was maintained by Hofstra alumni, Brandon Fonville ‘19, also known as DJ Liv, who has a way with projecting the vibrations felt back home in Trinidad. Hofstra alumni, Virginia Donalds ‘19, facilitated an open dialogue alongside Sophia, adding Caribbean flair and charisma to each question. Several students shared stories about not only Trinidad, but their homes in other countries in the Caribbean as well.
On May 7, 2020, Mu Kappa and the Culinary Club held a virtual diversity dinner. Culinary Club president Syed Bukhari demonstrated on Zoom how to make pakoras while talking about her Pakistani heritage. Participants were provided with a list of ingredients and cooked alongside Syed for a delicious and informative evening.
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Student Achievements HCLAS Academic Excellence Award The 2020 recipients of the HCLAS Academic Excellence award were Jessica Devous, Jenna Reda, and Olivia Tu. The 2021 recipients of the award were Kate Meagher, for her excellence in Geography and GIS, and Antonia Moffa, for her outstanding work in Global Studies. Ciara Negron, a GIS major, received this award in the Department of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability.
Inaba Scholarship Donated by the Inaba family in memory of the late Dr. George Inaba, who taught Geography at Hofstra from 1959 to 1983, the G. Inaba Endowed Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a Global Studies and/or Geography student that exhibits outstanding passion and dedication to their studies. The scholarship award amount ranges between $6,000 and $8,000. The 2020/21 recipient of the Inaba Scholarship was Jenna Reda. She graduated with a triple major in English, Geography, and Global Studies, with an additional minor in Spanish. She has recently started a job at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, D.C.
The 2021/22 recipient of the Inaba Scholarship is Ciara Negron. She is pursuing a B.S. with a double major in GIS and Sustainability Studies, with a minor in Geography. Following graduation, Ciara hopes to work for the National GeospatialIntelligence Agency.
Peace Fellowship Award The winner of the Peace Fellowship Award was major Margaret Engel, a May 2021 graduate. She graduated with majors in Geography and Global Studies and received an honors distinction in Geography. This award is not given our by our department, however she was the first recipient of the award.
Student Research In Spring 2021, Hofstra held its second Student Research and Creativity Forum. This event is meant to celebrate the outstanding work of Hofstra’s highly motivated graduate and undergraduate student researchers. Posters and presentations were submitted across all disciplines. A special congratulations to all students that presented their work at this event including: • • • • • • •
Jenna Reda (Geography, Global Studies, English) Margaret Engel (Geography, Global Studies, Drama) Tom Parisi (Sustainability Studies, GIS) Rachel Carlin (Political science, Global Studies) Ivana Rahaman (Sustainability studies, GIS) Samantha Wilder (Sustainability studies, GIS) Sahar Caravan (Neuroscience, Geography minor)
Also, a special congratulations to May 2021 graduates Jenna Reda and Margaret Engel for presenting their Global Studies senior seminar work.
Hofstra Scholarly Excellence Award Congratulations to majors Alexis Marking, Rachel Carlin, Jenna Reda, and Olivia Tu as well as minors Christopher Helig and Tyler Stock for their outstanding achievements that were recognized during Hofstra’s Scholarly Excellence ceremony in 2020.
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GRADUATION On May 6, 2020, we celebrated our Spring 2020 graduates virtually. Even though we were unable to hold a graduation in person, we were able to still celebrate our wonderful students who worked very hard.. Congratulations to: Caroline Bowes, Emma Butz, Alicia Chan, Paula Chirinos Paucar, Alena Clark, Ryan Czelada, Natalia Day, Sarah Dowd, Makayla Farrell, Adriana Galarza, Adam Hockenberry, Hajar Karim, Heather Karlin, Lauren Mahoney, Kyle Marrs, Sabrina Michael-Duncan, Bri Murphy, Nicholas Osbahr, Jared Pallo, Raymond Ram, Angela Rienzo, Emma Rossetti, Hana Rubenstein, Alishbah Saddiqui, Sarah Stevens, Nicholas Tabarus, Janet Tran, Paul Weinstein.
On May 21, 2021, a virtual graduation for Spring 2021 graduates was held. Despite the absence of an in-person graduation, the department created an online commencement celebration to recognize all of the seniors’ hard work and achievements. Congratulations to: Michael Allen, Bethlehem Ayara, Humza Bashir, Rachel Carlin, Autumn Christopher, Sophia Dwyer, Margaret Engel, Jillian Finn, Tianna Honeycutt, Harun Kiani, Robert Kinnaird, Miranda Maliszka, Alexis Marking, Thomas Parisi, Komal Poonai, Jenna Reda, Ivana Rahaman, Olivia Sottile, Olivia Tu, and Jiyoung Yoo.
Zoom photo of virtual May 2021 graduation
Zoom photo of virtual May 2020 graduation
In December 2020, we celebrated our Fall 2020 graduates. They also were unable to have an in person ceremony, however we were still able to congratulate them virtually and celebrate all their hard work. Congratulations to: Michael Allen, Gregory Canell, Jessica Devous, Kyla Garcia, Sophia Hadeed, Sarah Klush, Zachary Macdonald, Anna Pasanen, Lauren Reyes, Rosaria Rielly, Isabelle Schmidt, and Daisy Mae Vanvalkenburgh!
Congratulations to All! Go Pride!
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Graduates Fall 2020 — Spring 2021 2020 Graduates Michael Allen (Geography) Caroline Bowes (Global Studies and Geography) Emma Butz (Global Studies and Geography) Alicia Chan (BS, GIS) Gregory Canell (Geography) Alena Clark (Global Studies) Ryan Czelada (Global Studies) Jessica Devous (Global Studies) Sarah Dowd (Global Studies and Geography) Sabrina Michael-Duncan (Global Studies) Makayla Farrell (Global Studies) Adriana Galarza (Global Studies and Geography) Kyla Garcia (Geography) Sophia Hadeed (Global Studies and Geography) Adam Hockenberry (Global Studies) Hajar Karim (Global Studies) Heather Karlin (Global Studies) Sarah Klush (Global Studies and Geography) Ryan Leighton (Global Studies and Geography) Lauren Mahoney (BS, GIS) Kyle Marrs (Global Studies and Geography Zachary McDonald (Global Studies) Bri Murphy (Global Studies) Jared Pallo (Global Studies) Anna Sofia Pasanen (Global Studies) Paula Chirinos Paucar (Global Studies) Raymond Ram (BS, GIS) Lauren Reyes (Global Studies) Rosaria Rielly (Global Studies) Angela Rienzo (BS, GIS) Emma Rossetti (Global Studies and Geography) Hana Rubenstein (Global Studies and Geography) Alishbah Saddiqui (Global Studies and Geography) Alyson Sann (Global Studies) Isabelle Schmidt (Global Studies) Breanna Scheenbeli Sarah Stevens (Global Studies) Nicholas Tabarus (BS, GIS) Janet Tran (BS, GIS) DaisyMae VanValkenburgh (Global Studies) Paul Weinstein (Geography)
Spring 2021 Graduates Bethelehem Ayara (Global Studies) Humza Bashir (Global Studies) Rachel Carlin (Global Studies) Autumn ChristopherRecent (Geography) Sophia Dwyer (Geography) Margaret Department Engel (Global StudiesEvents and Geography) Jillian Finn (Global Studies) Tianna Honeycutt (Global Studies) Harun Kiani (Global Studies) Robert Kinnaird (Global Studies) Alexis Marking (Global Studies) Miranda Maliszka (BS, GIS) Thomas Parisi (BS, GIS) Komal Poonai (Global Studies) Jenna Reda (Global Studies and Geography) Olivia Scottie (Global Studies) Olivia Tu (Global Studies and Geography) Jiyoung Yoo (BS,GIS)
Congratulations to our 2020 and 2021 Graduates!
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Honors Theses May 2020 Alena Etha Mae Clark defended her honors thesis successfully in Global Studies titled “China's Belt and Road Initiative: Redefining Development and International Relations in Greece and Sri Lanka.” Her advisor was Professor Jean-Paul Rodrigue, and her committee members were Professors Kari Jensen and Ramiro Campos.
Pictured: Dr. Janer (top left), Dr. Jensen (top right), Dr. Santiago Slabodsky (bottom left), and Alishbah Saddiqui (bottom right)
May 2021 Margaret Engel successfully defended her Geography honors thesis, "The Aid Industrial Complex: Private Sector Engagement and Reform." The supervisor was Professor Linda Longmire. Professors Zilkia Janer and Jean-Paul Rodrigue were on the thesis committee.
Pictured: Dr. Rodrigue (top left), Dr. Jensen (top right), Dr. Campos (bottom left), and Alena Clark (Bottom Right)
Emma Rossetti successfully defended her honors thesis in Geography, "Painting a Self Portrait of a City: Exploring Participatory Branding Practices and Sense of Place in Seoul, South Korea’s 2014-2015 Branding Process". Her committee members were Dr Kari Jensen and Dr. Grant Saff and advisor Dr. Nisha Korattyswaroopam .
Pictured: Prof. Longmire (top left), Prof. Janer (top right), Prof. Rodrigue (bottom left), and Margaret Engel (bottom right) Jenna Reda successfully defended her Geography hon-
ors thesis, "Gluten Free Food Deserts: Determining Their Existence and Expanse." Professor Zilkia Janer was the thesis advisor and the committee included Professors Craig Dalton and Linda Longmire.
Pictured: Dr. Korattyswaroopam (top left), Dr. Jensen (top right), Dr. Saff (bottom left), and Emma Rossetti (bottom right)
Alishbah Saddiqui successfully defended her Geography honors thesis, "Constructed oppression and forced liberation: Analyzing, deconstructing, and rejecting the conception of the oppressed Muslim woman." Her committee members were Dr. Santiago Slabodsky and Dr. Zilkia Janer.
Pictured: Prof. Longmire (top left), Prof. Janer (top right), Prof. Dalton (bottom left) and Jenna Red (bottom right)
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Alumni Interview Sarah Gerwens, Global Studies with High Honors, 2017
Exploring how people speak about race: a Q&A with Sarah Gerwens Sarah Gerwens is a PhD candidate in the European Institute at the London School of Economics Source: The London School of Economics and Political Science
What are you currently researching? I’m exploring how people speak about race in a supposedly post-race society and how so-called colour-blind institutions continue to produce unequal results depending on class and migration background. Concretely, I research ‘narratives of whiteness’ in the German school system. I want to understand how these narratives portray ‘good’ and ‘bad’ students and schools, as well as how they legitimise educational inequality. Why did you choose this area of study? I grew up in Germany where race has been largely excised from (white) public discourse and disavowed as a concept of the far-right. However, race-based discrimination continues and culturalised racism emerges in conversations about immigration and national belonging. My MSc mentor, who now supervises my PhD, suggested I look into Critical Whiteness Studies to make sense of this paradox. Three years on, that’s still what I’m doing. How will your research improve or have a wider impact on society? ‘Colour-blindness’ is often proposed as a remedy for racial inequalities. However, I make the opposite argument: race is neither gone, nor forgotten, even if it’s supposedly unseen. Indeed, failure to reckon with race entails a failure to confront racism. My research contributes to this reckoning in the German school system. What impact did the pandemic have on your research plans? Pre-COVID, I had planned to conduct participant observations in and around German primary schools. While challenging at first, the pandemic gave me more time to work on my theoretical framework and to explore alternate methods of data collection. I have now shifted from a ‘pure’ ethnography to a more discoursefocussed approach, triangulating policy documents, media coverage of German schooling, online interviews with school staff and parents/guardians, as well as, one day, my fieldwork. What do you hope to do career-wise, long term? I hope to leverage my research and analytical skills in the think tank and consulting sector. My goal is to contribute to better education policies and to further equity, diversity, and inclusion more broadly. Can you provide any advice to prospective students about the most effective way to approach research and keep stress levels down? There are some general guidelines: work when you’re most productive, ask for feedback, set deadlines, write as much and as early as you can, take at least one day a week off. However, in the end, you need to find what makes the most sense for you. Even once you’ve found your groove, check in with yourself. Do you need a break? Take one. Do you feel like an imposter? You aren’t. Are you stuck? Ask for help. There is this narrative that doing a PhD is lonely work. And, yes, you’ll be alone, but there is no need to be lonely. Connect with your PhD peers, reach out to senior scholars whose work inspires you, go to conferences. 11 The Globe — Fall 2021
Job Opportunities
Career Corner The Department of Global Studies & Geography provides numerous resources to help its students build and pursue prosperous careers. Career opportunities are shared regularly on the department’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
Internships Esri is accepting GIS summer 2022 internship applications until the end of the year. This internship is a 12 week program that takes place in different headquarters within Southern California. The American Association of Geographers is seeking interns for the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Interns will work on projects related to education, outreach, research, website,
Magis Americas is seeking an experienced professional to join its team as Development Manager (DM), reporting to the Executive Director. The DM will play a critical role in Magis Americas’ fundraising efforts. Magis Americas is a 501(c)3 based in DC committed to global development. Schoharie County Office of Real Property Tax Services seeks a G.I.S. technician to maintain, update and utilize the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and E-911 Databases for the county. EKI Environment & Water, Inc. seeks a GIS Specialist with 1-2 years of experience for its offices in southern California and the Bay Area. The nonpartisan Redistricting Data Hub is hiring a Data Collection Coordinator position. This role provides the opportunity to work with government and civil rights groups engaged in redistricting across the country. The Living in Freedom Together (LIFT) organization, based in Worchester, MA, seeks a smart and hardworking individual who is passionate about human rights and has a talent for multi-media communications. If you are interested please contact Tempe Staples, at tempe@liftworcester.org
Career Advice publications, or the Annual Meeting. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has internship opportunities available to current college students that want to help with Senator Gillibrand's contributions to the State of New York and the nation. American Geographical Society offers a Scholar Internship program throughout the year to undergraduate and graduate students–now virtually anywhere in the United States! During the Spring and Fall semesters, the internship runs for 15 weeks, with 15 hours per week. Upon completion of the term, students will receive a scholarship.
In October 2002, the Mu Kappa Executive Board sat with Hofstra alumni over Zoom, where they gave advice for current Global Studies and Geography majors regarding career paths, classes to take, grad school applications, and more. Mu Kappa created a guide for students in the Department of Global Studies and Geography to look through and refer to throughout their academic careers.
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Benefits of Studying Abroad Now Resuming in 2022!
Emma Rossetti’s
Study Abroad in Asia Why did you choose this country?
Jahamun-Ro, Vietnam
I chose Singapore because I knew I wanted to go to Asia for my semester abroad and I knew I wanted to live in a large city. Because I am also interested in urban planning, I knew that with how advanced Singapore is I’d be able to get a unique perspective on a modern Asian city! Singapore is also a great jumping off point to visit other countries in Southeast Asia, which was important to me. Gyeongbok Palace, South Korea
How did you find out about this university? I found out about the program I did (TEAN Abroad) after doing some online research for programs in major Asian cities with dates and classes most compatible to what my schedule needed. Why did you choose this program in particular? The location of the university is in the downtown core of Singapore which was important to me, and since the language of instruction in Singapore is English, I had access to any class that was available to a local student. The spring semester also had a couple sizable breaks where I knew I’d be able to visit other countries in Southeast Asia. Also it was the only program I could do since Hofstra doesn’t have a partnership with any Singapore schools. What skills were important for accomplishing your tasks? One huge advantage of studying in Singapore is that everyone speaks English, so I never had to worry about language barriers. However, the most important skill you can have abroad is the ability to be okay with looking dumb. Pretending you are too cool to try something new or ask for help will hold you back from trying so many things. As someone who hates to not feel like they are in control of things, this was a bit of a barrier for me but I’m so glad I overcame it. Take the picture, go on the tour, ask for directions when you need them, try new foods- it’s all so worth it in the end! How do you feel as though your education at Hofstra helped you to succeed during your time abroad? Coming out of the Global Studies/Geography department, I felt really confident in my ability to write papers, which ended up being a huge advantage for me at a university that wasn’t quite as social sciences focused, as research papers were not a daunting task for me. Beyond academics, it was such an advantage to already have knowledge on the region and global issues in general because it really helped me contextualize my experiences and the countries I visited.
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Batu Caves, Malaysia 13 The Globe — Fall 2021
Benefits of Studying Abroad Now Resuming in 2022!
Fatimah Mozawalla’s Study Abroad in England at University of Oxford Why did you choose this country? I chose England because I wanted to be able to explore Europe easily, but also establish roots in one country. England is great because it has the countryside and the city, providing the best of both worlds. I wanted to be near a large city but also go to school in a college town, which is why Oxford in particular was perfect. I was an hour and six pound train ride away from London, but I also had a meadow, with free grazing horses, that was a five minute walk from my house. I also absolutely love tea and thankfully afternoon tea is a legitimate meal time in the UK. How did you find out about this university? Honestly, I googled “best universities in England” and Oxford and Cambridge were amongst them. One of my favorite history professors attended Cambridge, but unfortunately they only had a one year long study abroad program and I only had time for a semester. Oxford had a semester long study abroad program and on a whim I applied, and it was truly one of the best decisions I have ever made! Why did you choose this program in particular? There were other study abroad programs through third party organizations; however, the one affiliated directly with Oxford allowed you to study at some of the more prestigious colleges, including Christ Church, which is where I was and where the Hogwarts dining hall exists! What skills were important for accomplishing your tasks? Proper time management skills were essential to my studies at Oxford, as you are not in the traditional classroom setting. You meet one-on-one with your professors and they work with you to tailor the class to your interests. The workload is quite intense, but you truly gain a deeper and broader perspective in your field of study. However, motivating yourself to do the readings and compose multiple 2000-3000 word essays weekly is quite a struggle, especially since you want to explore the country and continent at the same time, but less hours in the classroom allows you more flexibility. I recall finishing my essays during train rides and in random cafes while exploring Paris and London. Since you are learning more in an individualized setting, it can be hard to make friends with other students, but joining clubs and sports and even just meeting new people at formal dinner every night, allowed me to form bonds of friendship that will hopefully last a lifetime. How do you feel as though your education at Hofstra helped you to succeed during your time abroad? My professors at Hofstra, especially in the Global Studies and Geography department were truly amazing and equipped me with the skills necessary to be able to learn independently. Being able to integrate information from a variety of sources to compose and present a strong written and oral argument, were skills that I learned at Hofstra and put into practice at Oxford. What advice do you have for students currently considering studying abroad? “Don’t let the fear of falling, keep you from flying.”
14 The Globe — Fall 2021
Images of Fatima at Oxford
Alumni Updates Olukemi "Kemi" Anazodo (Global Studies and Geography, 2019) former Vice President of Get Global (our student club), was accepted to the Masters program in Management at Warwick Business School at Warwick University. Michael Francis Carrigy (Geography with Honors, 2010) completed his MCRP from the Bloustein School of Public Policy and Planning at Rutgers University with a specialty in transportation planning. Professor Jean-Paul Rodrigue was his honors supervisor at Hofstra. Mike was gracious enough to share his thesis with our department titled, "Redeveloping A PostIndustrial City: A Case Study of Camden's Gateway District. Alena Clark (Global Studies Honors, Spring 2020) was accepted to the MSc program in Social and Cultural Anthropology at KU Leuven in Belgium. Writes Alena: "The program really emphasizes anthropology in a global/modern lens, where I hope to be focusing on post colonialism and migration regarding the shaping of identities. I am excited to go and be able to combine my two Hofstra majors (Anthropology and Global Studies) into one degree!" Josh Ettinger (Global Studies with Honors, 2013), currently a PhD candidate at Oxford University, attended the United Nations COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021. He was there presenting on the Talk Climate Change campaign he co-founded which seeks to encourage more interpersonal conversations about climate action among families, friends, and communities around the world.
Sarah E. Linder Marx, (Global Studies, 2017) was officially sworn in to the Pennsylvania Bar in December 2020 in a virtual ceremony organized by the Allegheny CountyRecent Public Defenders Office.
Department Events
Bri Murphy, (Global Studies, 2020) was awarded a first-class honours from Trinity College Dublin in November 2021 for her dissertation on Children’s Rights in the United States (as part of the program in International Peace Studies). She notes, “Moving to a different country during a pandemic may have been stressful at first but it ended up being so rewarding and lifechanging for me. I made amazing friends and was able to write a dissertation on a topic that I am extremely passionate about and have been passionate about since my first visit to the UN as a child. On that visit, I saw children’s toys from war zones that were held behind glass for radiation, toys that were shredded from bullet holes, and toys that were burnt from fire and explosives.” Haley Schwartz (Global studies and Geography, 2018) attended the University of Edinburgh where she received her MS in Geographical Information Sciences and Archaeology. She was also awarded a Distinction on her masters thesis "Utilizing Geographical Textual Analysis to study the Evolution of Archaeological Thinking". She graduated with a Distinction overall, and was awarded the "School Prize for Best Overall Contribution for the MSc in GIS & Archaeology, Class of 2019-20".
15 The Globe — Fall 2021
About The Department of Global Studies and Geography Since the establishment of the joint Department of Global Studies and Geography in Fall 2008, more than 400 students have graduated with a Global Studies and/or Geography/GIS major, and 41 students have graduated with Departmental Honors. We offer the following majors: a BA Geography (with specialties in General Geography or GIS), BS in GIS, BA in Global Studies and a Pre-Health major in both Geography and Global Studies. We also offer minors in Geography, GIS, Global Studies and a joint minor in Computer Science and GIS.
For more information about us:
Department of Global Studies and Geography 130 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549, USA 209 Roosevelt Hall (516) 463-5826
gsgeog@hofstra.edu Website Facebook Group & Instagram Twitter & LinkedIn Photos from all our events can be found on our Flickr Page More information and a digital version of this newsletter can be found at: https://www.hofstra.edu/global-studies-geography/about.html
The Globe Official newsletter of Hofstra’s Department of Global Studies and Geography
FALL 2021 VOL. 3 NO. 1
16 The Globe — Fall 2021