Sinclair Community College Geography/Geospatial Technology Department Receives National Award

The American Association of Geographers (AAG) has recognized the Geography/Geospatial Technology Department at Sinclair Community College with a 2023 Program Excellence Award. The department is recognized for its well-developed combined offering of an associate degree in Geography, designed for transfer to a four-year university and aligned with Ohio’s public universities, and an associate degree in applied GIST, aimed at preparing students for a career track in Geospatial Technology. Sinclair also offers three GIS certificates in addition to the two associate degrees. 

A distinctive feature of the program is its GIS internship, offered as a capstone. The department has also connected with partners in its home city through projects such as the Map Dayton project, the platform for applied learning in the classroom that has connected and raised awareness of geography’s applications in the community. The recent Vestiges of Redlining project, developed and carried out by students, provided learning experiences for both participants and audiences. The program demonstrates the value of synergy between classroom and place and has translated into career opportunities for students while helping Dayton work on pressing issues.

“Community colleges like Sinclair are a lifeline for students, and a critical path for the next generation of geographers” said Mark Revell, Manager of Career Programs and Disciplinary Research for AAG. “In our research, we’ve found that as many as 40 percent of all undergraduates are studying at community colleges in the US. Sinclair’s Geography/Geospatial Technology Department is an excellent support for geography studies, as well as representing geography to the public in the Dayton area.”

“Sinclair Community College is honored to receive this prestigious recognition that highlights our unwavering focus on student success in the fields of geography and geospatial technology,” said Dr. Jacqueline Housel, Professor – Sinclair Community College Geography Department. “Sinclair is proud to provide exceptional learning experiences in and out of the classroom that give our students the vital skills they need for college and career success.”

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About the American Association of Geographers (AAG)
For more than 100 years, The American Association of Geographers (AAG) has contributed to the advancement of geography. Our members from nearly 100 countries share interests in the theory, methods, and practice of geography, which they cultivate through the AAG's Annual Meeting, scholarly journals (Annals of the American Association of Geographers, The Professional Geographer, the AAG Review of Books and GeoHumanities), and the online AAG Newsletter. The AAG is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1904.  

Photo caption:

(L to R) – Dr. Jacqueline Housel, Professor and faculty member Walter Furness receive the AAG 2023 Program Excellence Award in Denver, Colorado.