(maximum of 400-600 words)
Sarah Blue
Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Texas State University. Ph.D. (University of California, Los Angeles), M.A. (University of Minnesota), and B.S. (University of Denver).
Service to AAG and Geography: Director, Race, Ethnicity, and Place (REP) Conference (2017-present); Board Member, Conference of Latin American Geographers (2011-present), Chair of CLAG Award/ Honors Committee (2016-2017), Finance Committee (2019-2020), Publication Committee (2020-2021); AAG Selection Committee for the Graduate Student Affinity Group Student Paper Competition (2014), the LASG Student Paper Award (2011) and Student Field Travel Award (2010); Member, Latin American Geography, Population, Ethnic, Political Specialty Groups; and Faculty Advisor for TXST Supporting Women in Geography (SWIG) (2011-present).
Awards, Honors, Grants: National Science Foundation grants (2001, 2007, 2018, 2020); Wilson Latin American Research Award (2020); AAG Research Grant (2017); Research Enhancement Program Grant (2015); Service-Learning Initiative Faculty Fellow Award (2012-2013); Service-Learning Initiative Faculty Fellow Award (2012-2013); Center for Latino and Latin American Studies Faculty Research Grant (2007, 2010); Improvement of Undergraduate Education Grant (2008, 2010); Research and Artistry Grant (2007); Alpha Chi Favorite Professor (2013, 2014, 2015).
Research and Teaching Interests: My research has mainly focused on immigration from Latin America to the United States, refugee and asylum issues, and socio-economic inequality for underrepresented groups in the United States, Central America, and Cuba. I most often teach subjects focused on human mobility, political economy, gender and development, and research design.
Publications: I have published in various journals including Area, Economic Geography, International Journal of Cuban Studies, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Journal of Latin American Geography, Journal of Peasant Studies, Papers in Applied Geography, Latin American Perspectives, Latin American Politics and Society, Population, Space & Place, Social Sciences, The Southwestern Geographer, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, and Urban Affairs Review.
Kavita Pandit
Professor, Department of Geosciences, Georgia State University. Ph.D. and M.C.R.P. (Ohio State University), B.Arch. (Bombay University).
Service to the AAG and Geography: AAG Vice President, President, and Past President (2005-2008), AAG Secretary (2004-2005), AAG/SEDAAG Regional Councilor (2003-2005), AAG Long-Range Planning Committee member (2013-2015), AAG Population Specialty Group Vice President, President, and Past President (2002-2005), SEDAAG President and Past President (1997-2001).
Awards, Honors, and Grants: AAG Fellow (2018), AAG Ron F. Abler Distinguished Service Award (2016), AAG Population Specialty Group Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), NAFSA (Association of International Educators) Board Member (2010-2016), SEDAAG Distinguished Service Award (2006), SUNY Senate President’s Leadership Award (2009).
Professional Experience: I have over 30 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member and university administrator. My research and teaching interests are in the areas of economic geography, population and migration and are best reflected by two symposia that I co-organized: Migration and Restructuring in the United States (1997) and Immigration and America’s Changing Ethnic Landscapes (2002). My university administrative experience includes service as Department Head (UGA, 2003-2005), Associate Dean (UGA, 2006-2007), Senior Vice Provost (SUNY System Administration, 2007-2009), Associate Provost for International Education (UGA, 2009-2016), and Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs (GSU, 2016-2020). Since July 2020, I have been serving as Senior Advisor to the Provost at Georgia State University.
Publications: Over my career, I have published articles in top-tier geography and interdisciplinary journals including: Annals of the Association of American Geographers, The Professional Geographer, Economic Geography, Geographical Analysis, Environment and Planning A, Regional Studies, and Growth and Change. I have also co-edited a book titled Migration and Restructuring in the United States, edited or co-edited special issues of Population, Space and Place and Geographical Review, and co-authored a textbook compilation Introductory Reader in Human Geography.