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FALL 2012
Volume 6 Issue 1
Department of
Geography News
Notes from Burrell
Where did the Fall go? It seems that yesterday
classes were starting in August and today they
are starting in January. The time in between is a
bit of a blur. During that time, we continued to
move through the various levels of approval for
our proposed Masters of Community Planning
degree, with some rules changing as we went
along. More recently there has been discussion
on campus about the structure and location of
interdisciplinary coastal research and teaching,
and we, of course, have lots invested in coastal
work.
Many students and faculty gave conference
presentations last semester at the Southeast
Division of the Association of American
Geographers meeting (SEDAAG) in Asheville, the
Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning
meeting in Cincinnati, and at the Race, Ethnicity,
and Place Conference in Puerto Rico. Graduate
student Lin Hall won the award for best Masters
paper at SEDAAG, as you will see later in this
issue. We were “down” one faculty member
with Mulu Wubneh spending the semester in
Ethiopia on his Fulbright award. As soon as he
returns, we “lose” Tom Crawford to Scotland for
his semester-long Fulbright. We also have two
searches going on – one in Planning and the other
in Human Geography.
At Homecoming this Fall, we held a pregame
Departmental tailgate. Faculty, current
students, and alums attended and enjoyed the
beautiful day, as can be seen in the photos
later in the newsletter. We expect to make this
an annual event. This is a special year for the
department – the first Bachelor’s degree in
Geography was offered 70 years ago in 1943.
Here we are still with a vibrant department, five
bachelor’s degrees, and a strong MA program.
Please consider coming to Homecoming this
Fall. In the meantime, if you are in the area,
please stop by. We would love to have you
visit, show you around the department and
introduce you to people who were not here
when you were. As I tell the graduates during
our departmental recognition ceremonies, we
always want to know what you are doing, where
you are, when you have important milestones in
your professional and personal lives -- job news,
any travels, continuing education, and anything
else you want to share. Please keep in touch
with us. We value our alums greatly!
Dr. Burrell Montz, Chair.
Alumni Spotlight: Perez-Sanchez
Naomy Perez-Sanchez completed her BA in
Geography at the University of Puerto Rico in
2006. In August 2007 she moved to Greenville to
begin a MA in Geography specializing in Coastal
Geomorphology and GIS methods. As a research
assistant, she worked with Drs. Allen and Crawford
Naomy shown above is at Groves Creek, Savannah. helping
a coworker get GPS coordinates to create a model of tide ebb
and flow processes in the creek for a Dept. of Energy project.

Inside This Issue
Notes from Burrell 1
Alumni Spotlight 1
News and Events 2
Newest Alums 5
4
in the Center for Geographic Information Science.
Her thesis, Influence of Geographical Orientation,
Beach Shelter, and Seasonality on Beach Behavior in
the Caribbean: A Case of Study, Puerto Rico, was
completed in the summer of 2009 under the
direction of Dr. Paul Gares.
In fall 2009, she left Greenville for Savannah,
GA and joined the Geology Department at the
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography as a GIS
Research Tech. At the institute she worked closely
with two historical shoreline change projects on
Georgia’s coast. For the study, Quantifying the
Impact of Recreational and Commercial Usage of the
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway on the Natural Resources
of Georgia, she analyzied historical shoreline change
along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and its
relationship to recreational boating. For Quantifying
the Threat to Archeological, Historical, and Cultural
Resources from Shoreline Change, Naomy analyzed
historical shoreline change at archeological sites
along Georgia’s back barrier islands to determine
their probably lifetime due to erosional processes.
Currently, she is working with the Ports and Coasts
Division at Atkins Global in their Austin, TX office
as a Geomorphologist in the Coastal Planning
and Restoration group, and is part of the group
developing a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development
for the Brazoria County Parks Department in TX.
“The culture of the ECU Geography Department
broke every graduate school stereotype in my mind.
The sense of respect and collegiality between
students and faculty are key for a good graduate
school experience and the Geography Department
has a good handle on it. Faculty was nothing
like the intimidating stories I often heard and
the comradeship among fellow classmates was
exceptional. The Geography Department gave me
the knowledge, tools, confidence, and leadership
needed to go into the professional world and I am
beyond thankful for that. I truly enjoyed the time
spent in the department.”
BS Grad, Amy Shew, BS Grad Brandon Hill at the
Homecoming Fall 2012 pre-game Departmental tailgate.
News and Events
Undergrad Planning Curriculum
Changes Proposed
Revisions to the curriculum for the BS in Urban
and Regional Planning Degree are currently in
the review and approval process and is reportedly
one of the most complex proposals that have
ever been processed at one time through the
college and university. The planning program’s
curriculum revision process began in 2011 and
involved significant coordination with geography
department faculty. This article summarizes
selected parts of the curriculum changes, which if
approved, will go into effect August 2013.
The Geography Department appointed an ad
hoc curriculum committee during Fall 2012 to
recommend integration of certain geography
and planning courses. A key outcome of that
committee’s recommendation was the alignment
and cross-listing of Geography and Planning
courses on Geographic Information Systems
(GIS). Under the new curriculum, there
will be three levels of proficiency in GIS for
planning students, rather than the current two.
Another driving force was the desire of the
University Curriculum Committee to replace
some 5000-level courses. As a result several of
the planning program’s courses will become
4000-level courses if approved. Complicating
the effort further was the anticipated master of
community planning degree proposal. Under
a separate but parallel graduate curriculum
revision process, the planning program is seeking
the creation of 6000-level courses suitable
for graduate students but that cover the same
substantive content as the proposed 4000-level
courses.
Equally important is the proposed revamping of
concentration study areas available to planning
students. The BS in urban and regional planning
degree allows students to choose a minor, or
in lieu of a minor, two concentration areas. It
has been several years since the concentrations
have been revised and, if approved, they should
enhance the marketability of undergraduates
for employment. New concentrations include
geographic information science, urban studies,
rural development, and public administration. The
program faculty believes that these concentrations
are better connected to the demand for planners
in the local government sector. Certain other
concentrations were proposed for elimination,
not necessarily because they were inappropriate

ut because of a general lack of available course
offerings in those concentration areas. For more
information about these curriculum changes,
contact Jerry Weitz at weitzj@ecu.edu.
Planning Program Recommends Old
Waynesborough Park Improvements
Old Waynesborough Park and Historic Village
is located along the banks of the Neuse River
in Goldsboro, NC. The park includes the
original location of the county seat of Wayne
County, Waynesborough, which declined in the
1840’s when railroads were extended to nearby
Goldsborough (now Goldsboro).
In October 2011, Jerry Weitz, director of the
urban and regional planning program at ECU
began discussions with representatives of the Old
Waynesborough Commission regarding technical
assistance for Old Waynesborough Park.
Weitz agreed to look for opportunities to direct
students to work on a master plan as part of their
academic studies. Students from various courses
contributed to a report completed in 12/2012,
entitled Assessment and Plan of Improvement of Old
Waynesborough Park.
The resulting assessment and plan suggests
several improvements to existing features of
the park, including correction of existing
drainage problems, installation of historical
structure identification signs and replacement
of park entrance signs, improvement of an
existing overflow parking lot, and expansion and
improvement of the existing trail system. The
plan recommends that the Old Waynesborough
Commission complete major capital
improvements, such as expansion of the existing
general store (which does not function as an actual
store), construction of an old Waynesborough
Tavern, construction of a replica of the old
Wayne County courthouse, a tribute to Native
Americans, a transportation history museum, a
playground, and a large concert stage to serve
larger events at the park.
Old Waynesborough Park is already optimally
located to connect into regional and statewide
tourism activity patterns and development
plans. Strategic improvements could provide
the Commission with additional revenue-raising
potential and be responsive to community needs.
For more information go to www.ecu.edu/plan
(go to “outreach projects”). by Jerry Weitz
Hur Particpates in Outreach Academy
& Recieves $11,000 Research Award
Dr. Misun Hur, Assistant Professor in the
planning program, was one of 10 participants in
the ECU 2012 Engagement and Outreach
Scholars Academy, a program to cultivate engaged
scholars who can be leaders in their professions
while working with communities, offered by the
Office of Public Service and Community
Relations. She was selected through a peer
selection process, attended a series of workshops
throughout Fall 2012 semester, and received an
award ($11,000) for her proposed research,
Empowering the Latino/Hispanic Immigrants by the Social
Network Analysis in Asset-based Community Development
Practice in Pitt County, North Carolina. Partnered
with the Asociación de Mexicanos en Carolina del
Norte, Inc. (AMEXCAN), her research team
including a graduate assistant and two EC
scholars, will investigate a way to empower the
community by identifying the community’s assets,
strengths, and resources.
Dr. Misun Hur accepting her award with Provost Sheerer
(left) and Chancellor Ballard (right)
Undergrads Receive Scholarships
Matt Moy, Allysa Randall and Jamie Wheeler
were each awarded a $500 scholarship from the
Geography Department for Fall 2012.
Geography

Check out Vaughn’s GISci Poster
Sallie Vaughn took 3rd place in the GISci.org
poster contest. Some of you probably remember
Sallie as one of our excellent grad students from
a few years back. For GISci 2012 Poster Contest
Entries, see www.gisci.org/Contest2012/index.htm
Hall Awarded SEDAAG Best MA Paper
Lin Hall received the award for best Masters’
Paper at SEDAAG for his paper and presentation
on Climatology of the Structure, Frequency, and Propagation
of Midlatitude Cyclones that Affect North Carolina.
ecology. The
program familiarized
participants
with tides,
waves, geological
classifications of
estuarine systems,
and the plants and
animals that call
the estuary home.
Exerpted from Magnetic
East, Fall 2012.
Randall with turtle hatchling
Internship Report
Alyssa Randall, a senior geography major with a
minor in coastal and marine studies, received a
2012 summer internship through the NC State
Government Summer Internship Program led
by the Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office.
For 10 weeks Randall worked within the DENR
Division of Coastal Management in Wilmington,
NC, as a natural resource management and
outreach assistant for the NC Coastal Reserve and
National Estuarine Research Reserve System.
Randall’s job was to oversee and lead the sea turtle
nesting efforts on Masonboro Island. As part of
the North Carolina Coastal Reserve, Masonboro
Island is a protected island with no man-made
structures and is only accessible by boat. While
the public can visit the reserve, its main function
is to act as a field research site and provide a haven
for hundreds of different species.
During her internship, Randall led volunteers on
a 10-mile sea turtle nest patrol. When a site was
identified, participants would dig in the sand until
the top layer of eggs was reached. In order to
track where turtles may nest in the future, a DNA
sample was taken by collecting the shell of one
of the eggs. The eggs were then recovered with
sand and wire mesh (to mainly keep out the red
foxes that live on the island). In addition, Randall
used a GPS unit to mark the location of the nest
and to document the data, including species type,
predation count and track width.
Once in the lab, Randall processed the GPS and
created nesting maps using ArcGIS. She also
created a map of fox dens on the island, as well as
a map of potential kayak routes that can be used
to look for diamondback terrapin.
Randall participated in other activities during her
internship, including shorebird rescue efforts and
sea turtle necropsies. Her final project as an intern
with the North Carolina Coastal Reserve was to
teach an outreach program on the topic of estuary
Job Reports
Tyler Bruce, Spring 2012. GIS Techncian 1 with
Stantec (Formally Greenhorn and O’Mara)
Recently I traveled to Seattle for field recon. We
were geotagging a coastline in Kitsap county
across the Puget Sound from Seattle. It was a 3
day adventure with 342 miles on a boat doing
3D geotagged pictures for engineering models
to represent the actual coastline. It was a great
opportunity and was fun to travel with work.
At the beginning of November I accepted a full
time offer to become a GIS Tech 1. I willcontinue
to work on projects as well as picking up several
new tasks related to the FEMA FIRM process I
will be involved in more coastal primary frontal
dune analysis and wave runup/still water flooding
mapping. It has been challenging at times but a lot
of interesting work that is helping me learn new
tasks.
Dr. Palmer-Moloney Deploys to
Afghanistan
Former Geography instructor and Ph.D. candidate
in Coastal Resources Management, Dr. Laura
Dr. Palmer-Moloney and Corpsman Daniel Holmberg
hike to the Helmand River in southern Helmand Province.

Jean Palmer-Moloney joined the U.S.
government service first as a visiting research
scientist with the National Geospatial-
Intelligence Agency and
then as a federal employee with USACE
in 2009. At that time she began her
study of the Helmand River watershed in
Afghanistan. In her role as civilian employee
of the Department of Defense, Dr. Palmer-
Moloney served as the principal investigator
for the “Civil-Military Operation/Human-
Environment Interaction” USACE ERDC
work package and was a lead research
scientist in the Pentagon’s “Helmand Deep
Dive” strategic multi-layered assessment of
Afghanistan. She deployed to Afghanistan
as senior advisor on watershed management
to the Commander of Regional Command
Southwest from 2011-2012. As such, she
served on the Stability Operations staff, Camp
Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Excerpted from 12/2012 WaterWell Journal article by
Mike Price.
Hall Awarded Space Grant
Fellowship
Lin Hall has been granted an NC Space Grant
Graduate Research Fellowship Award which
provides add-on support for graduate students
to supplement and enhance basic research
support.
Our Newest Alums
Fall 2012 Undergraduates
Jason Alan Blumenfeld BS Geography, Certificate in
Geographic Information Systems
Kathleen Ellen Muriel Clifford, BS Geography
Matthew Craig Hall, BS Urban & Regional Planning
Jared Brannon Tyndall, BS Geography
Cameron Tyler Williams, BS Urban & Regional
Planning
Summer MA 2012 Graduates
Chad Godshalk Buch, Internship Report: A
Professional Review of Planning Interaction in the Public
Sector.
Kelsey Jill Mulder. Predicting Resjponses to Flash
Flooding: A Case Study of Boulder, Colorado.
Cal Ryan Scheinert. Debris Flow Fan Evolution: Chalk
Creek Natural Debris Flow, Laboratory, Colorado.
We Want to Hear from You
Do you have news to share with your fellow
Department of Geography alumni? How about
an idea you think would make a good story for
Vectors? Email Karen at mulcahyk@ecu.edu.
Geography
Homecoming Fall 2012 at a pre-game Departmental tailgate.
Clockwise from below. MA Grads Gary Monitz and Alison
Hueber, Dr. Curtis and BS Grad Brandon Hill and Dr.
Allen and BS Grad Kyle Whaley