Casey D. Allen
GEOGRAPHER, PhD
Updated May 2013
Abbreviated CV also available

IN BRIEF:

 

Selected as an Early Career Scholar by the Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education (2012) and the Outstanding Student Mentor by the Research and Creative Arts Symposium at UC Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (2013), I maintain wide-ranging interests that coincide with my passion for adventures “in the field”. This means travel, exploration, and discovery via first-hand experiences play key roles in my life, teaching, and research. Proficient in the physical and human geography arenas—as well as various geotechniques, critical theory, and pedagogy—I am recognized as a leading scholar in Humanistic Geography (Oxford University Press), Rock Decay (Wiley-Blackwell), and Non-traditional Pedagogy (Taylor & Francis). My current research focuses on field experiences and other non-traditional pedagogies as tools to learn complex knowledge and processes better than sitting in classrooms memorizing and regurgitating. The mediums of rock decay (weathering), environmental perception, and biological soil crusts help me engage people in this learning landscape. I also enjoy a cold & frothy root beer, desserts, the cinema, lean and meaty steaks, exploring the World, music and the Arts, different shades of grey, nutmeg, hot chocolate, True Love, good Theatre, sci-fi/fantasy, and believe students are the center of the Academic Universe—even if they do joke(?) about how I like “girly pop” music.

 

AREAS of SPECIALIZATION:

 

·         Topical: general physical geography (bio/geomorphology, cultural ecology, (micro)climatology, plants, rock decay, soils), geography education, humanistic geography (critical theory, epistemology & geographic thought, landscape, sense of place/environmental perception)

·         Regional: Arid lands, Grenada (West Indies), Japan, South America’s Cono del Sur, US-Mexico Borderlands

·         Technical: alternative pedagogy, field studies/methods/techniques, qualitative methods, remote sensing

 

EDUCATION:

 

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography

Emphases: biogeomorphology, critical theory (of physical geography), geo-ed, rock decay, US-Mexico Borderlands

Arizona State University, School of Geographical Sciences, Tempe, AZ

 

February 2008

Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Secondary Education

Emphasis: Science; Undergraduate minor: Spanish
Southern Utah University, Colleges of Education & Physical Sciences, Cedar City, UT

 

June 1998

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography

Minor: Latin American Studies; Emphases: Botany and History
Weber State University, Department of Geography, Ogden, UT

June 1996

 

HIGHER EDUCATION POSITIONS:

 

Assistant Professor

Academic Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising

Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences

University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO

 

Aug 2008 to Present

Aug 2013 to Present

Affiliate Faculty and Sr. Program Manager

XSci Program (Experiential Science Education Research Collaborative)

School of Education and Human Development

University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO

 

Apr 2013 to Present

Post Doctoral Scholar

Course and Program Development & Assessment
ASU School of Geographical Sciences, Tempe, AZ

 

Sum 2008

Associate Director
Master of Advanced Study
(MAS) Program in Geographic Education

Invited Position, ASU School of Geographical Sciences, Tempe, AZ

 

June 2006 to July 2008

Faculty Associate (School of Geographical Sciences)

Teaching Associate (School of Geographical Sciences)

Research Associate (Institute for Social Science Research)

ASU, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Tempe, AZ

 

Sum 2005/06; Sep 2007 to July 2008

Spring 2006

Aug 2004 to Jan 2006

Instructor and Coordinator

Combined Degree (B.Sc./MD) Program

St. George’s University, Department of Education Services, Grenada, West Indies

 

Feb 2003 to July 2004

Internal Director (interim)

Academic Coordinator for At-Risk Populations

Academic Advisor II

Internal Promotions, WSU, Academic Advisement Center, Ogden, UT

 

July 2002 to Jan 2003

Sep 2000 to Jun 2002

Aug 1999 to Aug 2000

Adjunct Faculty (part-time)

Meteorology, Geography, First-Year Experience

Salt Lake CC (1999), WSU (2000-03), Chandler-Gilbert CC (2007)

Aug 1999 to Feb 2003 & Spring 2007

 

COURSES TAUGHT:

 

  • Biogeochemical Cycles
  • Contemporary Geographic Thought
  • Geographic Field Methods
  • Geographic Information Technologies
  • Geographic Techniques for Teachers (online)
  • Geography Across the Curriculum (online)
  • Geography by Rail (Europe & Japan, field-based)
  • Introduction to Human Geography
  • Human Geography for Teachers (online)
  • Introduction to Physical Geography (and online, and w/lab)
  • Introduction to the University (First Year Experience program)
  • Introductory Meteorology
  • Landscape Geochemistry
  • North American Geography for Teachers (online)
  • Principles of Geomorphology
  • Research Methods
  • Sustainability in the Caribbean (international, field-based)
  • Weathering and Petroglyphs (field-based)
  • World Geography for Teachers (online)
  • World Regional Geography

 

CITATIONS: Google Scholar tracks citations of most printed materials, including professional journals, theses, dissertations, and books. Here is my Google Scholar Profile.

 

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS: (*student under my direction)

 

 

BOOKS, CHAPTERS, EDITED, and OTHER PUBLICATIONS:

 

 

FUNDING RECEIVED:

 

 

STUDENT THESES & PROJECTS SUPERVISED (UCD Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences, unless otherwise noted):

 

o   Erik Ahl, Master’s Thesis (committee chair, current), Spatial Analysis of Alpine Biological Soil Crusts in Rocky Mountain National Park (2012-2014).

o   Kara Collier, Masters Thesis (committee chair, current), Research revolves around human-environment interactions in the Payette National Forest (2012-2014).

o   Veronica Given, Master’s Thesis (committee chair, current), A New Paradigm for Paleontological Taxonomy (working title) (2013-2015).

o   Rebecca Hays, Masters Thesis (committee chair, current), Research centered on human-environment interactions at the Wildlands-Urban Interface (2011-2014).

o   Adriana Serrano, Master’s Thesis (committee chair, current), Wastewater Comparisons: US and Mexico (2013-2014).

o   Michael Giamellaro, PhD Dissertation (committee member), Mapping Learner Networks in Contextualized Environments, School of Education and Human Development, University of Colorado Denver. 2011-2012.

o   Dr. Giamellaro is now an Assistant Professor of Education at Oregon State University!

o   Kristine Zellman, Masters Thesis (committee chair), Biological Soil Crusts’ Role in Dune Stabilization, Channel Islands, CA. University of Colorado Denver. 2010-2012.

o   Kristi works for the USGS and has her PhD program at Colorado School of Mines fully funded!

o   Kaelin Groom, Senior Thesis (committee chair, College Honors), Paleoflood Reconstruction of the Castlewood Canyon Dam Breach. University of Colorado Denver. 2011-2012.

o   Kaelin is a fully-funded master’s student at University of Arkansas, studying rock decay and paleofloods in Petra, Jordan with Dr. Tom Paradise!

o   Tyler Thompson, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis (committee chair, summa cum laude), Development of a Dynamic, Cross-Scalar Kinetic Rock Decay Model, University of Colorado Denver. 2011-2012.

o   Tyler is a fully-funded PhD student at Arizona State University under the direction of Dr. Ron Dorn!

o   Megan Caldwell, Masters Thesis (committee chair), Impacts of Mountain Pine Beetle and Fire Disturbances on Forest Ecosystem Carbon Dynamics and Species Composition. University of Colorado Denver. 2010-2012.

o   Megan works for the USGS and is a fully-funded PhD student at University of Colorado Boulder in Ecology

o   Randi Hodgen (committee member), Changes in Environmental Science Knowledge from High School to College. 2010-2012.

o   Jennifer Shanteau, Master’s Thesis (committee chair), Using Rhizoplaca as a New Approach to Alpine Lichenometry, University of Colorado Denver. 2010-2012.

o   Mariya (Masha) Gubareva, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis (committee chair, summa cum laude), Impact of Avalanche Bombing and Ski Resort Industry on Clear Creek, Loveland, Colorado. University of Colorado Denver. 2010-2011.

o   Masha is on the National Ski Patrol at Loveland Ski resort. That is quite the high-profile job!

o   Robin Lockwood, Masters Thesis (committee chair), Developing a Rural Drinking Water Quality Index. University of Colorado Denver. 2009-2011.

o   Meghan Stettler, Masters Thesis, (committee member), Suspension of [this] Belief, a documentary using “New Media” that discusses Christians in Theatre. Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California. 2009-2010.

o   Amber D. Tripodi, Masters Thesis (committee member), The Photosynthetic Response of a High-Altitude Spruce Forest to Nitrogen Amendments with Implications for Carbon Sequestration, University of Colorado Denver. 2009.

 

o   Kipp Koren (graduate), “Ecological Disconnect: Ecology vs. Economy”, Spring 2013. (one credit hour)

o   Georgina McKee (graduate), “Hydro-fracking Practices in Eastern Colorado”, Spring 2013.

o   Muna Zabarmawi (graduate), “Ecological Impacts of Genetically-Engineered Algae”, Spring 2013.

o   Kipp Koren (graduate), “Alpine Meadow Responses to Increases in Atmospheric CO2”, Fall 2012.

o   Bianca Stelly (undergraduate), “Real Estate Assessment of Urban Denver’s Population”, Fall 2012.

o   Kaelin Groom (undergraduate), “Geospatial Analysis of the 1933 Castlewood Dam Breach”, Spring 2012.

o   Nathan Knowles (undergraduate), “Boulder Sustainability Assessment”, Spring 2012.

o   Work resulted in a co-authored publication with Nate’s internship sponsors!

o   Tyler Thompson (undergraduate), “Developing a Kinetic Rock Decay Model for Colorado”, Spring 2012.

o   Kristi Zellman (graduate), “Spatial Analysis of Dune Stabilization”, Spring 2012.

o   Megan Caldwell (graduate), “Impacts of Disturbances on Subalpine Forests”, Fall 2011.

o   Kaelin Groom (undergraduate), “Fluvial Processes of Castlewood Canyon Dam Breach”, Fall 2011.

o   Kaelin’s work on this project won second-place in the all-student (including PhD students!) paper competition at the GPRM Association of American Geographers meeting, Oct 2011 and she was invited to participate in the Geomorphology Specialty Group’s graduate student paper competition at the National AAG Meeting in New York!

o   Ksienya Pugacheva, Nitrogen Availability in Subalpine Soils and their Influence on Climate Change-Induced Processes on Vegetation Communities, Fall 2011.

o   Jennifer Shanteau, (graduate), “Enhancing Lichenometric Dating Techniques” (using alluvial fan boulders in Rocky Mountain National Park), Fall 2011.

o   Chad Stoesz (graduate), “Developing a Comprehensive Curriculum for Field Study Programs in New Zealand”, Fall 2011.

o   Tyler Thompson (undergraduate), “Adapting RASI to Worked Stone”, Fall 2011.

o   Kristi Zellman (graduate), “Creation of a Rapid Ecological Assessment for Monitoring Biological Soil Crust Development”, Fall 2011.

o   Adam Boehlke (graduate), “Selenium Partitioning in the Environment”, Spring 2011.

o   Kaelin Groom (undergraduate), “Tattoos as Representations of Physical Geography”, Spring 2011.

o   Megan Caldwell (graduate), “Chemistry of Subalpine Forest Soils”, Spring 2011.

o   Mariya (Masha) Gubareva (undergraduate), “Water Quality of Clear Creek, Colorado”, Fall 2010.

o   Austen Cutrell (undergraduate), “ArcPad as a Viable Interdisciplinary Field Tool”, Fall 2010.

o   Ashley Warner (undergraduate), “A Geologic Analysis of Paleoenvironments Near Mt. Sherman, Colorado”, Fall 2010.

o   Tyler Rowse (undergraduate), “An overview of Alternative Energy in Colorado: Past, present, and Future”, Spring 2010.

o   Adam Boehlke (graduate), “Soluble Salt Experimentation” (creation of a sediment column to monitor and track salts moving through soil profiles), Spring 2010.

o   Evan Williams (undergraduate), “Geomorphology of Green Mountain, Colorado”, Spring 2010.

o   Eric Wortman (graduate), “Nitrogen Deposition and Photosynthetic Efficiency in Forest Ecosystems”, Fall 2009.

o   Curtis Hartenstine (graduate), “Aquatic Resource Consumptive and Non-Consumptive Use Policy in the US and Abroad”, Summer 2009.

o   Kathryn Isham (undergraduate), “Consequences of Weathering on Lyons Sandstone Buildings”, University of Colorado Denver, Spring 2009.

o   Jeremy Isham (undergraduate), “Natural Castle Rock Rhyolite Stone versus Worked Castle Rock Rhyolite Stone”, University of Colorado Denver, Spring 2009.

o   Meagan Nelson (undergraduate), “Weathering Described by the Rock Art Stability Index in Manitou Sandstone used in Worked Stone Buildings and in its Original Deposition Environment”, University of Colorado Denver, Fall 2008.

 

o   Mariya (Masha) Gubareva, Capstone project for Sustainability minor, Effects of Avalanche Zones on Water Quality in Clear Creek, Colorado, Summer and Fall 2010 & Spring 2011.

o   Kaelin Groom, Felix Zamora, Rachel Poole, and Travis Toms, Squatting on Cactus and Rootbeer Floats: Benefits of Fieldwork in Undergraduate Education. Paper Presentation for Great Plains-Rocky Mountain meeting of the Association of American Geographers in Lawrence, KS, Oct 2010.

o   Austen Cutrell, Cross-disciplinary mobile geospatial technologies in a field setting. Poster presentation for The Great Plains-Rocky Mountain meeting of the Association of American Geographers in Lawrence, KS, Oct 2010.

o   Mariya (Masha) Gubareva, The Impact of Snowmelt and Avalanche Bombing on Water Quality at Loveland Ski Area. Poster presentation for The Great Plains-Rocky Mountain meeting of the Association of American Geographers in Lawrence, KS, Oct 2010.

o   Jeremy Isham, GIS Certificate project, Mapping Historical and Physical Tourist Features of Grenada, West Indies, Fall 2009.

o   Kathryn Isham, GIS Certificate project, An Interactive Map of Grenada, West Indies, Fall 2009.

o   Group Research Projects (Supervisor), Field Study course to Grenada, West Indies, University of Colorado Denver, Summer 2009:

o   Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program grant award winner for Alternative Energy Feasibility in the Caribbean, S. Insinna, A. Warner, S. Watson, and D. Fischer, Co-PIs ($3600, maximum award).

o   Ground-truthing Multi-use Trails and Cultural Features using GPS, Grenada, West Indies, J. Isham, O. Link, M. Totaro-Bloom, J. Lubenow

o   Water Quality and Processes on Grenada, West Indies, S. Pargee, K. Crites, E. Wortman, K. Isham

o   Nicholas Gilewitch, Undergraduate Honors Thesis (3rd Reader), Distinguishing Sensitive Desert Pavement Surfaces from Insensitive Geomorphic Stone Pavements: a Preliminary Study Using Arizona Surfaces and Satellite Imagery, School of Geographical Sciences, Arizona State University, Spring 2008.

o   Group Research Projects, Undergraduate Research Methods course, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies, 2003-04:

o   People’s Perception of Plastic Surgery

o   Globalization and Genital Mutilation

o   Teen Pregnancy in the West Indies

o   The Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation of Cellular Phones on Human Health

o   Does Smoking Increase During Exam Time? A Case Study of St. George’s University

o   Bush Medicine as an Alternative Treatment

o   Alcohol Consumption and Study Time of Third Year Pre-Med Students at St. George’s University

o   The Relationship Between Memory and Moo

o   Academic Dishonesty and Time Management

o   Prevention, Treatment, and Advancement of Cancer Rates in Grenada


INVITED ENGAGEMENTS:

OTHER REFEREED and PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS (*student under my direction):

HONORS and AWARDS:

 

 

HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICE:

 

o   GeoBowl Coordinator for Great Plains-Rocky Mountain division of Association of American Geographers (2010-Present)

o   First Place at the 2012 World Geography Bowl, New York City, NY!

o   First Place at 2011 World Geography Bowl, Seattle, WA!

o   Chapter Sponsor for Gamma Theta Upsilon, Mu Lambda Chapter, International Geography Honorary Society, University of Colorado Denver (2012-Present)

o   Advisor/Faculty Sponsor for Geography & Environmental Sciences/GIS Cub, registered student organization, University of Colorado Denver (2009-Present)

o   Outstanding Student Leader, Kaelin Groom (President), 2011-2012

o   Outstanding Student Organization 2010-2011

o   Elected Leadership Councilor for Colorado Geography Alliance (State-wide, 2012-Present)

o   Judge for State of Colorado Geography Bee competition (2012)

o   Advisor for Geography major: Earth Science option

o   Advisor for Geography major: Environmental Science option

o   Advisor for Master of Science in Environmental Science: Ecosystems option and graduate certificate

o   Advisor for Master of Social Science: Society & Environment track

o   Advisor for Master of Social Science: International Studies track

o   Member: Recruitment, International, & Diversity committee for Master of Science in Environmental Science program

o   Member: Sustainability Group, College of Liberal Arts and Science, curriculum and seminar sub-committees

o   Member: Math & Science Learning and Education group (university-wide)

o   Invited Member, Strategic Planning Committee, Colorado Geographic Alliance (2010-2012)

o   External Evaluator: Master of Advanced Study in Geographic Education program at Arizona State University (2008-Present)

o   Book reviewer for:

o   Invited Reviewer for Photographs Across Time. Bentham Science Publishers, 2012.

o   Invited Reviewer for Explorations into a Dynamic Process-Oriented Soil Science, by D.S. Frink. Elsevier, 2011, 126 pages.

o   McKnights Physical Geography: a Landscape Appreciation, by D. Hess. Prentice Hall.

o   Invited Manuscript Reviewer for:

o   Arid Lands and Research Management (Taylor and Francis)

o   Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (Wiley)

o   Environmental Management (Springer)

o   Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (Springer)

o   Geocarto International (Taylor and Francis)

o   Geomorphologie: Relief, Processus, Environnment (Journal of French Group of Geomorphologists, sponsored by the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG)

o   Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development (Academic Journals)

o   Journal of Geography (Taylor & Francis)

o   Journal of Geography and Regional Planning (Academic Journals)

o   Assessment Coordinator for Landform Processes online geomorphology course (2008)

o   Graduate Assistant, Arizona Geographic Alliance (2004-08)

o   Judge, AzJSHS (Arizona Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, 2008)

o   Member, Department of Geography Colloquium Committee (student-led, 2005-06)

o   Judge (Botany), CARSEF (Central Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair), grades 7-12 (2005)

o   Volunteer, SEE ASU (Science, Engineering, Environment), annual K-12 two-day outreach event (2005 & 2006)

o   Graduate Assistant, Arizona Geographic Alliance (2004-08)

o   Secretary, Committee to form North American Center for Transborder Studies (NACTS, 2004-06)

o   Chair, Curriculum Committee, Pre-Medical Program, St. George’s University

o   Voting member, School of Medicine Academic Progress Committee

o   Voting member, School of Arts & Sciences General Education Curriculum Committee

o   Voting member, School of Arts & Sciences Academic Progress Committee

o   Co-Chair, Assessment, Academic Advisement Center and One-Stop-Shop

o   Chair, Mud Volleyball Tournament, Homecoming Week, Student Activities

o   Member, Enrollment Task Force Committee

o   Voting member, Administrative Systems Users Group (university-wide software and hardware implementation)

o   Chair, Hospitality and Escorts, Crystal Crest Awards

 

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS (Member, unless otherwise noted):

o   Specialty Groups: Biogeography, Cultural geography, Geography Education, Geomorphology, History of Geography, and Latin America

o   Commissions: Theory and Philosophy of Advising, Faculty Advising, Assessment of Advising

o   Interest Group: Study Abroad Advising

 

FIELD EXPERIENCE:

Plan, Direct, and Lead scientific and educational excursions:

o   Tokyo and Imperial Japan (2012-2013, and alternating years)

o   Physical Geography of London & Paris (2011-2012)

Western USA (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah):

US/Mexico Borderlands (with D.D. Arreola), ASU:

South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay)

Middle East (Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, Jordan, Turkey, Greece)

 

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: