Department Faculty
Joy Mast
Professor of Geography
Dr. Mast spent nine years on the faculty at Northern
Arizona University before her Carthage appointment. She teaches courses in
physical geography, biogeography, soil studies, and environmental studies,
and heads the Dendroecology lab. She earned her B.S. in both geography and
zoology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and her M.S and Ph.D.
in geography from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Among her current
research projects, she is studying vegetation change in relation to natural
and anthropogenic disturbances (fire, insect epidemics, and grazing), and ecotonal
shifts in biome distribution (elevational changes at timberlines, latitudinal
changes). She has garnered numerous grants for her work. Her prior research
has been published in a number of professional journals, including Journal
of Biogeography, Physical Geography, and Ecological Applications. She has served
as an elected member on the Association of American Geographers Biogeography
Specialty Group National Board Committee, given numerous talks at national
and international professional meetings, organized “Biocomplexity in
Pinyon-Juniper Ecosystems,” a National Science Foundation conference,
and was the featured speaker at many colloquia.
Kurt Piepenburg
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College, Professor of Geography
Dean Piepenburg teaches courses in geomorphology, meteorology, physical geography,
remote sensing, and field methods. He has served as chair of the department
of geography and the conservation program and has received a Carthage research
grant. He also served as Carthage Dean of Students from 1990 through 1994.
Mr. Piepenburg has directed two student field experiences on the eastern Caribbean
island of Antigua, during which students completed field analyses of abandoned
Holocene beaches and water quality in English Harbour. He previously received
an appointment as a visiting scientist on a natural resources project in Mexico
which was funded by a National Science Foundation grant of D. Miller of The
State University of New York at Cortland. His current research involves environmental
impact assessment and has led to articles published in Physical Geography and
Soviet Geography. Mr. Piepenburg also has been involved in consulting in the
private sector. He earned his B.A. from Carthage, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from
the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he was honored with University
fellowships. Mr. Piepenburg came to Carthage in 1984.
Julio Rivera
Chair, Department of Geography, Associate Professor of Geography
Julio Rivera teaches courses in geographic information systems (GIS); satellite
imagery interpretation; and urban, economic, and cultural geography. He administers
and directs the Geographic Information Systems Labratory. His research focuses
on the development of suburban communities and how the design of the built
environment enhances or impedes community life. During a sabbatical in the
2004-05 academic year he is working with the Center for Environmental Studies
at Arizona State University examining trends in the development of the urban
fringe in the Phoenix metropolitan area. He has traveled with students during
J-term to Nicaragua. He came to Carthage in 1997 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,
where he taught geography and worked as a GIS specialist. He earned his Ph.D.
from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Phi Kappa Phi), where he held fellowships
for three years. Dr. Rivera earned his B.A. in journalism and theology at Marquette
University, and M.A. in higher education and student affairs at The Ohio State
University. Mr. Rivera is the author of a number of papers and has presented
his work at regional and national meetings of the Association of American Geographers,
National Council on Geographic Education, and the North American Cartographic
Information Society. He currently serves on the executive board and is chair
of the social science division of the Council on Undergraduate Research. He
is the recipient of the 2002 Carthage College Distinguished Teaching Award.
Wenjie Sun
Assistant Professor of Geography
Matthew Zorn
Associate Professor of Geography
Matt. Zorn has been an instructor of geography at West Georgia College, Catawba
Valley Community College, and has taught geography courses at the University
of Florida continuously since 1992. His teaching and research interests focus
on climatology, environmental conservation, meteorology, natural environmental
hazards, hydrology, fluvial/coastal geomorphology and quantitative methods.
In addition to his teaching experience, he worked as a GIS analyst for a consulting
firm, he directed a GIS and remote sensing lab for a minorities upward bound
program, and he served for four years as a park ranger/interpreter in the Blue
Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and the Chaco Culture National Historical Park
in New Mexico. He has chaired several sessions, presented nearly a dozen papers
and published five essays on the national level of geographic research. Mr.
Zorn earned his Ph.D. in geography from the University of Florida, his M.A.
and B.A. in geography, and a second B.A. in interdisciplinary/environmental
studies from Appalachian State University.
