Department of Geography

Geography Faculty

Joseph Manzo joined the Concord University faculty in 1978. He holds the Ph.D. Degree in Geography from the University of Kansas. His primary teaching responsibilities are in cultural geography and the regional geography of North America. Co-coordinator of the West Virginia Geographic Alliance, Professor Manzo works closely with the National Geographic Society and the West Virginia Department of Education to promote  geographic education. Dr. Manzo was Chairman of the Division of Social Sciences from 1999 to 2002 and is currently Concord's Director of International Programs. His wide-ranging accomplishments earned him the West Virginia Professor of the Year Award in 2006. 

George Towers came to Concord in 1992 after earning the Ph.D. Degree in Geography from the University of Arizona. Dr. Towers teaches courses in human geography and computer cartography. His contributions to the program include the development of the curriculum and teaching facilities in Cartography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In addition to conducting contracted cartographic research, Dr. Towers also has published research in several subfields of human geography. Dr. Towers was Chairman of the Division of Social Sciences from 2005 to 2008 and is currently an interim Associate Academic Dean. 

Jan Westerik has been a full-time member of the Concord University faculty since 1991. He received the M.A. and completed coursework towards the doctoral degree in Geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Professor Westerik has made vital contributions to Concord’s offerings in physical geography. In addition to teaching a wide range of courses in the subject including Meteorology and Climatology, the Geography of Soils, and Sustainable Development, he has greatly enhanced introductory physical geography by increasing the lab science component of the course and receiving grant moneys to purchase lab equipment. His efforts have also resulted in his authorship of a student manual to accompany one of the leading textbooks in the subject. 

Associated Faculty in Geosciences

Joe Allen completed a B.S. degree in geological sciences from Michigan State University (1988), an M.S. degree in geology from East Carolina University (1990), and a Ph.D. in geological sciences from the University of Kentucky (1994). He is currently Associate Professor of Geology at Concord University and also serves as Chairman of the Department of Physical Sciences and the Division of Natural Sciences. Prior to joining the faculty of Concord University, he taught at Alice Lloyd College. He also spent one year as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Structural Geology and Tectonics laboratory of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. As an undergraduate, he worked for three years as a chemical lab technician in support of polymer research and development at Ciba-Geigy Corporation in East Lansing, Michigan. He discovered that getting paid to deform and break plastics and adhesives in the thermal-mechanical testing lab was quite entertaining, which may have foreshadowed his interest in broken, crushed, and molten rocks.

David Matchen specializes in sedimentary and petroleum Geology. Dr. Matchen is an expert in the geology of West Virginia, having studied the state’s mountainous formations as a member of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey’s staff before coming to Concord in 2004. While with the Geological and Economic Survey, he earned the Ph.D. degree from WVU. Professor Matchen has a deep interest in geology education and contributed to the Survey’s RockCamp K-12 professional education program.

Adjunct Geography Faculty

Debbie Gallaher, a faculty member at Shady Spring High School, teaches introductory geography courses at the Byrd Center in Beckley. Ms. Gallaher is a leading and longstanding member of the West Virginia Geographic Alliance. Her many contributions to geographic education  have been recognized with a Distinguished Teaching Award from the National Geographic Society. 

Linda Poff teaches introductory geography courses. Ms. Poff earned the M.A. in Social Studies Education from Salem International University and is a social studies teacher at Straley School in Princeton, WV. Since the inception of the West Virginia Geographic Alliance in 1992, Ms. Poff has been a leading member and teacher consultant. Her excellent work in geographic education has been recognized with a Milken Award and a Cram Award.

Jason Roberts teaches GIS, GPS, and Appalachian Studies courses. A 1999 Concord graduate, Mr. Roberts received the Masters Degree in Geography from Virginia Tech University. He is GIS Director for West Virginia Region One Planning and Development Council in Princeton, an Appalachian Regional Commission agency.
 

Last Updated: 10/27/09 GT