Giving Day is April 17!
If you have enjoyed reading about EEGS students and alumni, please consider making a gift to the EEGS Department in any amount for Giving Day on April 17, 2025. Donors who give to the EEGS Department Fund through the NMU Foundation support trips to academic conferences, internships, research opportunities, and scholarships. Help us help our students so that they are better prepared for the future.
Naito receives Faculty Emerging Leadership Award
April 3, 2025
Dr. Adam Naito was the recipient of the 2024-2025 NMU Faculty Emerging Leadership Award at the Celebration of Excellence in Teaching, Leadership and Scholarship Awards reception on Wednesday, April 2. The award "recognizes and honors junior faculty who since coming to the university have demonstrated exceptional leadership attributes on campus and the broader community." He previously was one of two recipients of the 2023-2024 NMU Excellence in Teaching Award.
Naito joins Dr. Ryan Stock as one of two EEGS faculty members that have received the Faculty Emerging Leadership award.
Pictured right is Naito with Dr. Robert Winn, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Anne Dahlman, Provost of the University.
EEGS alumna Bless honored as 'Twenty Under 40' Award finalist
February 14, 2025
Julie Bless (BS '10 Environmental Conservation, Biology minor) was honored as a "Twenty Under 40 Awards" finalist by the Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network at a January 24, 2025 ceremony.
Bless currently serves as the statewide wildlife education and volunteer coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. She develops innovative educational programs and service opportunities that inspire stewardship of Nevada's rich wildlife heritage.
Her academic foundation in environmental conservation from NMU, combined with her experience as a backcountry ranger at Baxter State Park, ignited a lifelong commitment to conservation. Her career spans impactful roles in environmental education and public engagement across the U.S., including positions with the National Park Service, the International Crane Foundation, and the National Audubon Society.
Please visit Northern Today to learn more about Julie.
Professor Emeritus Dr. Fillmore C. F. Earney supports EEGS students
February 10, 2025
Professor Emeritus Dr. Fillmore C. F. Earney recently made a generous contribution to the Fillmore C. F. Earney Endowment. He taught in NMU’s Department of Geography from 1966–1996. With Giving Day approaching on April 17, Dr. Earney encourages other supporters to donate to the EEGS Department in the spirit of helping current and future students.
Dr. Earney shared these thoughts: "To me, places of learning have always been sacred, whether it was a 1936 countryside, on-room school, where three of us were the entire student body whose basic tools were a hand-held slate and chalk, or today's computer-driven mega-university (NMU), with which I have been associated since 1966. The quest for knowledge is our sacred duty, to make the world more understandable and productive, without degrading Earth's biological and physical systems. Supporting NMU's students and programs furthers these goals."
Earth Science alumnus Dr. Frederick “Fritz” E. Nelson BS ’73 established an endowment in honor of his influential professor, Dr. Earney, who was a Professor of Geography at NMU from 1966 to 1996. Mary Kelly BS ’24 is the most recent recipient of support from this fund. Mary provided this update about her path since graduating in May 2024.
“I received a scholarship from the Fillmore C. F. Earney Endowment as a senior at NMU in May 2024. The following Fall, I began my master's degree in Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan (U-M). Within my degree, I am pursuing dual concentrations in geospatial data sciences and ecosystem science and management. Funds from the Earney scholarship will support my travel this summer to the Northern Great Plains (NGP) region of the U.S., where I will engage in fieldwork for my master's capstone project. The project is a group effort between an interdisciplinary team of five U-M master's students and our collaborators at the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance, a Native-led non-profit focused on co-stewardship of National grasslands with the surrounding Tribes. I will produce geospatial tools to assist Tribes in the NGP with grasslands conservation and wildlife corridor analysis. While I am excited to get to work, I also recognize that it is an honor to work closely with and learn from Indigenous Peoples—for this, I am grateful. The Earney scholarship and my experiences at NMU have contributed to my success thus far as a graduate student, and I very much look forward to the remainder of my studies.”
NMU’s Eta Chi chapter of GTU recognized as 2024 Honors Chapter
February 8, 2025
NMU’s Eta Chi was one of only five chapters of Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographical Honor Society to earn a 2024 Honors Chapter Award for promoting geography within the EEGS Department and beyond.
With the support of strong student leaders and participation of dozens of new members who join each year, GTU Eta Chi organizes and hosts multiple events to benefit Northern students. The graduate school panel in November featured very helpful advice from GTU member Mary Kelly '24 (Environmental Science; current Master of Science student at University of Michigan) and Makaylee Kuhn '23 (Environmental Science; current NMU Master of Interdisciplinary Studies student).
This winter GTU will host map giveaways and a career panel to help current students explore options for future employment. GTU members are collaborating with several other organizations across campus to host exciting activities for the 11th annual Anderton’s Earth Week, April 20–26. Check Northern Today for updates later this spring.
Zimney inspired by work at The Aldo Leopold Foundation
February 8, 2025
After her May graduation, Ariana Zimney (BS '24 Environmental Science) took a position at The Aldo Leopold Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin. There she works as an Education and Communication Fellow, hosting interpretive tours of the famous Leopold Family Shack & Farm, facilitating in-person and virtual educational programs, and restoring native ecosystems through seed planting, invasive species removal, and prescribed fires. Through these many avenues of conservation, Ariana has applied skills picked up from courses in Environmental Science, Public Speaking, and Communication, and her involvement with the local Marquette community while a student at NMU. Her drive, in both professional and personal endeavors, is to educate and encourage personal and community growth in understanding how humans and the land can live in community with each other. Ariana shared an inspirational quote:
"The objective is to teach the student to see the land, to understand what [they] see, and enjoy what [they] understand." — Aldo Leopold
Legg's teaching and research are intertwined
February 8, 2025
Dr. Robert Legg joined the faculty at NMU in 2006 after earning his PhD at the University of Dublin Trinity College. He teaches GIS, Quantitative Methods, Cartographic Design, and Spatial Analysis. This past year Dr. Legg travelled extensively for research, professional development, and presentations at academic conferences. We asked Dr. Legg to update us on how his teaching and scholarship interests are intertwined.
What is your background?
I'm from Western Canada. Growing up in Coastal British Columbia, I loved being surrounded by the sea and mountains, which inspired me to study geography as an undergraduate. I also had a strong interest in computers and took several computer science courses during my undergraduate degree. Naturally, I wanted to combine these interests, which led me to pursue a career in digital mapping.
Funding and opportunity brought me to the British Isles, where I began my PhD at the University of Dublin. My research was part of a collaborative project that connected me with the Department of Archaeology at the University of Galway. I had the opportunity to dig into the work literally and figuratively, gaining hands-on experience while integrating GIS into archaeological research. After completing my PhD, I joined the faculty at Northern Michigan University (NMU), where I continue to pursue my interests in GIS, digital mapping, and interdisciplinary research.
What do you like about working at NMU?
I enjoy working with NMU students and colleagues. Each year, we welcome new students with fresh interests and perspectives, keeping things engaging and dynamic. NMU students are hardworking, honest, and task-oriented, making teaching and mentoring a rewarding experience. My colleagues are supportive and collaborative, fostering a positive and engaging academic environment.
Tell us a bit about your current scholarly work.
Currently, I am involved in several different projects. I have been actively engaged in environmental monitoring by collaborating with colleagues from my PhD on a project in Uganda. This work led to a new collaboration with a faculty member from Uganda, Dr. Justine Nakintu, who is visiting NMU this year to map suitability of cultivating jackfruit in Uganda.
Another project focuses on computer mapping and GIS. With colleagues from Trinity College Dublin and the University of Texas at Arlington, we are developing a project that examines the early transatlantic cable and its impact on society. We view this historical technology as a "distant mirror" that reflects how rapid advancements in communication continue to shape our world, including the evolution of GIS technologies.
Speaking of new technology, the EEGS Department recently acquired state-of-the-art Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) equipment. Alongside colleague Dr. Scott Demel from NMU's Department of Sociology and Anthropology, we will deploy this technology this summer at NMU's 2025 Archaeological Field School on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. This initiative will provide students with hands-on experience in geophysical survey techniques while further enhancing our research capabilities.
You traveled recently to present your research. Where were the conferences and what did you gain from the experiences?
It has been a busy year of travel, presenting research, engaging with scholars across disciplines, and exploring new developments in GIS, historical geography, and archaeology.
In April 2024 at the American Association of Geographers (AAG) conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, I presented AI-driven archaeological predictive modeling work. I attended the ESRI User Conference in San Diego, learning about the latest advancements in GIS, AI, and geospatial analytics. In August 2024, I traveled to Dublin, Ireland, for the 35th International Geographical Congress. I shared research on early undersea telegraph cables and their impact on global communication, trade, and political boundaries—a historical parallel to today’s digital infrastructure. A few months later, in October 2024, I presented at the Social Science History Association conference in Toronto, Canada, further expanding discussions on how historical GIS can help us understand long-term technological shifts in global trade and communication.
These experiences refined my work and provided meaningful collaborations and discussions with experts from around the world. I’m excited to integrate new insights into future projects and classroom discussions.
Where do you see the field of GIS heading?
The most prominent indicator of where GIS technologies are headed is today's technology. As advancements in AI, automation, and geospatial computing continue to reshape the field, I see students pursuing two distinct pathways:
1. Developing the technology—To advance GIS capabilities, we must understand more deeply how GIS works, focusing on coding, automation, AI integration, and geospatial computing.
2. Applying the technology – Leveraging GIS tools and methodologies will help us solve real-world problems in urban planning, environmental monitoring, archaeology, business analytics, and emergency response.
Both paths offer exciting career opportunities. As GIS tools become increasingly AI-driven and user-friendly, the demand will grow for professionals who can develop these systems or effectively apply them across diverse industries. I encourage students to explore the technical and applied sides of GIS, whether by learning coding and automation or focusing on data visualization and analysis. With the rapid evolution of GIS technologies, students who develop a strong spatial-thinking mindset will be well-prepared for careers in a wide range of fields.
What are your hobbies and interests?
Goodness, who has time for hobbies these days, but I do enjoy a good book, a good movie and I like to get outside either skiing or hiking.
Ives returns to EEGS to teach historical geology
January 3, 2025
Dr. Libby Ives (BS ’13, Earth Science) moved back to the Marquette area for a position with the Michigan Geological Survey. The EEGS Department is fortunate that she will teach GC 365 Historical Geology in Winter 2025. While an undergraduate, Dr. Ives participated in a field course in Iceland, which opened the door to graduate school. Her interest in rocks, landforms, and glacial history has led her to some amazing opportunities around the world. Read on to learn about her journey so far.
What was your major/minor, and when did you graduate from NMU?
I graduated from NMU in the summer of 2013 with a B.S. in Earth Science and a minor in History.
Where are you from and what brought you to NMU as a student?
I grew up in the Milwaukee suburbs, and was initially attracted to NMU because of the setting and to have amazing outdoor recreation opportunities right out my back door. Ultimately, receiving the Presidential Harden Scholarship made my decision to attend NMU very straight forward.
What is your current professional position and what is your focus?
I am currently working as a geologist for the newly reinvigorated Michigan Geological Survey out of our office in the Upper Peninsula Geological Repository in Sawyer. I am currently working on a project to map the Pleistocene (glacial) geology and potential aggregate resources for the whole state of Michigan.
What was your trajectory from majoring in the EEGS Department to your current work?
It has been a fun road for sure! From 2013–2016, I worked on a Master of Science in geomorphology while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Iowa State University. My research focused on trying to understand subglacial landform development at modern glaciers in Iceland using environmental magnetism and geotechnical methods.
From 2016–2017, my husband (Patrick Ives, also an EEGS alum!) and I moved to Emmet County, Michigan, where I worked various seasonal jobs in agritourism, landscaping, environmental conservation, and bartending at a microbrewery. In 2017, Patrick and I also established Bliss Valley Fam, a small, sustainable vegetable operation, and I decided to pursue my Ph.D.
From 2017–2021, I worked toward a Ph.D. in Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and helped on the farm as I was able. My Ph.D. research focused on describing and interpreting the sedimentology and stratigraphy of sedimentary rocks deposited by glaciers 300 million year ago. I was fortunate to conduct field work in Tasmania, Antarctica, and Argentina for this project. From 2018–2020, I also work part time for the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey on a Pleistocene geologic map of Jefferson County, Wisconsin. In the summer of 2020, I worked as a hydrologic technician on the East Zone of the Hiawatha National Forest. During the later part of my Ph.D., I worked as a geology intern for the U.S. Geological Survey on the Great Lakes Geologic Mapping project, which transitioned into a full-time position after I completed my degree.
From 2022–2024, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to work as a postdoctoral researcher on the Mars 2020 (Perseverance rover) mission at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. In that role I served as a subject matter expert on sedimentary geology, assisted in rover operations, and completed NASA’s Planetary Science Summer School. In the summer of 2023, I also had the opportunity to sail on an International Ocean Discovery Program expedition to Greenland to collect, describe, and study Cenozoic glacial marine sediments that record the history of the Greenland Ice Sheet.
In 2024, I accepted my current position with the Michigan Geological Survey, which allowed me to fulfil a career goal of working in the UP as a geologist!
What are your hobbies and interests?
I try to stay active by running, cycling, lifting, and doing yoga. I play disc golf somewhat competitively, and am excited to get to know the UP disc golf community. I also enjoy activities like reading, knitting, playing video games, playing music, hanging out with my pets, and gardening.
Welcome back to NMU, Dr. Ives!
Dillman hired as Kent County Waste Reduction Educator
December 18, 2024
NMU alumna Emma Dillman (BS '21, Environmental Studies and Sustainability) was recently hired as a waste reduction educator for the Kent County Department of Public Works. She is featured in a Waste Today publication story. Emma will help area residents and businesses learn how to reduce and repurpose waste. Dillman has worked in solid waste for years, most recently in Indiana as an environmental educator, where she helped students of all ages understand recycling, waste and their roles in protecting the environment. She previously was an intern shared between the Western Michigan Environmental Action Council and the Kent County Department of Public Works' Recycling & Education Center.
Please visit Northern Today to learn more about Emma.
