Began teaching at NMU in 2014

Areas of Specialization

Human Geography, Cultural Geography, Ethnic Geography, Urban Geography

Education
  • B.A., University of Toledo, 2008
  • M.A., University of Toledo, 2010
  • Ph.D., Kent State University, 2014
Courses Taught
Academic and Scholarly Interests
  • Human Geography
  • Cultural Geography
  • Urban Geography
  • Ethnic Geography
Regions
  • European Union
  • Western Europe
  • Central and Eastern Europe
Research Interests
  • Migration
  • Diaspora
  • Digital Diaspora
  • Globalization
  • Placemaking
  • Ethnic Neighborhoods
Current and Recent Faculty-Student Research Projects
Current and Recent Community Projects
Publications
  • Kusek W. and N. Wise. 2014. Artistic Perceptions of Poles in London. Scottish Geographical Journal 130 (2): 99–115. 
  • Kusek W. and S. Smiley. 2014. Gender, Positionality, and Place: Exploring Cultural Geography through Interviews in an Urban Setting. Journal of Cultural Geography 31(2)14. pp. 152-165. 
  • Crane N.J. and W. Kusek. 2014. Embracing Dissensus: Reflections on Contemporary Research Strategies in Cultural Geography. Introduction to Special Issue. Journal of Cultural Geography 31(2)14. pp. 121-126. 
  • Kusek W. 2015. Shifting the Spotlight: Suggesting a Pragmatic Approach to Studying the Polish LGBT Community. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability 8(1)15. pp. 82-96. 
  • Kusek W. 2015. Evaluating the Struggles with International Students and Local Community Participation. Journal of International Students 5(2)15. pp. 121-131. 
  • Kusek W. 2015. Transnational Identities and Immigrant Spaces of Polish ‘Eurostars’ in London, UK. Journal of Cultural Geography 32(1)15. pp. 102-114. 
  • Korson C. and W. Kusek. 2015. The Comparison of a Thematic vs. Regional Approach to Teaching a World Geography Course. Journal of Geography (DOI: 10.1080/00221341.2015.1076498) 
  • Forrest J. and W. Kusek. 2016. Human Capital and the Structural Integration of Polish Immigrants in Australia in the First, Second and Third Generations. Australian Geographer. (DOI: 10.1080/00049182.2016.1148103) 
  • Kusek W. 2016. Polish(ing) My Identity. Book Chapter in Navigating Geography and Self: Transnational Geographers Disrupting Boundaries in a Global Age. Alan P. Marcus (Eds). Lexington Publishing. 
  • Korson C. and W. Kusek. 2017. Exploring Migration through Popular Media and Fieldwork. Book chapter in Looking Around--Teaching in Postsecondary Schools With Popular Culture. 
  • Kusek W. 2017. How do Polish immigrants in London reinforce local communities and influence the local economy? Local Economy 32(7)17. 
  • Kusek. W. and N. Wise. (eds.). 2019. Human Geography and Professional Mobility: International Experiences, Critical Reflections, Practical Insights. Routledge Studies in Human Geography.  
  • Kusek. W. 2019. Ukrainian Migrants in Poland: Socio-Economic Inclusion or Exclusion? Local Economy 34(7)19. 739–744. 
  • Kusek. W. 2020. Returning Migrants as Force to Urban Transformation: Case Study from Poznan, Poland. Book chapter in Rajiv Thakur ‘Urban and Regional Planning and Development: 20th century Forms and 21st century Transformations’. Chapter 29. 
  • Kusek W. 2021. Alternatives to Study Abroad: Internationalization at home as a key strategy to providing opportunities for cultural and international exposure. A book chapter in K. Bista and P. Gesing. Chapter 11 in "Critical Perspectives on Equity and Social Mobility in Study Abroad Interrogating Issues of Unequal Access and Outcomes."  
  • Forrest J. and W. Kusek. 2020. Assimilating the Diaspora of the Americas in Australia: An Intergenerational Analysis. Geographical Review. 
  • Kusek W. 2023. Home 2 Home: Travel, Research, and My Hybrid Identity. In QRCA Views (Qualitative Research Consultants Association Magazine). 
  • Kusek. W. 2024. Poland as an Emerging Immigration Hub in Central and Eastern Europe in Brunn’s Geography of Time, Place, Movement and Networks. Volume 5: Mapping Women and Family Journeys Springer. (Forthcoming)
Web Articles
Service
  • NMU Provost Fellow (2024 - 2026)
  • NMU First Year Mentoring Pilot Program. Faculty Mentor. (2023) 
  • NMU Senate Committee on Internationalization. Member (Fall 2021 – present)
  • NMU Presidential Learning Network. Invited Member (February-May 2023) 
  • NMU Strategic Doing Sessions (May 2023) 
  • NMU Co-Chair of DEIB Committee for Interim Strategic Plan (2022)
  • NMU Faculty Diversity Liaison to the Office of the President (2021 – 2022)
  • NMU Dean of Students Retention Committee (2019 - present)
  • UNITED Conference Chair (2015, 2016, 2022)
  • AAG EGSG, Board Member (2018-2023)
  • AAG 2016 WL-EL Meeting, Conference Co-Chair (2016)
  • AAG Committee on the Status of Women in Geography, Nominated Member (2016 - 2018)
  • AAG Committee on the Status of Women in Geography, Chair (2018 - 2019)
Awards
  • 2020-21 Excellence in Teaching Award 
Professional Development
  • Women In Leadership: Online Program For Emerging Leaders. Harvard Division of Continuing Education. Professional and Executive Development. 2024.
  • Strategic Doing Practitioner Training. The Agile Strategy Lab. The University of North Alabama. 2023.
  • Ensuring Equitable Student Success in Higher Education. Online Program. Harvard Graduate School of Education. 2022.
  • The Online Classroom: Strategies for Higher Ed Teaching and Learning. Online Program. Harvard Graduate School of Education. 2021. 
  • Instructional Moves: Making Classroom Discussions More Inclusive and Effective. Online Program. Harvard Graduate School of Education. 2020.
dr. weronika kusek

Weronika Kusek

Associate Professor

wkusek@nmu.edu
906-227-2989

Office Location:
3111 Weston Hall