The Geography Department is very pleased to welcome thirteen new graduate students this year. These students, and their undergraduate colleges are: Yang Bao (China Agricultural University), Dulce Bueno (Binghamton University), Nathaniel Dede-Bamfo (University of Ghana), Rina Desai (Binghamton University), Ben Fischer (Binghamton University), Adam Mathews (SUNY Cortland), Matt Panfel (Binghamton University), Patricia Pomeroy (SUNY Oneonta), Ashley Ramnes (SUNY Oneonta), Niurka Ramos (Binghamton University), Matt Ryan (Binghamton University), Nao Saito (University of South Florida) and Katie Wilmer (Binghamton University).

We are also happy to announce Florence Margai has stepped down as Department Chair and is enjoying a much deserved sabbatical leave. She has been replaced by Burrell Montz. We wish to thank Florence for her able service and welcome Burrell.

Burrell Montz served as Co-Director of the 30th Applied Geography Conference which was October 17 to 20 2007, in Indianapolis, IN. Read a report of our Department's participation below and visit the conference website.

A number of our undergraduate majors received academic honors this past spring. Ben Fischer received the Department's Frazier-Henry Award, Gary Monitz received the Department's Distinguished Senior Award, and Molly Ariotti was awarded the Department's Gorman Scholarship. In addition, Christopher Powell received both the Chancellor's and University Awards for Student Excellence. We also wish to acknowledge that Christopher Powell was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

Our Department will co-sponsor (and John Frazier will co-direct) the Fourth Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference which is scheduled for November 6 to 8, 2008 in Miami, FL. Visit the conference website at www.rep-conference.binghamton.edu