Russell Graves

Dr. Graves believes that geographic awareness plays a key role in every person’s life. This recognition of geography’s importance informs how he designs and organizes courses, delivers lectures, and establishes class activities and assessments. His goal is to encourage learning beyond the classroom well after a semester’s end. To him, the greatest compliment is seeing that a course he has taught has sparked a student’s ambition to explore the world further, whether academically or simply as a more informed and compassionate human.

• Weather and Climate

• Natural Landscapes

• Human/Cultural Geography

Dr. Graves’ research specialization focuses upon historical geography and landscape modification, particularly related to the economic and environmental aspects of agricultural land use in rural communities in the American West and Great Plains.

• Intermittent Test Administrator Professionalism Recognition Award, Kansas City Military Entrance Processing Station, 2017

• Educational Testing Service (ETS) Recognition of Excellence Award, Praxis II Social Studies Content, 2016

• Phi Beta Kappa, 1995

• University of Kansas Chapter of Mortar Board, 1994

• Gamma Theta Upsilon, International Geographical Honor Society, 1993

• Workshop training in Google Earth Engine

• Intermediate certification in ArcGIS 10

Caldas, M.M., J.S. Bergtold, J.M. Peterson, R.W. Graves, D. Earnhart, S. Gong, B. Lauer, and J.C. Brown, “Factors Affecting Farmers’ Willingness to Grow Alternative Biofuel Feedstocks across Kansas,” Biomass and Bioenergy 66 (2014): 223-231

Peterson, J.M., M.M. Caldas, J.S. Bergtold, J.S., B.S. Sturm, R.W. Graves, D.H. Earnhart, E.A. Hanley, and J.C. Brown, “Economic Linkages to Changing Landscapes,” Environmental Management 53 (2014): 55-66

“Corn-Based Ethanol Prospects for Southeastern South Dakota Farmers amid Changing Federal EV and Biofuel Mandates.” Great Plains/Rocky Mountains Division of the American Association of Geographers Conference, South Dakota State University, October 7, 2023

“The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.” Invited Presentation, Snow College (UT), October 6, 2020

“Lamb Jams, Side Rolls, and Agricultural Prospects in Sanpete County, Utah.” Great Plains/Rocky Mountains Division of the American Association of Geographers Conference, University of Kansas, October 12, 2019

“Stateline Cities: the Economic, Political, and Cultural Dimensions of Border Communities in Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.” Association of Pacific Coast Geographers Conference, University of Nevada-Reno, October 27, 2018

“The ‘Almost’ Great Plains: Examining Farmland Conservation Practices in the Kansas Flint Hills.” Emporia State University Department of Social Sciences, November 18, 2016

“Exploring the North American Ethnic Mosaic.” University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources, May 11, 2016

“Geographic Perspectives on the Historically All-Black Towns of Oklahoma.” Oklahoma African American Hall of Fame Grand Opening, Clearview, OK, June 6, 2015

“The Conservation Reserve Program and the Changing Kansas Agricultural Landscape.” Kansas State University Department of Geography Lecture Series, November 18, 2011

“Cropping Decisions, Risk Management Practices, and Willingness to Supply Biomass.” (with Dr. Jeff Peterson) Risk and Profit Conference, Kansas State University, August 19, 2011

“In Retrospect: A Journey through the Historically All-Black Towns of Oklahoma.” Black Towns of Oklahoma exhibit, sponsored by Cameron University and Oklahoma Humanities Council, February 20, 2009

“Landscape Risks Realized: the Aftermath of the June 11, 2008, Tornado in Chapman, Kansas.” Pioneer America Society Meeting (in conjunction with the Eastern Historical Geography Association) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 17, 2008