Dr. Eric Fournier, department chair of the geography department, was recently named the Vice President for Research for the National Council of Geographic Education (NCGE). As the organization's vice president, Dr. Fournier's role is to promote research in geography education. In 2012, Dr. Fournier will assume the role of NCGE President. "The NCGE is working to increase the visibility of geography in the nation's schools and to improve the quality of geography that is taught and learned," Dr. Fournier said. "I'm hoping to work with the group's leadership to continue to advance the work of the organization and to increase geographic literacy in the United States." 

Dr. Fournier was also asked to lead a group of researchers working for the International Network for Teaching and Learning Geography in Higher Education (INLT) on a project that explores issues of curriculum change in geography programs. Dr. Fournier will lead a group of international geographers as they write an article for publication in a geography journal. "This project links geographers from different parts of the world on a common project," Dr. Fournier said. "We can all learn from the different contexts and experiences of our colleagues and hopefully use some of that collective wisdom to improve teaching at Samford."

Dr. Fournier received yet another honor when Samford's geography department was chosen to host the annual meeting of the Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers (SEDAAG) in November 2010. Over 450 geographers from around the region will descend upon Birmingham to present their research. Dr. Fournier is the chair of the Local Arrangements Committee, which is in charge of bringing the meeting to Birmingham.