About The Arizona Geographic Alliance
The Arizona Geographic Alliance (AzGA) was founded in 1992 as part of a national network of state geography alliances sponsored by the National Geographic Society. AzGA currently has over 3,000 members and more than 175 teachers in its Teacher Consultant leadership cadre.
The purpose of the Arizona Geographic Alliance is to strengthen geography education in Arizona. We are funded through grants from the National Geographic Society. We also receive money from the Arizona Department of Education. In addition, we receive support from Arizona State University's Department of Geography where the AzGA office is located. We are proud to partner with these agencies as well as the Arizona Council on Economic Education, Arizona Foundation on Legal Services and Education, and the Arizona Council for the Social Studies, as well as other national and state groups
Membership in this organization is free.
Cathy Davis
Arizona State University
Office Manager
School of Geographical Sciences
Box 870104
Tempe, Arizona 85287-0104
Voice: +1 480 965 5361
Fax: +1 480 965 8313
E-mail: cathy.davis@asu.edu
Ronald Dorn
Arizona State University
Professor of Geography
Co-coordinator
School of Geographical Sciences
Box 870104
Tempe, Arizona 85287-0104
Voice: +1 480 965 5361
Fax: +1 480 965 8313
E-mail: ronald.dorn@asu.edu
Gale B. Ekiss
Arizona State University
Co-coordinator
School of Geographical Sciences
Box 870104
Tempe, Arizona 85287-0104
Voice: +1 480 965 5361
Fax: +1 480 965 8313
E-mail: GBEkiss@aol.com
Coordinator Profiles
Dr. Ronald Dorn
Ron is a product of the California school system. Graduating from University of California at Berkeley with his bachelor's degree, Ron majored in geography. He also completed his M.A. degree at U.C.Berkeley and his Ph.D. degree at U.C.L.A. Ron's research interests are in geomorphology, specifically how rocks decay. Ron started volunteering on Alliance projects in 1995, slowly learning the ropes. When Bob Mings retired, Ron became an Alliance Co-coordinator in 1998. Ron's interests in geographic education rest in helping teachers develop professionally, but he also enjoys working with kids in the classroom and in the field. His current projects within the Alliance include the development of a masters program of geographic education for teachers.
Gale Olp Ekiss
Gale Olp Ekiss has been a Co-coordinator for the Arizona Geographic Alliance since 2001. Gale has a Bachelors of Education degree from the University of Arizona and a Masters of Education degree from Arizona State University. Gale taught for 28 years in the Mesa School District (1975-2001) as a teacher of social studies, gifted, and language arts. She has received the "Distinguished Teaching Award" from the National Council on Geographic Education (1999) and a "Great Moments in Teaching Award" from the Arizona Council for the Social Studies (1997). Gale was one of the original teacher consultants for the Arizona Geographic Alliance. She has been Project Manager for the Grosvenor GeoLiteracy and GeoMath Grants.
Dr. Robert Mings
Bob Mings was a co-founder of the Arizona Geographic Alliance in 1992, in partnership with Malcolm Comeaux. Bob and Malcolm were Co-coordinators of the Alliance during the formative years until Bob retired in 1997. With degrees from Indiana University and Ohio State University, his teaching included world regional geography, Latin America, recreation, and research methods. His geographic research focused on travel and tourism, with an emphasis on southwestern snowbird movements. As a Professor Emeritus of Geography, he continues helping plan and conduct Alliance functions such as GeoFest, Alliance Summer Geography Institutes, and GeoDayTrips. Along with Malcolm Comeaux, Bob is a co-recipient of the coveted Wilbur Murra Award from the Arizona Council for the Social Studies, in recognition of their lifelong service to the field of social studies.
Dr. Malcolm Comeaux
Malcolm Comeaux was born and raised in south Louisiana. He attended the University of Louisiana-Lafayette for his B.A., Southern Illinois University for his M.A., and Louisiana State University for his Ph.D. Malcolm came to Arizona State University in 1969. His specialty is cultural and historical geography. His major research interests focus on the Cajuns of Louisiana, fishing in the Mississippi River system, and on Arizona and the Southwest. He is also a recent winner of the Wilbur Murra Award for his dedication to the field of social studies. Malcolm retired in July of 2001 but he is still active with Bob Mings as the organizers of GeoDayTrips, TC Conferences, and Alliance Summer Geography Institutes for the Alliance.
Principal Partnerships:
National Geographic Society Education & Childrens Programs
Arizona State University School of Geographical Sciences
Other Partnerships:
Arizona Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT)
Arizona Council of the Social Studies (ACSS)
Arizona Council on Economic Education (ACEE)
Arizona Foundation for Resource Education (AFRE)
Arizona Foundation on Legal Services and Education (AFLSE)
Arizona State University College of Teacher Preparation and Leadership (ASU West)
Arizona State University Program for Southeast Asian Studies (PSEAS)
Central Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair (CARSEF)
Geography Alliance in Nevada (GAIN)
Michigan Geographic Alliance (MGA)
National Board Certified Teachers
National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE)
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
North Carolina Geographic Alliance
Phoenix Zoo
The Geography Teacher magazine
University of Arizona Center for Latin America Studies
University of Arizona Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Utah Geographic Alliance
Various Arizona school districts
Western Michigan University
West Phoenix Reading Council.