Learning geography helps us understand the past, present and future conditions on Earth.
The Virginia Geographic Alliance promotes geo-literacy by providing effective professional development programs that enhance the teaching and learning of geography and that demonstrate the value of geographic knowledge and spatial thinking to educators, policy makers, and community members.
Brief History of the Virginia Geographic Alliance
The VGA was founded in 1986 when the proposal to establish the VGA was adopted by the National Geographic Society and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Initial funding in 1988 was $50,000 from National Geographic Society and $50,000 from Virginia as agreed by Gilbert Grosvenor and Governor Gerald Baliles. The Alliances first two summer institutes were conducted at James Madison University in 1988 and 1989. The Alliance has pursued short to medium range plans to reach goals established in cooperation with by NGS, education agencies in the Commonwealth of Virginia and VGA members. The Alliance’s primary mission remains focused on improving geography education and teacher professional development in Virginia. Alliance successes include becoming an effective teacher led organization conducting numerous professional development programs (ranging from one hour workshops to three week field-based institutes) and curriculum development projects (Atlases, Maps, Lesson Plans, Geospatial Activities) and community outreach activities (MWW, GAW, Bee, State Geography Fair, Family Challenge).
In 2001 the VGA established a $1,000,000 Endowment based at the National Geographic Society Education Foundation. Funds for the Endowment came from NGS, the Bloedorn Foundation and the Virginia State Legislature. Many VGA members have received state and national awards for teaching excellence and for geography education leadership. VGA has had stable and renewing leadership with new initiatives (AP Human Geography Academies, Geospatial/GIS Workshops and Lesson Plans, World History and Geography Lessons, Chesapeake Bay Institutes) based on a changing education environment. The 25 member VGA Steering Committee provides planning guidance and decides program and resource allocations. Alliance leadership has been stable and host institutions have included the Virginia Department of Education, Radford University, Virginia Tech, James Madison University, Longwood University and Charlottesville City Schools.
Service as State Coordinators
- Beverly Thurston Virginia Department of Education 1987-1992
- Perry Massey State Council for Higher Education 1987-1990
- Steven Pontius Radford University 1990-1995
- Susan Woodward Radford University 1995-1996
- Robert Morrill Virginia Tech 1992-1995, 1996-2013
- Joseph Enedy James Madison University 1995-2013
- Anne Evans University of Richmond Digital Scholarship Lab 2014-present
- Edward Kinman Longwood University 2014-2022
- Chris Bunin Albemarle High School and Virginia Community College System 2022-present
All Alliance institutes and workshops have K-12 teachers as leaders serving as NGS Teacher Consultants, teacher mentors and resource advisors.
VGA INSTITUTES
National Geographic ASGI three-week residential summer institutes
1988 and 1989
James Madison University
Director, Joseph Enedy
1990 and 1991
The College of William and Mary
Director, Brian Blouet
1992 and 1993
Virginia Tech
Directors, L.W. Carstensen and Robert Morrill
National Institute for Advanced Placement Human Geography 1998
James Madison University
Director, Joseph Enedy
Geography for Life Explorers: Landscapes of North America 1998 through 2004. Five Train-Based Summer Institutes
“Geography for Life Explorers”, a cross continent three week field exploration on Amtrak and Via Rail trains (over 100 teacher participants)
Conducted at Virginia Tech and in regions of the USA and Canada
Directors, L.W. Carstensen and Robert Morrill
Atlas of Virginia Training Institute 2003
Conducted at Virginia Tech
Directors, L.W. Carstensen and Robert Morrill
Transect Virginia: Summer Institute 2005
Ten-day teaching field exploration through Virginia for Virginia Studies Teachers
Conducted in Virginia
Directors, Joseph Enedy, Donald Zeigler and Lawrence McLaughlin
World Landscapes: Atlantic Canada 2006 Summer Institute
Conducted at Virginia Tech and in Atlantic Canada
Directors, L.W. Carstensen and Robert Morrill
Jamestown and the Chesapeake Bay 1607-2007: 2007 Summer Institute
Conducted at Christopher Newport University and Chesapeake Region
Director, Brennan Kraxberger
Virginia Ventures: Summer Institute 2008
Ten-day teaching field exploration through Virginia for Virginia Studies Teachers
Conducted in Virginia
Directors, Joseph Enedy, Donald Zeigler and Lawrence McLaughlin
Exploring Ecuador’s Changing Landscapes 2008 Summer Institute
Conducted at Virginia Tech and in Ecuador
Directors, Susan Woodward and Robert Morrill
Cultural Landscapes of England 2008 Summer Institute
Conducted at Virginia Tech and in England
Directors, James Campbell and Lawrence Grossman
Exploring Northeast Brazil’s Changing Landscapes
2010 Summer Institute
Conducted at Virginia Tech and in Brazil
Directors, Susan Woodward and Robert Morrill
Transatlantic Teachers Scholars Program: Exploring Historical Landscapes
2012 Summer Institute
Conducted in Europe (Institute supported in partnership with the British Archives)
Directors, John Bunin and Andrew Mink
Integrating Perspectives on the Chesapeake Bay Through Civic Engagement: An Institute for Teachers (2012-2013)
Conducted at Longwood University and Chesapeake Bay Region
Directors, Edward Kinman and Anne Evans
Integrating Perspectives on the Chesapeake Bay Through Civic Engagement: An Institute for Teachers (2013-2014)
Conducted at Longwood University and Chesapeake Bay Region
Directors, Edward Kinman and Anne Evans
CURRICULUM PROJECTS
Virginia in the World (wall maps, classroom maps and lesson plans) 1989
50,000 copies of maps distributed to all school districts in Virginia, Map projects and related lesson plans developed for elementary, middle and high school students.
Funding: Governor’s Foreign Trade Office
Production: Radford University Department of Geography
An Atlas of Virginia: 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries 1989
50,000 copies distributed to all Virginia school districts (with separate maps and lesson plans).
Funding: Governor’s Office and Virginia Department of Education
Production: Radford University Geography Department
An Atlas of Virginia, Second edition
2002 production of 2nd edition of An Atlas of Virginia and accompanying CD with 23 lesson plans, photo gallery and mapping activities. Eleven hundred and fifty classroom sets of the atlases and CD ROMS were distributed to 4th grade classes in Virginia. The atlas, lesson plans and images have since been updated, digitized and shared via the VGA website.
Funding: Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Tech
Production: Virginia Tech Department of Geography
AWARDS and HONORS
National Council for Geographic Education Awards:
K-12 Distinguished Teaching Award
- 2017 Andrew Dojack,Julie Stavitski
- 2016 Donna Shifflett
- 2015 Christine Esposito
- 2014 Allison Anthony
- 2012 Shannon Castelo, Stephen Chamberlin
- 2008 Penny Anderson
- 2007 Martha Smith
- 2006 John “Chris” Bunin, Susan Guerin, Valerie Mervine, Judy Speer
- 2004 Anne Evans, Donna Fontaine, Camille Hodges
- 1997 Anne Evans
- 1996 Georgeanne Hribar
- 1995 Gary Miller, Susan Miller
Higher Education Distinguished Teaching Award
- 2010 Korine Kolivaras
- 2003 L.W. “Bill” Carstensen
- 2002 John Boyer
- 1987 L.W. “Bill” Carstensen
Distinguished Mentor Award
- 2016 Bill Carstensen
- 2015 Robert Morrill
- 2011 Susan Woodward
- 2009 Joseph Enedy
Brunn Creativity Award for Geography Education
- 2017 Chris Bunin, Andrew Dojack, Julie Stavitski
Geographic Excellence in Media Award
- 2015 “Jamestown to Appomattox: Mapping US History with GIS”
by Chris Bunin and Christine Esposito
Outstanding Support for Geographic Education Award
- 2019 Georgeanne Hribar
- 2015 Andrew Mink
George Miller Award for Distinguished Service to Geography Education
- 2017 Donald Zeigler
- 2007 Robert Morrill
NCGE President
- 1996 Donald Zeigler
- 1989 Robert Morrill
Journal of Geography Award
- 1994 Best College or University Article: Carstensen, Laurence, Edward Fox, Bob Morrill and Clifford Shaffer.“GeoSim: A GIS Based Simulation Laboratory for Introductory Geography.” JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY, 92 (5), September-October, 1993
URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association) Award
Leadership Award
- 2022 Matt Gerike
Association of American Geographers Awards
Harm J. de Blij Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Geography Teaching
- 2016 Donald J. Zeigler
AAG Gilbert Grosvenor Honors for Geographic Education
- 2012 Robert Morrill
- 2009 Donald Zeigler
National Geographic Society Awards
National Geographic Grosvenor Teaching Fellows
- 2007 Anne Evans
Virginia State Geographer
- 1989-1991 Robert Morrill
Members selected to serve as State Coordinator of the National Geographic Bee
- Gail Wallace
Years as Coordinator: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
Teacher at Meadowbrook High School, Chesterfield County Public Schools
Bee hosted at the Science Museum of Virginia - Annie Evans
Years as Coordinator: 1994,1995,1996,1997, 1998
Teacher at Henrico County Public Schools
Bee hosted in Richmond at the Science Museum of Virginia - Cynthia Lank
Years as Coordinator: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Teacher at Danville Public Schools
Bee hosted at Averett University 1 year, 1 year at Radford University, and 2 years at James Madison University - Sandra Carter
Years as Coordinator: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015
Teacher at Virginia Beach Public Schools
Bee hosted in Norfolk at Old Dominion University (2003-2007) and in Farmville at Longwood University (2015)
- Cindy Boyce
Years as Coordinator: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Teacher at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Vienna
Bee hosted in Winchester at Shenandoah University - Donna Fontaine
Years as Coordinator: 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Teacher at Isle of Wight Public Schools
Bee hosted in Farmville at Longwood University
ESRI T3G Participants
2014: Donna Shifflet*
2013: Georgeanne Hribar,* Trish McKinstry (Fairfax County Public Schools), Sarah Gerrol* (Salem City Schools), Michael Wagner* (Loudoun County Schools), Fred Hoffman (Roanoke City Schools), Mary Schaelfer (Fairfax County Public Schools)
2012: Jessica Windish* (Virginia Beach City Public Schools)
2011: Judith Painter* (Salem City Shools), Veronica Spradlin (Virginia Western Community College), Tara Meadows* (Luray)
2010: Wendy Stout (NASA), Chris Bunin* (Albemarle County Schools), Patti Winch (Fairfax County Public Schools),
2009: Georgeanne Hribar (Virginia Beach City Public Schools), Paul Rittenhouse (Albemarle County Schools), Diane Harazin (Fairfax County Public Schools)
*Funded by VGA
PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS
- Geographic Alliances in Canada, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington DC and West Virginia
- Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Geographic Education National Implementation Project (GENIP)
- Journey Through Hallowed Ground
- Learn NC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- National Archives, United Kingdom
- National Council for Geographic Education
- National Geographic Society
- National Museum of the Marine Corps
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- National Park Service
- Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
- Stratford Hall Plantation
- Virginia Clean Waterways
- Virginia Department of Education
- Virginia Historical Society
- Virginia Science Museum
Higher Education Faculty Partners:
Christopher Newport University Radford University
College of William and Mary Tidewater Community College
George Mason University University of Mary Washington
James Madison University University of Richmond
John Tyler Community College University of Virginia
Longwood University Virginia Commonwealth University
Northern Virginia Community College Virginia Tech
Old Dominion University
School District Partners:
Albemarle County Public Schools Madison County Public Schools
Charlottesville City Public Schools Orange County Public Schools
Greene County Public Schools Salem City Public Schools
Isle of Wight County Public Schools Virginia Beach Public Schools
Teachers from schools in all regions of Virginia are active participants in VGA professional development workshops, programs and special events.
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