Georgia Southern geography professor Amy Potter elected president of geography association, receives award for research excellence
Georgia Southern University Professor of Geography Amy Potter, Ph.D., has been elected president of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers (SEDAAG).
“In the past, I’ve had the opportunity to serve as treasurer of SEDAAG, vice president, honors chair and Georgia’s state representative,” Potter explained. “It has served me well in terms of my career as an academic. I really look forward to the challenge of beginning this new position with the organization.”
Along with her new role in SEDAAG, Potter was also honored with the Excellence in Research Award for her work documenting historic communities throughout coastal Georgia. Her research has provided valuable insight into overlooked regional geographies. The award is presented annually to outstanding professionals in the field of geography.
“It’s an honor to be recognized with such a prestigious award,” said Potter. “I was actually nominated by my colleague Derek Alderman, Ph.D., who’s at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and I consider him to be the premier cultural geographer in our field. Derek is also an alumnus of Georgia Southern, so it’s fantastic to see our alumni thriving in our field.”
She notes the University has a close connection with the organization as students get real world experience through many of its programs.
“Georgia Southern students have quite a legacy at SEDAAG,” Potter said. “Our students have won the Geography Bowl twice and have received numerous awards recognizing the quality of their research. Each year, we bring both graduate and undergraduate students to the conference, where they engage with peers from other programs as well as with academics and professionals in the field. They have also gained valuable networking opportunities that have led to research collaborations.”
Ultimately, Potter hopes her newly elected position will allow her to continue supporting students who are interested in studying and pursuing a career in geography. Focusing on opportunities for her students is the most important part of her job as an educator, she said.
“Georgia Southern is a special place, it really is,” said Potter. “The students are truly the best, and I love teaching them. I genuinely feel energized being surrounded by such brilliant minds.”