I am an Associate Professor of Geography at the Department of History and Political Science in the School of the Arts, Communication and Global Studies of York College of Pennsylvania. My primary responsibilities include teaching, conducting research, and providing services. In my teaching role, I instruct geography courses such as Geographic Information Systems(GIS), also known as Geographic Science or Geospatial Technology, Physical Geography, Urban Geography, and Land Use and Sustainability. My recent research has focused on using applied GIS to solve real-world issues and assess and evaluate Sustainability education in higher education institutions in the U.S. and Asia.  Simply put, all my time and energy have been channeled into understanding the complex interactions between the coupled physical and human systems. Some of my finished research projects included using GIS to discover, visualize, and model real-world unsustainability problems; most importantly, I used GIS tools to find solutions for these problems. I am also an affiliated faculty member of YCP’s Intelligence Analysis Program. I have worked extensively with my colleague, John Weaver, and the IA students, examining various U.S. National Security issues. Together as a group, we have published five books, which have been recognized by the federal intelligence and homeland security community. Currently, we are working on the sixth book project. In addition, my teaching and research interests investigate Climate Change and down-scaled impacts, Nature-based Sustainability solutions, Risk & Hazards Vulnerability, and Urban Microclimate.

My service also reflects these thematic areas.  From November 2019 to December 2023), besides teaching and research, I had an opportunity to serve as a chair of the YCP’s President’s Task Force for Campus Sustainability (PTFCS), where I was instrumental in the digital transformation of the campus administration, raised awareness and visibility of campus sustainability, and created momentum sustainability on the campus and nearby communities. As a result, I was recognized as one of the Campus Sustainability Champions by the PERC (Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium) in April 2023.

Additionally, I have long been an active member of several geography organizations. From 2018-2023, I was an Editorial Board member of the Asian Geographer Journal. I served as Chair in several AAG Specialty Groups and other positions.  As a long-term member of the AAG (American Association of Geographers) since 1997, I genuinely think Geography is more relevant than ever to our current affairs, and Geography has the power to understand the complex dynamics of our world. From 2017- November 2023, I served as the President of the PGS (Pennsylvania Geographical Society). 

Locally, I have worked with several local communities, such as York County Courthouse Self-Help Center and Codorus Valley Area Historical Society (CVAHS), helping build their geo-databases and conducting mapping and spatial analyses. Some final products of these projects included an online digital historical GIS storytelling and map series for securing funding. I have been invited to talk about climate change, local impacts, and what we should do with YWCA Hanover and York County History Center events.

I enjoy working with students. If you want to work as my research assistant, please email me at jpomeroy@ycp.edu.