Karen Nichols

I have been teaching at the college and high school level for nearly 30 years. I was trained as a geographer and spent several years as an assistant professor in the SUNY system before deciding to shift to the high school arena. I now split my time between high school and college institutions. I am a NYS certified teacher (adolescent/7-12 social studies) and a teacher-consultant with the Hudson Valley Writing Project.

I have been teaching and/or serving as an administrator (division head and department chair) at local independent secondary schools in the Hudson Valley for 20 years, and a part time adjunct at area colleges, including Marist, Vassar, and Mount Saint Mary College. I have been an adjunct at MSMC since 2019 and have taught (mostly) Physical Geography, Economic Geography, and Anthropology.

Degrees:
Vassar College - BA
Rutgers University - MA and PhD in Geography

Courses Assigned:
GEO 1010 Physical Geography

Specialization/Areas of Research Interest: 
I have a particular interest in the study and teaching of environmental hazards (both historical and current) and the changing ways humans categorize, assess, and respond to hazards as well as environmental change more generally.

Memberships and Professional Associations:
I am actively involved in several community organizations, including the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley, the Mid-Hudson Valley Antislavery History Project, and On PAR (Arlington Partners Against Racism).