Greetings to everyone in DGES!
For those I haven’t met, I am Murray Richardson, the current Chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies (DGES). I am new to the position this year, and I am looking forward to all of the roles and responsibilities that it involves! DGES is an outstanding department full of outstanding people, and I am honoured to be a part of it. More importantly, at this time of year, I am excited to welcome all new and returning students, from 1st year undergraduates to senior graduate students, to the start of a new academic year.
The fall brings a fresh start to the annual cycle of the university. New courses, new profs, new friends. For staff and faculty, it brings us you – our new and returning students! All of it adds to the excitement of the changing season. But there are also new pressures and stressors that all of you will face; We are here to support you through them, and to foster a safe, fun and exciting place for you to learn. Without all of you, we would not be here, so our express goal is to make it the best possible experience for every one of you! Please don’t ever hesitate to come speak to any of the administrative staff/faculty in the main DGES offices on third floor Loeb Building. Likewise, I am confident you will find your course professors to be highly approachable, and you should always be comfortable contacting them for help and advice throughout the semester.
Every fall, to kick things off, DGES hosts a Corn Boil event outside of Loeb Building. This year it will be Wednesday, September 11th from 11 am to 1 pm, and you are all invited. I hope to meet as many of you as possible there, in person. Together we can raise a glass of fresh, cold, local apple cider to bring in the start of a new academic year.
Murray Richardson
Chair, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies