Geography Professor Honored for Scholarly Work and Mentorship
The Kent State University College of Arts and Sciences congratulates James A. Tyner, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Geography and Director of the Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence, who is a 2021 recipient of ‘Distinguished Scholarship Honors’ from the American Association of Geographers (AAG).
The AAG is recognizing him “for his original, transformative, and theoretically grounded geographic scholarship focused on social justice and human rights. Tyner’s pioneering work on violence, genocide, place, memory and memorialization has been recognized for its power and relevance with a series of prestigious awards, and his career is marked by a commitment to public scholarship and noted generosity in encouraging and mentoring graduate students.”
“This is a very high achievement within the 116-year-old anchor association for all geographers,” Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences said.
For more information about Kent State’s Department of Geography in the College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.kent.edu/geography.
Full citation from AAG Honors Committee:
“James A. Tyner models the best practices of engaged and relevant scholarship in critical human geography. In more than two decades of professional work, the majority of them at Kent State University in Ohio, Tyner’s academic productivity has been prolific—more than 20 books; at least 120 refereed articles; and myriad conference presentations, panels, and keynotes. The distinction of his scholarship extends beyond conventional quantitative assessments, however; Tyner’s evolving scholarship has provided a powerful moral and ethical voice for those who study social justice, conflict, and violence.
His book, War, Violence, and Population: Making the Body Count, provides a grounded analysis of violence and conflict in Vietnam, Cambodia and Rwanda. It received the prestigious Meridian Book Award in 2010. Tyner’s work on conflict and violence has become more focused on South East Asia, specifically Cambodia. He provides novel and innovative analyses of the places, landscapes and experiences of violence. As essayist Sabina Lawreniuk puts it in the AAG Review of Books, Tyner’s approach to this work is profound as he couples a continued theoretical journey with “the fortitude to trace meticulously through the material, nonmaterial and never materialized fragments of Cambodia’s past—texts, landscapes, bodies, bones and memories” to ask how Cambodia’s violence was made. Explorations of memory and memorialization appear elsewhere in Tyner’s individual and shared work, always with an insistence and invitation for moral and ethical analysis on the part of the reader. As one of the letters of support noted, his “broader research trajectory takes the lives of the marginal and vulnerable seriously.” Reviewers of his work, elsewhere, describe it as accessible, powerful, timely, vivid and compelling.
Tyner’s approach to scholarship reveals an engagement with place-based fieldwork, archival work, but also, the applications of remote-sensing and hydrological analyses. His research has been supported by two significant National Science Foundation grants and has been recognized repeatedly by his peers inside and outside of Geography. He has also been recognized as a researcher by several AAG Specialty groups and has received both the Glenda Laws Award, the Jim Blaut Award, and the Julian Minghi Book Award.
A complement to Tyner’s powerful and relevant academic scholarship is his public scholarship at Kent State University and beyond. Tyner has been recognized by his colleagues at Kent State for his leadership in organizing scholarly events related to memory, violence and conflict. He was recently appointed as director of the Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence. Tyner’s commitment and generosity extends to his mentoring and encouragement of graduate students and junior scholars, which has been repeatedly recognized at his home institution.
The professional pathway of Tyner reveals a significant and enduring contribution to transformative and grounded research, an indefatigable productivity for formal academic and public scholarship, and a deep and enduring commitment to social justice and human dignity. For these reasons, James A. Tyner is the 2021 recipient of AAG’s Distinguished Scholarship Honors.”
Gender/Sexual Harassment Climate Survey 2021
Kent State University is committed to eliminating instances of sexual violence in our community. In conjunction with the Ohio Department of Higher Education’ Changing Campus Culture initiative, we are asking for your participation in this short survey to help guide our joint efforts to better respond to and prevent sexual and relationship violence. The results of this survey will be kept confidential and will help Kent State identify needs for improved training, education, and support.
The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. At the end of the survey, you will have the opportunity to go to a separate site and be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card of your choice as appreciation for your participation.
Your responses are anonymous. Your name will not be connected in any way with your responses to this survey, and no identifying information from the computer on which you take the survey will be collected. Please note, if other people have access to your computer, they might be able to view your web browsing history, including a link to this survey.
Because this survey covers the topic of sexual and relationship violence, some of the questions may be personal. If you feel uncomfortable, you may stop at any point. If you need to speak with someone, Kent State offers the following services:
- For gender/sexual harassment guidance, consultation, or reporting information visit the Title IX information website
- SRVSS (Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services) - 330-672-8016
- For campus specific resources visit the SRVSS website
Thank you, in advance, for your participation in this survey.
The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, a state level partner in the Ohio Department of Education's Changing Campus Culture initiative, is administering the survey for us. This survey will be made available until Feb. 19, 2021.
Questions regarding the survey may be directed to: Tiffany Murray, Title IX Coordinator. She can be reached at tmurray@kent.edu and/or 330-672-2038.
Wellness Reward Program - Tier 2 Qualifying Period is Now Underway
January 1 marked the first day of the Tier 2 qualifying period for the 2021 Wellness Your Way Rewards Program. Full-time, benefits eligible employees can now begin accumulating Tier 2 points by engaging in healthy lifestyle activities. To view the full list of eligible activities and access verification forms, login to your Be Well portal and click on "Wellness Reward Program" under "My Wellness." Click here for first time login instructions.
For questions related to the wellness rewards program and related offerings, please contact the Employee Wellness office at wellness@kent.edu or 330-672-0392.
January Wellness Webinars - Register Now
Learn strategies for creating and maintaining healthy habits straight from the experts. Browse January wellness webinars below. These sessions will take place via live stream and are open to all full- and part-time faculty and staff. For full-time, benefits eligible employees participating in the wellness rewards program, each session is worth 10 Tier 2 points. Click on the appropriate webinar titles to register.
Healthy Eating for the Workday
Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, noon - 1 p.m.
Most people are aware that food choices influence health, including weight status and risk of chronic diseases. But did you know your diet can also play a role in your ability to perform well at work? This webinar will cover:
- How a nutritious diet positively fuels your workday
- What foods hold you back from optimal work performance
- Five simple ways to eat healthier at work
Financial Wellness: Budget Boot Camp
Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, from noon - 1 p.m.
This session is designed to help attendees uncover habits, attitudes and myths to help them gain control over their finances and money choices. Attendees will learn how to master the basic skills that will support the ability to follow a budget and focus on the impact of keeping a spending plan.
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, noon - 1 p.m.
When you realize that mindfulness is much more than breath awareness and relaxation, you start to notice opportunities to practice throughout the day, even while at work. Join IMPACT Solutions mindfulness guru, Daron Larson, as he shares ways you can sneak mindfulness into your workday to increase your ability to focus and decrease stress. You'll also be introduced to one of our new initiatives for 2021, Mindful Mondays with Daron.
For questions regarding wellness offerings for faculty and staff, please contact Employee Wellness at wellness@kent.edu or 330-672-0392.