Student Profile: Geoffrey Brown
Major: Social and Environmental Geography
Year: 3rd Year
Hometown: Land O’ Lakes, FL
Geoffrey Brown grew up in Florida. When it was time to start thinking about college, he knew he wanted to try somewhere new. “Sophomore year in high school, I took AP human geography and it was by far my favorite class of all time: my teacher was supportive and guided me into geography as a career path, as something with a future in a subject that got me excited.” He had heard about the geography program at OSU and decided to come up for a tour. “It was actually a gloomy, very dark day, lots of places were closed because it was in the middle of the COVID pandemic. But as I started weighing the pros and cons, I knew this was the place for me. I actually signed a lease on a place and it became real pretty quickly!”
One thing Geoffrey appreciates about the geography department is how many different lenses it provides to help see the world. “The buzzword right now is interdisciplinary, but that’s what geography has given me. When I talk to other people about geography, sometimes they don’t really understand it, what you could do with the degree. But in human geography, you combine social elements of human culture: how you dress, what materials you use in your everyday life, with the environmental: what resources do you have and how do you see your sense of place, all this comes together in a synthesis that you don’t get with the specialized nature of other degrees.” He mentioned in particular a course he took with Kendra McSweeney on Research and Professionalization, where he was challenged to connect the ideas he was learning to how they could be used in a career. “The class pushes you to go beyond absorbing information or memorizing stuff to consider its applications to specific projects.”
In thinking about the future, Geoffrey admitted not having originally considered graduate school. “But now, I’m starting to think about it a bit more because I like the idea of doing more research. There’s a lot that can be done in sustainability with understanding land use and truly understanding urban spaces. Every semester, I get introduced to new ideas that open up new projects I’d like to work on further,” he said. “With so much happening on a global scale, it’s impossible to get bored.” He also hopes to be able to teach geography at some point in the future. “Both my parents are teachers and I’d love to pay homage to that, kind of, legacy of giving.” When asked what advice he’d give, he encouraged students to get involved as early on as possible. “You might think you have a lot of time to connect at some point in school. But particularly for me as a transfer student, it’s never too early to be proactive. So, don’t be afraid to go out to student clubs and social events. The time in college goes by quicker than you think.”
If he could go anywhere in the world, he’d love to spend time in South America to see the scenery and how cities like Bogota or Buenos Aires are working through challenges of urbanization.
Find out more about the Social and Environmental Geography major.
Geoffrey Brown pouring coffee for Dr. Mat Coleman at a "Geography of Coffee" event put on by the Geography Club - image courtesy of Geoffrey Brown
Presentation by LinkUS outreach PR group at a Geography Club meeting - image courtesy of Geoffrey Brown
Inaugural meeting of Geography Club - image courtesy of Geoffrey Brown