December 15, 2017 at 2:58 pm

Faculty Highlight – Professor Nellis Is Expert in Environmental Remote Sensing and GIS

President M. Duane Nellis

By Thomas Smucker
Associate Professor of Geography

This fall, the Geography Department welcomed its newest faculty member: President M. Duane Nellis.

A prolific specialist of environmental remote sensing and GIS, President Nellis was inaugurated as the 21^st President of Ohio University on Oct. 18. The department is excited that such a prolific scholar will chart the course for Ohio University.

In addition to his many contributions to scholarship and teaching, Dr. Nellis has provided leadership to the discipline of geography through his service as president of the National Council for Geographic Education (1994), President of Gamma Theta Upsilon (1999-2000), and the Association of American Geographers (2002-2003).

Dr. Nellis served previously as president of the University of Idaho and Texas Tech University. He describes his leadership of Ohio University as the “capstone” of his career.

“I look forward to working with my geography colleagues as we work collectively to advance the department and University,” said Dr. Nellis on joining OHIO.

In his inaugural address, he identified several strategic priorities that align closely with our mission in the Geography Department, including the enhancement of our global engagement efforts and the enhancement of our work as a laboratory of environmental sustainability. The faculty and students of the Geography Department look forward to working with him to achieve these goals!

At the inauguration, Dr. Nellis was introduced by his long-time colleague, Kamlesh Lulla—an expert in space and geospatial technology who has been a senior leader and executive at NASA for the past 29 years. Lulla emphasized the contributions Nellis has made to their field.

“Dr. Nellis has long been recognized as one of the most prominent scholars in remote sensing, while also integrating remote sensing analysis with geographic information sciences to better understand Earth land systems change,” Lulla said. “His research has been first rate, and he has advanced our knowledge of land use change using satellite remote sensing technologies. His work ethic is impeccable.”