This year the UA Department of Geography welcomed a new Map Librarian, Eric Courchesne. Eric has been Program Director, Development Director, and Executive Director for over a dozen nonprofits. He has worked with the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Austin Parks Foundation, and several local environmental and education-based nonprofits. His company, Oak Philanthropy (oakphilanthropy.org), has supported causes including the Friends of Hurricane Creek. Eric was a UA Honors College instructor where he taught Grant Writing, Social Entrepreneurship, and Nonprofit Management.
“I’m very excited to be joining the Geography Department. I’ve been studying and working with environmental causes my entire career. I’m looking forward to working with faculty to develop grant capacity, teach essential skills to our students, and expand the reach of our amazing map library. In the months ahead I’ll be reaching out to faculty about potential community partnerships, environmental programming, and the map library. My first outreach project will center on improving bicycle infrastructure in Tuscaloosa, something I’ve been passionate about since doing like work in Austin, TX. I wish I were joining the team under better circumstances but I look forward to meeting you all in person soon.
I’m excited to help improve the physical map space for students and visitors, expand our reach and accessibility online, and get maps and curriculum to K-12 classrooms throughout Alabama to help inspire another generation of environmentalists.”