• ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT
• ACADEMICS - INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
• AMERICAN ECONOMIC HISTORY
• CAMPING AND OUTDOOR LIVING
• CRITICAL GLOBALIZATION STUDIES
• ECONOMIC HISTORY
• EDUCATION POLICY
• ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
• ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
• GEOGRAPHY
• GLOBALIZATION
• HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
• PALEOBIOGEOGRAPHY
• PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION
• POLITICS AND RELIGION
• PUBLIC POLICY
• RESEARCH METHODS
• SECONDARY EDUCATION
• WILDERNESS, MANAGEMENT

Dr. David J. Rutherford is Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Policy Leadership where he teaches courses on the forces of global change – courses that include Global Environmental Issues, the Geography of Religions and Belief Systems, and World Regions: Geography and Policy. He is also Executive Director of the Mississippi Geographic Alliance, a non-profit organization working to improve geography education in the K-12 schools of Mississippi. Dr. Rutherford’s broad background in research, teaching, and professional experience in geography covers physical, human, regional, techniques, and educational components of the discipline, and his specialty is in educational policy related to geography in both K-12 and university levels. His recent topically focused research includes the geography of religions and belief systems with a focus on fundamentalism and the theory and practice of interdisciplinary research and teaching. His recent educationally focused research includes the integration of history and geography teaching, the role of geography curricula and instruction in improving student achievement, and the nature of introductory undergraduate coursework in geography. In addition, Dr. Rutherford is Associate Director of the Gilbert M. Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education and he recently completed a two-year tenure in the Grosvenor Scholar Research Fellowship at National Geographic Society.