Austin who?
I am a graduate student in the Department of Geography at The Ohio State University. I live in Columbus, Ohio close to where I grew up. After high school, I moved away for a few years. I spent four years on the sunny island of Puerto Rico. I moved back to Ohio in 2004 and earned a degree in American Sign Language interpreting. I met my partner, Miranda, in the interpreting program the same year I moved back. We both started graduate school at OSU in the Fall of 2009. Miranda is now working at the Ohio School for the Deaf and I'm working on my PhD. 'Nuff said.
What is geography? (Or, do you just memorize capitals?)
In short, the types of practical questions that human geographers ask can be summarized (reductively) as:
1. How are places similar or different?
2. How are places connected?
3. How are places produced?
4. How are places experienced?
If you think of the United States as a "place", you might ask: "How is the US different than South Africa?", "...connected to India?", "...produced through history?", "...experienced differently by various social groups?". You may also challenge that notion that the US is a coherent place, by showing that the US is not experienced the same by everyone; that not every place in the US is equally connected to India (or to other places in the US); and that parts of the US –the Southwest and the East Coast– have been produced differently. If you've ever asked questions like this, you are "thinking geographically."
1. How are places similar or different?
2. How are places connected?
3. How are places produced?
4. How are places experienced?
If you think of the United States as a "place", you might ask: "How is the US different than South Africa?", "...connected to India?", "...produced through history?", "...experienced differently by various social groups?". You may also challenge that notion that the US is a coherent place, by showing that the US is not experienced the same by everyone; that not every place in the US is equally connected to India (or to other places in the US); and that parts of the US –the Southwest and the East Coast– have been produced differently. If you've ever asked questions like this, you are "thinking geographically."
What is your research about? (Or to avoid ending in a preposition: About what your research is?)
My research is broadly within human geography, with an emphases on political and urban geography. My current research is related to immigration. I also have an interest in deaf studies, mobility, and pedagogy. For privacy reasons, I won't post any information on this site about ongoing research - sorry to disappoint. If you have more detailed questions about my research, please use the contact form below to get in touch.
I think I've seen you somewhere...
Here's my mug shot.
