Academic Excellence and Innovation Fund awards grant for geography graduate school “pipeline”

The Academic Excellence and Innovation Fund recently awarded Concordia Professor of Geography Dr. Joel Helmer a grant for $4,000 to build a graduate school “pipeline” between Concordia Nebraska and South Dakota State University for prospective graduate students in the field of geography. This pipeline would encourage students to pursue graduate-level work in geography, including SDSU’s MA in Geography, MS in Geographic Information Sciences, and Geographic Information Sciences specialization. 

Helmer said that the program would serve as a “bridge” for students to continue their education in geography.  

“My project is building an academic ‘bridge’ between Concordia and South Dakota State University with the goal of sending our students to pursue graduate degrees in geography,” he said. “Dr. Thomas Craig, a Concordia graduate, is a professor at SDSU and we are working collaboratively to encourage and assist students in applying for graduate school.”  

As part of the project, Craig will visit Concordia to speak to selected geography classes. Then, in April 2025, Helmer plans to take students to visit the South Dakota State Geography Convention, where they will tour the school, meet professors and familiarize themselves with the geography graduate programs offered.  

The Academic Excellence and Innovation Fund was developed as part of Concordia’s SALT and LIGHT strategic plan to encourage and celebrate faculty and student scholarship, with a particular focus on how different disciplines intersect with the Christian faith. Learn more about the fund here.