By Dan Altman
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

                    Jeff Lash

Assistant professor of geography Jeff Lash recently won the Dissertation Award in Geographic Education from the National Council for Geographic Education.

The dissertation award is given each year to encourage research in geography teaching and learning.

Lash will receive his award at the NCGE's annual awards banquet in Philadelphia Oct. 16-19.

To apply for the award, Lash submitted a 15-page paper based on his doctoral dissertation, "Exporting Education: The Case of the American University in Cairo;" a cover letter; a letter from a qualified professor testifying the state of the degree and an application for program participation for the 2002 NCGE Annual Meeting.

Lash's dissertation examines life as an Egyptian attending an American university and how American ideas move around the world. "The students are trapped between two worlds, the American world and their Egyptian Muslim world," Lash said.

Lash will receive $300 for his first-place dissertation. To be eligible for the award, scholars must have received their doctoral degree within the previous two years.

Lash earned his bachelor's degree in art history from The University of Texas at Austin and his doctorate degree in geography from Southwest Texas State University. He grew up in Austin.

Lash is responsible for teaching and research interests in cultural geography, globalization, geography education and North Africa. Lash has traveled extensively in Egypt.

"Having a geography expert like Jeff Lash is great for UH-Clear Lake as it will encourage geography majors to transfer here," said Steve Vance, a future UH-Clear Lake student.

Vance now has the option to attend UH-Clear Lake rather than transfer to UT-Austin or another school with a geography program.

"Winning a national award adds a sense of excitement for a new program like the one at UH-Clear Lake," Vance said. "I'm looking forward to learning from Dr. Lash."

The geography program at the Clear Lake campus is the first in the Houston area.

Top of Page | Front Page