Rachel Isaacs
Teaching Assistant Professor • Liaison with Continuing Education • Interests: Biogeography, climate change, landscape ecology, GIS, remote sensing • PhD The Pennsylvania State University - State College, 2016 • M.S. Texas A&M University - College Station, 2007
GIS • Physical Geography

Research InterestsÌý

I completed my Ph.D. work at Pennsylvania State University in the Department of Geography. My doctoral work examined the spatial and temporal impacts of climate change on treeline in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. I am one of the rare few who received degrees in Geography throughout my academic career, first for my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Hawai’i -Hilo and then for my Master’s degree at Texas A&M University. My research interests in landscape ecology, climate change, GIScience, remote sensing, and spatial statistics have led me to conduct research in several international and domestic locations including Scotland, Nicaragua, Alaska, Arkansas, Hawai’i, Washington, and California.

My background and technical skills have enabled me to work in government and private sectors, as well as academia for the past 16 years. Private and government institutions include the American Association of Geographers (editorial), NOAA (metadata), National Geographic (video), and environmental compliance for the oil and gas industry with EMS and AK Environmental (GIS, drafting, and surveying). I have also worked as a research consultant and instructor for Pennsylvania State University, Bucknell University, and Saint Paul College. For the past three years, I have taught a variety of physical geography, human geography, statistics, remote sensing, and GIScience courses.


Recent Courses TaughtÌý

  • Spring 2024Ìý GEOG 1001ÌýÌý EnvironmentalÌý Systems 1: Climate and Vegetation
  • Spring 2024Ìý GEOG 3351Ìý Biogeography
  • Spring 2024Ìý GEOG 4093/5093 (CE)Ìý Remote Sensing of the Environment
  • Fall 2023Ìý GEOG 4001/5100 Ìý Climate Change Cause and Impacts
  • Fall 2023Ìý GEOG 4371/5371 Ìý Forest Geography
  • Spring 2023Ìý GEOG 1001ÌýÌý EnvironmentalÌý Systems 1: Climate and Vegetation
  • Spring 2023Ìý GEOG 3351Ìý Biogeography
  • Spring 2023Ìý GEOG 4093/5093 (CE)Ìý Remote Sensing of the Environment
  • Fall 2022Ìý GEOG 4001/5100 Ìý Climate Change Cause and Impacts
  • Fall 2022Ìý GEOG 4371/5371ÌýÌý Forest Geography
  • Spring 2022Ìý GEOG 3351Ìýµþ¾±´Ç²µ±ð´Ç²µ°ù²¹±è³ó²â
  • Spring 2022Ìý GEOG 4093/5093ÌýRemote Sensing of the Environment
  • Spring 2022Ìý GEOG 4093/5093 (CE) Remote Sensing of the Environment
  • Fall 2021Ìý GEOG 1001ÌýÌý EnvironmentalÌý Systems 1: Climate and Vegetation
  • Fall 2020Ìý GEOG 3053Ìý (CE) GIS: Mapping
  • Fall 2021Ìý GEOG 4371/5371ÌýÌý Forest Geography
  • Spring 2021Ìý GEOG 1001ÌýÌý EnvironmentalÌý Systems 1: Climate and Vegetation
  • Spring 2021Ìý GEOG 3601 / ATOC/ENVS3600Ìý Principles of Climate
  • Spring 2021Ìý GEOG 4093Ìý (CE) Remote Sensing of the Environment
  • Fall 2020 GEOG 1001Ìý Climate and Vegetation
  • Fall 2020 GEOG 3053Ìý (CE) GIS: Mapping
  • Fall 2020 GEOG 4241Ìý Principles of Geomorphology