SAGA

SAGA is the Southern Arizona Geographers' Association, and serves as the affinity group of graduate students at the University of Arizona. SAGA coordinates several activities in the Department of Geography and Regional Development.

1) SAGA Guest Lecturer: Each year, SAGA sponsors a public lecture at the university, featuring a well-renowned academic whose research is of broad significance to many disciplines at the University of Arizona. SAGA speakers are selected for their ability to speak to issues of concern in human geography by using the methods and principles drawn from earth science and physical geography in innovative and novel ways.

2) SAGA student retreats: SAGA sponsors graduate student recreational trips that are also good ways for new and continuing graduate students to get to know each other. Our most recent trip was to a Forest Service camp in the foothills of the Santa Rita mountains southeast of Tucson.

3) Advocacy of graduate student interests in the department: Through our representatives and student delegates to the Faculty Meeting we are able to convey graduate student concerns to departmental faculty. SAGA also plays an important role in the vetting of potential new faculty hires to the department through grad student talks and lunches with prospective faculty.

4) Adopt-A-School: SAGA has for several years conducted presentations to 6th graders at Apollo Middle School in Tucson, and hopes to both continue this graduate student volunteer program at Apollo and expand our activites to Tucson area high schools.

SAGA representatives are elected for one year terms. They are responsible for coordinating SAGA activities, holding meetings, stewarding SAGA funds, and responding to extraordinary requests for graduate student assistance, advice, and input on matters relating to the department.

2005-06 SAGA representatives: Jeff Garmany
garmany@email.arizona.edu

Katie Meehan
kameehan@email.arizona.edu