Dr. Cusack has received the Keene State College ‘Distinguished Teacher Award’ and the Presidents’ ‘Good Steward Award’ from the Campus Compact for New Hampshire. His areas of specialization are: (1) Planning and Sustainability; (2) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Geospatial Technologies, and (3) Urban Geography.
Dr. Cusack has served as the President of the New England/St. Lawrence Valley Geographical Society (NESTVAL), Chair of the Regional Development and Planning Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers, and as Judge for the annual New Hampshire state Geographic Bee. Currently, Dr. Cusack serves on the Planning Board for the City of Keene, as well as the College-City Commission.
Dr. Cusack’s students have received several awards including: the ‘Presidents’ Leadership Award’ by the Campus Compact for New Hampshire; the ‘Best Undergraduate Student Paper Award’ by the Regional Development and Planning Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers; and, the ‘People’s Choice Poster Award’ at the Keene State College Academic Excellence Conference. They also received a nomination for entry into the ‘Young Leaders Mapping Sustainable Development Challenges’ competition by the American Association of Geographers.
Professionally, Dr. Cusack has over 50 publications and more than 30 professional presentations to his credit. Highlights of that work include seven publications co-authored by Keene State College students.
Dr. Cusack says that his most memorable and enjoyable experiences involve travel with his students. “It’s been truly rewarding to watch student reactions as they experience the Grand Canyon for the first time, walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, hike up to Machu Picchu, or look out across Los Angeles from Griffith Observatory. Involving students in travel, research, and scholarship epitomizes the Department of Geography, Outdoor Recreation, and Planning at Keene State College.”
Ph.D., Urban Studies, University of Akron
M.A., Geography, University of Akron
B.A. Geography, SUNY-Geneseo