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Jerry A. Griffith, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

E-mail: griffith@usm.edu
Office: Walker Science, Room 216
Phone : (601) 266-5350
Fax : (601) 266-6219

Education

B.S. 1986 Pennsylvania State University
M.S. 1990 Oregon State University
Ph.D. 2000 University of Kansas


Teaching Interests

GHY 104Weather and Climate
GHY 105Landforms, Hydrology, and Biogeography
GHY 370Environmental Conservation
GHY 411/511Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
GHY 412/512Environmental Remote Sensing
GHY 612/712in GIS Applications (Advanced Landscape Ecology)
GHY 624Landscape Ecology
GHY 710Research Methods


Research Interests
Remote sensing, Landscape ecology, Biogeography, Physical

I am a broadly-trained geographer and environmental scientist with 15 years of professional experience in remote sensing/GIS, landscape ecology, spatial analysis, wetlands (soils, hydrology, vegetation), ecological monitoring, and environmental planning. These interests have manifested themselves in my recent research foci, which includes documenting national land cover and land use change over the past 30 years, as well as understanding the social and economic drivers of landscape change, and the environmental consequences of landscape change. Other current research includes using satellite remotely sensed data to 1) characterize watershed and landscape condition, and assess stream water quality, 2) monitor and map invasive plant species, and 3) assess habitat condition and ecosystem conservation.

My research interests have formed from both my education and training across the United States at Penn State University, Oregon State University, and the University of Kansas, as well as through work experience at environmental consulting companies, the U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Kansas Applied Remote Sensing Program. In the past 15 years, I have produced 75+ total publications, abstracts, and professional reports, with funding coming from NASA, the Association of American Geographers, and the U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center. The most satisfying aspect of academia to me is the opportunity to work with students and to watch them develop into happily practicing geographers, ecologists and scientists.