Dr. Randy Bertolas is professor of geography and chair of the History, Politics, and Geography Department. He serves as faculty advisor for Pi Gamma Mu (the social sciences honor society), Phi Kappa Phi (multidisciplinary honor society), and Gamma Theta Upsilon (the geography honor society) which he also served as International President in 2011-12. Dr. Bertolas is a member of the American Association of Geographers (AAG), the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE), the Nebraska State Council for the Social Studies (NSCSS), and the Geographic Educators of Nebraska (GEON).
Honors include:
- WSC Student Senate – Professor of the Year (2005, 2009, 2024)
- State Nebraska Bank & Trust – Teaching Excellence Award (2018)
- Nebraska State College System – Teaching Excellence Award (2018)
- NCGE – Distinguished Mentor Award (2018)
- NCGE – Geographic Excellence in Media Award (2018)
- Pi Gamma Mu – Hall of Fame Induction (2017)
- NSCSS – Paul Beck Outstanding Social Studies Educator Award (2012)
- GEON – Gildersleeve-Stoddard-Stone Geography Service Award (2011)
- Pi Gamma Mu – Award of Excellence (2008)
- NCGE – Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award (2006)
- AAG – Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Award (1997)
- SUNY Buffalo – Excellence in Teaching Award (1993)
Education
Ph.D. Geography, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1995
M.A. Geography, University of Vermont, 1982
B.A. Geography, University of Minnesota-Duluth, 1980
Academic Interests
Dr. Bertolas's teaching interests include world regional, political, and human geography as well as regional study of Russia, Nebraska, and the U.S. and Canada. His research interests include geography education, natural disasters, and tourism.
