Courtney, Richard S.

I am originally from Burbank, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley. After I graduated from Burbank High School, I attended college at California State University, Northridge where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) in Earth Science with a Minor in Geology. The course of study I pursued while at CSUN was very broad indeed. Earth Science offered me the opportunity to study widely in the physical sciences. Upon graduation, I decided to continue to study at CSUN and in an area that would allow me to study a wide variety of subjects, Geography. I developed an interest in urban systems dynamics while in the Master's program at CSUN. I earned my Master's Degree (with distinction) in Geography. My Master's Thesis is titled, "Urban System Development Trends in the Upper Midwest: 1900-1980." In my thesis I employ multiple quantitative techniques of analysis. My interest in urban systems dynamics carried over to my Doctoral studies at The Ohio State University. My dissertation is titled, "A Spatio-temporo-hierarchical Model of Urban System Population Dynamics: A Case Study of the Upper Midwest." In the dissertation I employ Casetti's Expansion Method to redefine a rank-size model into a 27 parameter equation capable of identifying spatial, temporal, and hierarchical dimensions of population redistribution that I use to study the urban system of the Upper Midwest.
I joined the Department of Geography at Kutztown University of PA in the fall of 1993. I currently teach Introductory Physical Geography, Urban Geography, Cartography, and Research Methods. I was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor effective Fall 2001. I have served as Department Chair since 2008.

Ph.D. Geography, The Ohio State University 1993
M.A. Geography (with distinction), California State University, Northridge 1989
B.A. Earth Science (cum laude), California State University, Northridge 1986