APCG Distinguished Service Award

The APCG is pleased to honor Stuart Aiken, professor in the Department of Geography at San Diego State University, with its Distinguished Service Award. Stuart’s steadfast dedication to the APCG is obvious in the various contributions he has made to the organization.

His first presentation at an APCG meeting was in 1987, and he continues to give research papers at the annual meetings. A member of the APCG since 1990, Stuart has published in and served as a reviewer for the APCG Yearbook and continues to encourage and mentor his students to present and participate in the APCG. During his years as a member, Stuart served the APCG as regional councilor, vice president, and president, and worked with the geographers at SDSU to organize the very successful 2009 Annual Meeting in San Diego.

Stu Aitken (right) meets with future Ph.D. candidate.

An internationally recognized scholar, Stuart’s research on children’s geographies has opened new avenues of research in the discipline. His publication list is lengthy, and he has served as a guest speaker at universities around the world. Stuart’s energy and passion for geography are unwavering. He never stops thinking. He is always looking to take his work in a direction that others have not gone. He conveys his passion for geography through his teaching, be it a graduate seminar or freshman human geography lecture. His graduate students are absolutely devoted to him and continue to carry on his tradition in their positions at universities throughout the country.

For his scholarly contributions, teaching excellence, and service to the organization, the APCG is honored to name Stuart Aitken the 2009 recipient of the APCG Distinguished Service Award.