The club continues to make its mark during the university’s centennial year by creating opportunities for students to apply classroom learning in real world settings.
In recent years, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) has been steadily growing in both enrollment and campus size. However, new clubs have also been introduced during CMU’s centennial year. The Colorado Mesa University Geography Club began in January 2025, bringing a combination of academic and real-world experiences to campus. The club currently consists of about 12 students who attend meetings twice a month to discuss career opportunities, current events or even converse about geography as a general hobby.
The club is not limited to geography students, as a plethora of majors come together to experience what the geography field has to offer to all students.
“We believe that geography can be applied in nearly every major offered at CMU,” Geography Club Vice President Dylan Produit said. “Applying a spatial lens to anything from political science to business and marketing can give a unique perspective that allows for deeper analysis.”
Students meet to work toward a larger goal of growing multidisciplinary connections across all majors at CMU. Geography is a versatile interest that can truly bring people of all cultures and backgrounds together. Many of the club’s events showcase the hundreds of careers that fall under the broad umbrella of geography. Perhaps the most important goal of the club is to provide a series of stepping stones to not only a career, but post-college projects and goals.
“We want to be a resource and guide for students, to help navigate things like grad school applications, publishing papers, applying to talk in conferences and the most daunting, to find a job and career,” Geography Club President Adelia Morgan stated. “Most importantly we hope to create a community that people can depend on.”
This tight-knit organization has done just that as they continuously bring in accredited guest speakers to their monthly meetings. Most recently was Douglas Murray, PhD, an Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Colorado State University. Murray joins recognizable figures like autism activist, Temple Grandin, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Malala Yousafzai and Pulitzer Prize winning novelist, Barbara Kingsolver as his book won the prestigious Nautilus Better Books Award. Murray’s book, We Can Change the World, highlights his journeys across the globe meeting people who have made large impacts in their communities and more. Hosting Murray gave CMU Geography Club members and 30 other visitors the opportunity to meet someone who has lived the goal of these young scholars and gave members a chance to spark conversation with thought-provoking questions and insight.
“We have a very experienced group of speakers lined out for the rest of the school year. They have very diverse backgrounds and applications of geography that will allow deeper insight into the field for students who want to better understand the connection from classroom to real-life,” said Produit.
Geography offers a very large variety of personal interests and allows students to strengthen their critical thinking skills. The club has also been of heavy influence for pioneering a Geography minor for students. Produit, Morgan and the team pride themselves on creating something bigger than themselves and organizing conversation on campus. Over the last century, CMU has provided these opportunities for students to listen, engage and develop their own opinions over certain topics.
“I would encourage [CMU students] to try it even if geography does not interest them. I love our club because it is full of people that encourage me to be a better student and person,” Morgan said. “With my team members’ encouragement, I have entered so many spaces I did not think I belonged and all it did was open new doors of opportunity and fill me with confidence.”
If you have any interest in joining Colorado Mesa University’s Geography Club, contact [email protected]. The club meets every first and third Thursday of the month at 4:45 pm. On Wednesday, Nov.19, at 4:30 pm, the club will celebrate World Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day at Colorado Craft Coffee and Beer House.