Dr. Mike Naber

Biography

Michael David Naber was born in Grand Island, Nebraska. He spent his elementary years there and his teenage years in Omaha, Nebraska. After high school, he served in the United States Marine Corps before attending college at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, where he graduated with a B.A. in Biology and Geography in 2000. He continued his education at the University of Akron in Ohio, earning an M.S. in Geography in 2002. Naber then pursued his Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at North Carolina State University, graduating in 2008. He holds the position of Associate Teaching Professor in the Geosciences Department at Penn State Behrend, where he specializes in Geology, Geography, Geographic Information Science, and Global Positioning Systems. His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking and group projects to enhance student learning. Naber's research interests lie at the intersection of natural resource management, geography, and geographic information science, focusing on the use of GIS in planning and maintaining natural resources. He is actively involved in projects that aim to create sustainable trails on the Behrend College campus and works on coastal geology research and community mapping initiatives.

Research Interests