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Randy Schaetzl grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and has always had a close connection to the physical environment. He completed his academic training entirely in Geography at Midwestern universities, including Wisconsin, Kansas, and Illinois. Joining Michigan State University (MSU) in 1987, he considers this role the 'dream job' of his career and has since become a devoted and loyal member of the Spartan community. He resides in Okemos with his wife and daughters, where they tend to a suburban farm garden. His personal interests include gardening, camping, hiking, and following the Tour de France, and of course, he is a fan of Spartan football. His research interests span the field of physical geography with a focus on soils and geomorphology, particularly in the Great Lakes region. Recent work has involved mapping surficial deposits—including loess and glacial landforms—and exploring physiographic regions. A strong proponent of the value of fieldwork in physical geography, he emphasizes the importance of GIS data and spatial analyses in his research. He enjoys collaborating with students on research projects and takes on the roles of graduate advisor and teacher in classroom settings.
Department of Psychology