Rate My Professor Richard Courtney

Dr. Richard Courtney serves as Chair of the Department of Geography at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, where he has led the department since his election to the position. He earned his B.A. and M.A. in Geography from California State University-Northridge and his Ph.D. in Geography from The Ohio State University. As an educator, Dr. Courtney teaches foundational and advanced courses including GEG 010 Planet Earth Users' Guide: An Introduction to Physical Geography, GEG 375 Research Methods in Geography, and GEG 330 Cartography. His teaching emphasizes physical geography processes, research methodologies, and cartographic techniques essential to geoscience applications within geography.

Dr. Courtney's research and scholarly contributions focus on geospatial analysis, mapping, and applications in historical and environmental contexts. He co-authored the chapter 'Measuring and Mapping Conflict-Related Deaths and Segregation: Lessons from the Belfast Troubles' in the 2008 book Geospatial Technologies and Homeland Security: Challenges and Opportunities, published by Springer, collaborating with Victor Mesev, Aaron Binns, Joni Downs, and Peter Shirlow. The work examines spatial patterns of conflict-related deaths and religious segregation in Belfast using GIS techniques. Additionally, he produced 16 maps for James A. Delle's The Colonial Caribbean: Landscapes of Power in the Plantation System and 16 customized DEM shaded relief maps for A Paddler's Guide to the Schuylkill River Water Trail. In 2025, he completed a map of the Saucony Creek Trail South Section. Dr. Courtney served as faculty sponsor for the Gamma Psi Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the international geographical honor society, for 30 years until 2025. He has contributed to student research initiatives and participated in university governance through roles on the Administrative Council and University Senate.