Dr. Michaela Buenemann

Professor and Department Head

Buenemann_Portrait_02292024.jpg


Michaela Buenemann is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Before moving to her position at NMSU in 2008, she taught at the University of Oklahoma, James Madison University, and the University of Arizona. She earned her Ph.D. in geography from the University of Oklahoma in 2007.

Her research focuses primarily on integrating remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling for the monitoring and assessment of land changes in drylands, including both more subtle and gradual land modifications such as woody plant encroachment and more obvious and rapid land transformations such as urbanization.

She is particularly interested in quantifying the spatio-temporal dynamics of land changes, including their human and environmental drivers and their impacts on land management sustainability. She has worked on research funded by the National Science Foundation, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and published in a diversity of regional, national, and international journals.

Her teaching includes courses in the areas of geographic information science and technology, research methods in geography, human-environment relationships, and physical geography (Cartography and GIS, Introduction to Remote Sensing, Advanced Remote Sensing, Geospatial Techniques for Natural Resource Assessments, Map Use, Physical Geography, Biogeography, Field Methods, Southwestern Environments, Environmental Geography, Geographic Thought and Research Design, Drylands, U.S. National Parks). She currently serves as an officer for the New Mexico Academy of Science, the Southwest Division of the Association of American Geographers, and the Rocky Mountain Region of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.

Curriculum Vitae (PDF)

Schedule Office Hours

Personal Website

Research Interests

Remote sensing, GIS, Cartography, Spatial modeling, Land change science, Land degradation, Landscape ecology, Biogeography, Drylands

Education

B.A. Geography, Spanish, Media Sciences, University of Paderborn, Germany, 1999
Ph.D. Geography, University of Oklahoma, 2007

Courses Taught

GEOG 111G, Geography of the Natural Environment ( Syllabus)
GEOG 281, Map Use ( Syllabus)
GEOG 381-571, Cartography & GIS ( Syllabus Face-To-Face,   Syllabus Online)
GEOG 373-573, Introduction to Remote Sensing ( Syllabus)
GEOG 473-582, Advanced Remote Sensing ( Syllabus)
GEOG 455-555, Southwestern Environments ( Syllabus)
GEOG 483-583, Field Explorations in Geography ( Syllabus Local Semester,   Syllabus Local Minimester,   Syllabus Southwest)
GEOG 491-598, Special Topics – Spectroscopy and Remote Sensing ( Syllabus)
GEOG 501, Geographic Thought and Research Design ( Syllabus)
GEOG 586, Geospatial Techniques for Natural Resource Assessments ( Syllabus)

Contact

Breland Hall, Room 139
575-646-6493 (Phone)
575-646-7430 (Fax)
elabuen@nmsu.edu