Dr. Weronika Kusek | Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Began teaching at NMU in 2014

Areas of Specialization

Human Geography, Cultural Geography, Ethnic Geography, Urban Geography

Education

B.A., University of Toledo, 2008
M.A., University of Toledo, 2010
Ph.D., Kent State University, 2014

Courses Taught

Academic and Scholarly Interests

Human Geography
Cultural Geography
Urban Geography
Ethnic Geography

Research Interests

Migration
Diaspora
Digital Diaspora
Globalization
Placemaking
Ethnic Neighborhoods

Regions

European Union
Western Europe
Central and Eastern Europe

Publications

Kusek W. and N. Wise. 2014. Artistic Perceptions of Poles in London. Scottish Geographical Journal 130 (2): 99–115.
Kusek W. and S. Smiley. 2014. Gender, Positionality, and Place: Exploring Cultural Geography through Interviews in an Urban Setting. Journal of Cultural Geography 31(2)14. pp. 152-165.
Crane N.J. and W. Kusek. 2014. Embracing Dissensus: Reflections on Contemporary Research Strategies in Cultural Geography. Introduction to Special Issue. Journal of Cultural Geography 31(2)14. pp. 121-126.
Kusek W. 2015. Shifting the Spotlight: Suggesting a Pragmatic Approach to Studying the Polish LGBT Community. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability 8(1)15. pp. 82-96.
Kusek W. 2015. Evaluating the Struggles with International Students and Local Community Participation. Journal of International Students 5(2)15. pp. 121-131.
Kusek W. 2015. Transnational Identities and Immigrant Spaces of Polish ‘Eurostars’ in London, UK. Journal of Cultural Geography 32(1)15. pp. 102-114.
Korson C. and W. Kusek. 2015. The Comparison of a Thematic vs. Regional Approach to Teaching a World Geography Course. Journal of Geography (DOI: 10.1080/00221341.2015.1076498)
Forrest J. and W. Kusek. 2016. Human Capital and the Structural Integration of Polish Immigrants in Australia in the First, Second and Third Generations. Australian Geographer. (DOI: 10.1080/00049182.2016.1148103)
Kusek W. 2016. Polish(ing) My Identity. Book Chapter in Navigating Geography and Self: Transnational Geographers Disrupting Boundaries in a Global Age. Alan P. Marcus (Eds). Lexington Publishing.
Korson C. and W. Kusek. 2017. Exploring Migration through Popular Media and Fieldwork. Book chapter in Looking Around--Teaching in Postsecondary Schools With Popular Culture.
Kusek W. 2017. How do Polish immigrants in London reinforce local communities and influence the local economy? Local Economy 32(7)17.
Kusek. W. and N. Wise. (eds.). 2019. Human Geography and Professional Mobility: International Experiences, Critical Reflections, Practical Insights. Routledge Studies in Human Geography.
Kusek. W. 2019. Ukrainian Migrants in Poland: Socio-Economic Inclusion or Exclusion? Local Economy 34(7)19. 739–744.
Kusek. W. 2020. Returning Migrants as Force to Urban Transformation: Case Study from Poznan, Poland. Book chapter in Rajiv Thakur ‘Urban and Regional Planning and Development: 20th century Forms and 21st century Transformations’. Chapter 29.
Kusek W. 2021. Alternatives to Study Abroad: Internationalization at home as a key strategy to providing opportunities for cultural and international exposure. A book chapter in K. Bista and P. Gesing. Chapter 11 in "Critical Perspectives on Equity and Social Mobility in Study Abroad Interrogating Issues of Unequal Access and Outcomes."
Forrest J. and W. Kusek. 2020. Assimilating the Diaspora of the Americas in Australia: An Intergenerational Analysis. Geographical Review.
Kusek W. 2023. Home 2 Home: Travel, Research, and My Hybrid Identity. In QRCA Views (Qualitative Research Consultants Association Magazine).
Kusek. W. 2024. Poland as an Emerging Immigration Hub in Central and Eastern Europe in Brunn’s Geography of Time, Place, Movement and
Networks. Volume 5: Mapping Women and Family Journeys Springer. (Forthcoming)

Web Articles

Kusek W. 2023. Urban Gardens in Poland – How a Polish Tradition Could Inform American City Planning. Rural Insights. June 21, 2023. https://ruralinsights.org/content/urban-gardens-in-poland-how-a-polish-tradition-could-inform-american-city-planning/
Kusek W. 2024. A Brief Overview of the Changing Housing Market in Poland. Rural Insights. January 24, 2024. https://ruralinsights.org/content/a-brief-overview-of-the-changing-housing-market-in-poland/
Kusek W. and Steele M. 2022. Taking a Look at Housing Rental Cost Dynamics in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. (Co-authored with a student) https://ruralinsights.org/content/taking-a-look-at-housing-rental-cost-dynamics-in-michigans-upper-peninsula/ January 19, 2022

Service

NMU Provost Fellow (2024 - 2026)
NMU First Year Mentoring Pilot Program. Faculty Mentor. (2023)
NMU Senate Committee on Internationalization. Member (Fall 2021 – present)
NMU Presidential Learning Network. Invited Member (February-May 2023)
NMU Strategic Doing Sessions (May 2023)
NMU Co-Chair of DEIB Committee for Interim Strategic Plan (2022)
NMU Faculty Diversity Liaison to the Office of the President (2021 – 2022)
NMU Dean of Students Retention Committee (2019 - present)
UNITED Conference Chair (2015, 2016, 2022)
AAG EGSG, Board Member (2018-2023)
AAG 2016 WL-EL Meeting, Conference Co-Chair (2016)
AAG Committee on the Status of Women in Geography, Nominated Member (2016 - 2018)
AAG Committee on the Status of Women in Geography, Chair (2018 - 2019)

Awards

2020-21 Excellence in Teaching Award

Professional Development

Women In Leadership: Online Program For Emerging Leaders. Harvard Division of Continuing Education. Professional and Executive Development. 2024.
Strategic Doing Practitioner Training. The Agile Strategy Lab. The University of North Alabama. 2023.
Ensuring Equitable Student Success in Higher Education. Online Program. Harvard Graduate School of Education. 2022.
The Online Classroom: Strategies for Higher Ed Teaching and Learning. Online Program. Harvard Graduate School of Education. 2021.
Instructional Moves: Making Classroom Discussions More Inclusive and Effective. Online Program. Harvard Graduate School of Education. 2020.