Dear Colleagues,

My name is Ho-Seop Cha, an assistant professor of Geography in the Department of Natural and Physical Sciences at Park University, Parkville Missouri.

I am greatly honored to serve as the president of the Korea-America Association for Geospatial and Environmental Sciences (KAGES), and I would like to convey hearty gratitude to the members who have graciously supported my appointment.

I have seen many colleagues who studied together during graduate school be involved in KAGES in various ways, such as participating in mentoring programs, serving as a board member, reviewing students’ scholarship applications, etc. However, due to my personal academic and career path, I have not had an opportunity to work for KAGES. One day, I was encouraged to take a close look at the mission and services of KAGES and was finally invited as a board member.

While working as a board member, I have been deeply impressed by all the board members and volunteers working for KAGES. Although there was no reward for the service and members and volunteers should invest a decent amount of time and effort, every single person has been dedicated to the commitment to support young geographers such as graduate students, new graduates, or newly hired scholars to extend their network and enhance their research quality. As the president of KAGES, the only wish that I can conjure at the moment is to continue to encourage this association to keep up the current great work as KAGES could not be better! I aspire to continue forging strong capabilities that emphasize the significance of professional relationships, mentorship, and academic engagement.

Again, I greatly appreciate your continuous interest and support. We, all members and volunteers at KAGES, will also continue to reinforce our commitment to fostering excellence in education, research, and networking.

With warm regards,
Ho-Seop Cha, Ph.D.