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Faculty Member

Dr. Hilary Hungerford

Biography

Welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by.

I'm a human geographer who studies the places where people and their environments meet, especially when water is involved. My research takes me from the sacred forests of Benin to the informal settlements of Ulaanbaatar to the drought-stressed landscapes of Utah, always asking the same basic question: how do people and nature shape each other, and what does that mean for how we live?

At UVU, I teach courses in human geography, sustainability, climate change, urban geography, and the geography of Utah. My classes are designed to be applied and student-centered, whether we meet in-person or online. I believe the best learning happens when students get to explore questions they actually care about, so I build courses around real problems, real places, and real choices. My goal is for you to leave with both new knowledge and a stronger sense of what you can do with it.

I also direct the Integrated Studies program and hold Fulbright-Hays and Fulbright Scholar awards for my international research. If you're curious about sustainability, water, the environment, or just geography in general, please reach out. My door is open.

I am truly lucky to do this work. Getting to spend my days exploring big questions about people and the planet alongside students who are curious and capable and full of potential is a gift. I learn from my students as much as they learn from me, and I am genuinely hopeful for the future.

Education

PhD, University of Kansas, 2012

Major: Geography

MA, University of Kansas, 2007

Major: Geography

BA, University of Northern Colorado, 2001

Major: Geography

Teaching

IS 4990

Integrated Studies Capstone II, Spring 2026

GEOG 1400G

Introduction to Human Geography, Spring 2026

GEOG 4890R

Student Research in Geography, Spring 2026

GEOG 4890R

Student Research in Geography, Spring 2026

GEOG 2000

Sustainability and Environment, Spring 2026

IS 3500R

Topics in Integrated Studies, Spring 2026

GEOG 3110

Urban Geography, Spring 2026

Presentations

Hungerford, Hilary , American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, "From Lake to Laboratory_ Transforming Undergraduate Education through Place-Based Learning at Utah Lake", AAG, Detroit, MI . (March 27, 2025)
Hungerford, Hilary , Glenn , Abigayle , Great Plains / Rocky Mountain Region , "A political ecology of Utah Lake", American Association of Geographers . (October, 2023)
Hungerford, Hilary (Presenter & Author), Wilson, Kiona (Presenter & Author), Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, "Such a gross lake: an urban political ecology of the biggest lake you’ve never heard of, Utah Lake.", Denver, CO. (March 24, 2023)
Blevins, Maria , McKasy, Meaghan , Stevens, Michael T. , Hernandez, Leandra , Hungerford, Hilary , International Association for Society & Natural Resources., "How many people are too many? A mixed-methods assessment of visitor perceptions at Capitol Reef National Park. ", Costa Rica. (June, 2022)
Behrmann , Zoe , Lewis, Rebecca , Hungerford, Hilary , Great Plains Rocky Mountain division of American Association of Geographers annual meeting, "Utah Lake and the story of a lost community gathering place". ()
Bisig, Mutoni , Hungerford, Hilary , White, Justin , Great Plains Rocky Mountain division of American Association of Geographers annual meeting, "Measuring turf grass area in urban Utah". (April, 2021)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Ganbat, Ganbolor , Avirmed, Buyanbaatar , Tovuudorj, Nasanjargal , Choijiljav, Javkhlanbayar , Dugar, Ariuntsetseg , Batsaikhan, Nyamdavaa , Fan, Lianlian , Hungerford, Hilary , Dorjsuren, Batsuren , (2026) "Extraction of humic acid from coal mine tailings and piles" . International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization. https://doi.org/10.1080/19392699.2026.2623441
Smiley , Sarah , Adams, Ellis , Agbemor, Benjamin , Hungerford, Hilary , (2023) "Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Interventions for COVID-19 and the Health of Vulnerable Populations in Sub-Saharan Africa." . Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37565-1_8
Hungerford, Hilary , Subulwa, Angela G., Chakravarty, Debjani , (2022) "The Insta-Gaze: investigating the endurance of stereotypes of Africa" . SOCIAL & CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY.
Hungerford, Hilary , Thackeray, Susan L, Smith, Anna-Lise , (2021) "Using Public, On-Campus Art in Teaching and Creating Community in Introductory Geography Courses" (Issue: 2, vol. 18). The Geography Teacher.
Cantrell, Randall , Yaye, Moussa , Hungerford, Hilary , Forthun, Larry , Irani, Tracy , Cantrell, Vance , (2021) "Young migrants’ views of their present and future in Niamey and Niger" (Issue: 6, vol. 1). SN Social Sciences.
Hungerford, Hilary , Enz, Molly Krueger, (2021) "Place-Based Interdisciplinary Study Abroad in Senegal_ Geography, Global Studies, and Francophone Studies" (Issue: 3-4, vol. 18). The Geography Teacher.

Awards

Service Learning Superstar

Office of Engaged Learning, UVU - September, 2022

Global / Intercultural Dean's Award

Utah Valley University Global / Intercultural Initiative - May, 2022

Active Citizen Award

Center for Social Impact, Utah Valley University

Higher Education Academy Fellow

Advance HEA

Board of Trustee Award of Excellence

Utah Valley University

Faculty Excellence Award

Utah Valley University