Geography Ignites Scholar: Jonathan Goodell '05

Goodell remembers an “obsession” with geography from a very early age. The preoccupation with memorizing state capitals turned into a deeper interest in geography and political science at his kitchen table one morning while digesting The Washington Post’s map and analysis of the Republican primary in New Hampshire in 2004; he was captivated by the differences in candidate support based on the state’s geography.

As he became older, his interest in geography became meshed with his identity. “As a person of Black, White and Native American heritage, I became increasingly interested in race over space,” he says. “I started spending my free time using The New York Times’ online “Electoral Explorer” looking up demographic information and determining how demographics affected political campaigns. Due to my interest in geography, black identity, and international relations, I became curious about the African Diaspora outside of the United States. To me, the question ‘what does it mean to be black outside of the United States?’ is something that fascinates me. This fascination has led to my plans to conduct research on how immigrant communities (particularly African ones) have been affected by the Euro Zone crisis when I study abroad this coming spring in Madrid, Spain.” (http://goo.gl/tCaEfJ)