My research specialties are in critical parks geographies, place naming studies, and geography education. I'm an interdisciplinary geographer with well-rounded training in physical geography, human geography, and GIS technology. I love to learn about the natural world and share my passion with others. Scroll below to learn more about my ongoing research and record!
Enjoy this selection of my most recent or relevant publications. You can find all of my publications via my Curriculum Vitae, Google Scholar profile, or access any PDF via my Google Drive folder!
Kannarr, Seth T. (2025) "Tasting the Geography of Japanese Kit Kats". The Geography Teacher, 22:2. (https://doi.org/10.1080/19338341.2025.2478595)
Conley, Drake, Fekete, Nolan, McDaniel, Schumann, Kannarr. (2024)“Commentary on Craig’s ‘Bowling for Better: Reforming World Geography Bowl’”. The Professional Geographer, 76:6. (https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2024.2421267)
Kannarr, Seth T. and Black, Alan W. (2024) "A Geographic Index of Natural Hazard Vulnerability in the United States," The Geographical Bulletin: Vol. 65: Iss. 1, Article 10. (https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/thegeographicalbulletin/vol65/iss1/10)
Kannarr, Seth T. (2023) "The Spirit of Canyon Camp: Sense of Place and Alumni Memory," PAST: Vol. 46: Pages 26-48. (https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/kxsvu)
Martinez, Adriana E., Walther, Suzanne C., Kusler, Jennifer E., Greenfield, Ben K. and Kannarr, Seth T. (2020) "Landscape Change and Vegetation-Channel Interactions in an Estuarine System," Journal of Coastal Conservation: Vol. 24: Article 2. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-019-00723-w)
Kannarr, Seth T. and Urban, Michael A. (2025) “The Contentious Redesignation of the Gateway Arch National Park”. Palgrave Press, The Changing Geography of National Parks and Protected Areas. (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-74653-6_8)
Kannarr, Seth T. (2024) “The Sprawl: Reconsidering the Weird American Suburbs”. Journal of Material Culture, 56:2, 47-49. (https://tinyurl.com/mr439mrh)
Kannarr, Seth T. (2024) “Smothered and Covered: Waffle House and the Social Imaginary”. The Southeastern Geographer, 64:2, 269-274. (https://doi.org/10.1353/sgo.2024.a929411)
Kannarr, Seth T. (2023) “Canyon, Mountain, Cloud: Absence and Longing in American Parks”. The AAG Review of Books, 11:2, 27-29. (https://doi.org/10.1080/2325548X.2023.2179838)
Kannarr, Alderman, Brasher. “From Greenland to Fort Bragg, America is caught in a name game where place names become political tools” (https://theconversation.com/from-greenland-to-fort-bragg-america-is-caught-in-a-name-game-where-place-names-become-political-tools-251201)
Kannarr, Seth T. and Alderman, Derek H. (2024) “From Confederate general to Cherokee heritage: Why returning the name Kuwohi to the Great Smoky Mountains matters”. The Conversation. (https://theconversation.com/from-confederate-general-to-cherokee-heritage-why-returning-the-name-kuwohi-to-the-great-smoky-mountains-matters-240644)
Kannarr, Seth T. (2024) “Five Reasons to Bring Our National Parks into the Classroom”. Getting Smart. (https://www.gettingsmart.com/2024/04/29/five-reasons-to-bring-our-national-parks-into-the-classroom/)
Kannarr, Seth T. (2024) “National parks teach students about environmental issues in this course”. The Conversation. (https://theconversation.com/national-parks-teach-students-about-environmental-issues-in-this-course-223427)
Last Update - 5/1/2025
Current scholarship shows us that place names matter, yet I argue that formal naming designations matter too. There is a dearth of research regarding the significance of naming designations, particularly with protected areas like U.S. 'National Parks'.
Using a critical geographic lens, my dissertation project is focused on unpacking the complicated history of naming designations in the U.S. National Park Service. Additionally, I plan to collaborate with key experts and stakeholders to assemble an alternative criteria system that could be adopted and explore which NPS sites would be affected from a likely redesignation.
I am in-progress on writing my dissertation as a PhD Candidate. However, you are welcome to enjoy the presentation I gave for the dissertation proposal defense in December 2024. The slides are embedded below, or you can watch the live presentation on YouTube. Stay tuned for further updates and developments regarding my dissertation research!
Did it grind anyone else's gears that the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial was renamed and redesignated to the Gateway Arch National Park in 2017? Yes, THAT metal arch in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. As a park enthusiast, this was a contentious revelation - how did this happen? Why did this happen? What does this mean? This prompted my exploration of research into park designations and place renaming. If you would like to learn more, feel free to read my Masters Thesis with the University of Missouri or the abridged version published as a Book Chapter with Palgrave Macmillan- or better yet, enjoy my thesis defense presentation slides below!