Marilyn Silberfein Professor
Office: 334 Gladfelter Hall
|
 |
Areas of Expertise: Urban and rural development, third world economic geography, migration, political geography, tourism, world affairs. |
|
Education: 1971 Ph.D. in Geography, Syracuse University |
|
Research:
Dr. Silberfein has a research focus in rural economic development with a regional specialization in sub-Saharan Africa. This work has involved spend substantial time working in the field carrying out research on settlement, rural development and adjustments to problem environments. She spent several years on rural development efforts with the U.S. Agency for International Development. Dr. Silberfein has also spent considerable time teaching Geography and Urban Studies at Temple's campus in Japan.
Dr. Silberfein's most recent publication project is an edited book on rural settlement and development in Africa published by Westview Press. She has returned to her ongoing work in Sierra Leone, West Africa which was disrupted by a widespread insurrection for several years. Now that a democratic government has been elected in that country, she is applying her growing interest in political geography to examine the results of a decade of endemic war and economic crisis. Dr. Silberfein hopes to expand her research to South Africa. She has been awarded a National Geographic Society grant to study the impact of recent political and economic changes on settlement and rural growth in the South African province of the Transkei. She currently serves as the GUS undergraduate advisor and works to develop many enrichment activities for undergraduate majors by supporting student participation in regional academic conferences, career development workshops, sponsoring guest lecturers and advising the GUS Chapter of GTU, an honor society that recognizes academic achievement in geography.
Her instructional program includes teaching courses in the areas of Economic Development of Africa, Geography and Tourism, Regional Geography, and World Urban Patterns |
|