Mark Francek is a geography professor at Central Michigan University (CMU). Before com-ing to CMU in 1988, Francek earned his doctorate in geography from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, his master s in geography from the University of South Carolina, and his bachelor s degree in geography and psychology from the State University College at Geneseo, New York. He has teaching and research interests in earth science education, physical geography, and soil science. Mark has pedaled twice across America and teaches biking geography field classes in around the Great Lakes region and Appalacian Mountains. He has authored and coauthored more than 30 scholarly papers, funded in part by the NSF and the State of Michigan, and has presented his research at numerous national and state conferences. At CMU, Francek has served as acting director of the Environmental Studies Program and Director of the Science and Technology Residential College.