Mary Ann Cunningham teaches geography and geographic informaMary Ann Cunningham teaches geography and geographic information systems (GIS), and environmental studies at Vassar Colltion systems (GIS), and environmental studies at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY. Her research involves using GIS to asege, Poughkeepsie, NY. Her research involves using GIS to assess landscape-level problems in conservation and biodiversisess landscape-level problems in conservation and biodiversity. In particular, she is interested in understanding the naty. In particular, she is interested in understanding the nature of fragmentation in grassland environments and the effeture of fragmentation in grassland environments and the effects of fragmentation on the make-up of bird communities. Thects of fragmentation on the make-up of bird communities. The agricultural landscapes where she has been working represen agricultural landscapes where she has been working represent a complex and fascinating interaction of issues concerningt a complex and fascinating interaction of issues concerning working landscapes, resource use, remnant wildlife habitat, working landscapes, resource use, remnant wildlife habitat, and landscape aesthetics. It is at the intersection of thes and landscape aesthetics. It is at the intersection of these issues that she likes to try and understand the geography e issues that she likes to try and understand the geography of physical environments. Mary Ann earned a PhD in Geographyof physical environments. Mary Ann earned a PhD in Geography at the University of Minnesota, an MA in Geography at the U at the University of Minnesota, an MA in Geography at the University of Oregon, and a BA in Geology at Carleton Collegeniversity of Oregon, and a BA in Geology at Carleton College. .