Recently, Geography’s own Mike Urban, associate professor of geography, learned he received a Meritorious Honor Award from the Department of State – Bureau of International Organization Affairs for an initiative he helped lead on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse in the United Nations System. The citation itself is: 

For extraordinary skill and determination in advancing U.S. efforts to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the UN system and the aid sector.

“This is a big deal, folks,” said Soren Larsen, geography department chair. “To make this kind of meritorious contribution against sexual exploitation and abuse on an international stage brings great honor to our university and department. It is testament to all the great work Dr. Urban did as an AAAS Policy Fellow in Washington, D.C. last year. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Urban on this well-deserved recognition!”

Urban, former geography chair, stepped down from his role in the summer of 2019 to take his expertise to the U.S. Department of State where he served for a year as a foreign affairs officer for the Bureau of International Organization Affairs. He returned to the Mizzou campus in time for Fall 2020 classes.