About

My name is Taylor Shelton and I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Georgia State University. Broadly trained as a geographer, my work sits at the intersection of critical human geography and GIS. My research focuses on the variety of ways that urban spaces and social inequalities are represented, reproduced and contested through maps and data. I am particularly interested in how mapping and data visualization can be used to develop alternative understandings of urban social and environmental injustices.

Prior to joining Georgia State in 2020, I held appointments at Mississippi State University, the University of Kentucky and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Before that, I earned BA and MA degrees in geography from the University of Kentucky and my PhD from the Graduate School of Geography at Clark University.

At Georgia State, I’m responsible for teaching the following courses:

• GEOG2200 Mapping Our World: Introduction to Geospatial Technologies
• GEOG4518/GEOS6518 Digital Cartography
• GEOS8030 Seminar in Cartography: Critical Mappings

In my previous position at Mississippi State University, I taught the following courses:

• GR2013 Human Geography
• GR4123/6123 Urban Geography
• GR4203/6203 Geography of North America
• GR4990/6990 Urban Environments
• GR4990/6990 Digital Geographies
• GR8313 Advanced Human Geography

Prospective Students:

I am always interested in speaking with prospective graduate students for our program at GSU Geosciences. I am particularly interested in working with students who wish to work across the boundaries of critical human geography and GIS, using mapping as a way of thinking about and addressing urban social and environmental inequalities. If you’re interested in working with me on these (or related) topics, please email me with your CV/resume, a brief statement describing your interests, and a sample of your written/cartographic work.

Current Students:

Carys Behnke
M.S. in Geosciences (Geography), Georgia State University, 2021-present
B.S./B.A. in Geography, University of Georgia, 2020
Research Interests: Environmental justice, affordable housing, urban climate, sustainable development

Campbell Casseb
M.S. in Geosciences (Geography), Georgia State University, 2021-present
B.S. in Forestry, University of Tennessee, 2017
Research Interests: Urban forestry, (critical) GIS, urban planning, urban sprawl, public access in shared urban spaces

Brandon North
M.S. in Geosciences (Geography), Georgia State University, 2021-present
B.S. in Geology, University of Georgia, 2013
Research Interests: Automobile dependence, parking policies, environmental equity and sustainability, transit planning

Alec Sparks
M.S. in Geosciences (Geography), Georgia State University, 2021-present
B.A. in Urban and Regional Studies, University of Michigan-Dearborn, 2018
Research Interests: Critical human geography, critical GIS, community-based research, housing, gentrification

Past Students:

Mustafa Monk
M.S. in Geoscience (Geography), Mississippi State University, 2020
B.A. in Geography, University of Texas-Austin, 2017
Thesis: Evaluating the unequal impacts of Hurricane Harvey: Critical GIS analysis in systems of governmental risk assessment and mitigation in Houston, Texas

Hannah Mizell
B.S. in Geoscience (GIS and Environmental Geoscience), Mississippi State University, 2020