In Memoriam

photographer: Matt Ebiner

It is with considerable sadness that we report that Dr. Darrick Danta, Associate Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and longtime faculty member of the Department of Geography passed away Friday February 15th, 2013.

A long-time resident of the San Fernando Valley and an inveterate champion of the Geography Department at California State University, Northridge, Dr. Danta had spent a good deal of his life in the classrooms of Sierra Hall. Dr. Danta earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Geography Department at CSUN. He later took a PhD in geography from Ohio State, before returning to CSUN to begin a long career teaching and researching. He served as president of the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers, as well as editor for their journal. He was a fixture at meetings of the California Geographical Society and the Association of American Geographers. An active member of the Sierra Club, Darrick led many outings where he taught outdoor skills and orienteering. Students and peers benefitted from Dr. Danta’s expansive knowledge of Eastern Europe as well as his exceptional breadth of training in all aspects of geographic methods, tools and techniques. Colleagues will remember Darrick as a good friend, a chronic punster, and a veritable encyclopedia of university rules, regulations and loopholes.

Dr. Danta died of natural causes after climbing a mountain peak near Needles, California. He was 58 years old. The CSUN community, and the many geographers that knew Dr. Danta, are finding comfort in the thought that Darrick lived his life quite fully and enjoyed doing what he loved. He is survived by his loving wife Sara and his brother Randall. He will be greatly missed.

Please join his colleagues, friends and family for a reflection, remembrance, and celebration of his life on the CSUN campus.

Date:                Tuesday, May 14th
Time:               2:00 p.m.
Location:          Grand Salon, University Student Union

RSVP by May 7th to csbsinfo@csun.edu or the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Dean’s office at (818) 677-3317.

In honor of Dr. Darrick Danta, the Darrick Danta Fund for Field Research is being established in the Department of Geography. To Make a contribution, send a check payable to CSUN Foundation and mail to:

Anne Robison
CSUN/College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8256

Or contact Anne directly at anne.robison@csun.edu or (818) 677-7738.

Department of Geography

The Department of Geography at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is one of the largest in the nation. During the last forty years, its faculty and students have compiled an enviable record of academic achievement and public service. Because of the size and quality of its faculty, the department can offer prospective students an unusually large array of intellectual opportunities that far exceed those offered by most other institutions. The Department of Geography offers two B.A. major options: Major in Geography - Standard Program, and Major in Geography – Geographical Information Science (GIS). The Department also offers a Minor in Geographic Information Science (GIS). The geography standard program prepares students to understand the environment around us and interpret the patterns found across the Earth’s surface. Comprised of 43 units, the major allows flexibility in course selection while providing a solid background in human, physical and regional aspects of the discipline. The geography major option in GIS focuses on the use of geocomputation and digital technology to assess spatial and environmental problems and provide solutions. The major features a strong technical component based on applications of GIS, digital cartography and remote sensing, along with training in geographical, spatial analysis, and data visualization.

The Department of Geography offers two options within its Master of Arts degree program: M.A. in Geography - The Standard Program provides the student with a high degree of flexibility in the selection of courses used to meet the program requirements. M.A. in Geography - Geographical Information Science Offers a highly structured specialization in Geographic Information Science, where most of the requirements are met with graduate courses dealing with various aspects of GIS. This option is designed for students wishing to pursue a career in this highly technological subfield of geography.