Dr. John C. Rodgers III is a Department Head and Professor in the Department Geosciences at Mississippi State University (MSU).  He obtained his PhD in geography in 1999 from the University of Georgia and has over 15 years of experience teaching and researching in the fields of physical geography and geographic information systems (GIS). Specifically, Rodgers has published and conducted research on invasive vegetation, coastal habitats, and human-environmental interactions. His current research focuses on the distribution of the invasive Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) in the Bahamas and coastal marsh habitat change along the northern Gulf Coast. Dr. Rodgers was the recipient of the 2014-2015 College of Arts and Sciences Teacher of the Year. 

Education

• Ph.D., University of Georgia, Department of Geography, 1994-1999 Dissertation: Effects of human disturbance on alien plant distributions and primary dune vegetation on the Georgia Sea Islands.  Supervisor: Dr. Kathleen C. Parker.
• M.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Department of Botany, 1991-1994 Thesis: Modern Pollen Rain in Costa Rica.  Supervisor: Dr. Sally P. Horn (Geography) and Edward Clebsch (Botany).
• B.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, B.S. in Biology and Botany, 1987-1991

Research Interests

Invasive species, coastal processes, geographic information systems

Teaching Areas

• GR 4303/6303 Principles of GIS (on-campus and distance learning)
• GR 4203/6203 Geography of North America (on-campus)
• GR 4813/6813 Natural Hazards (on-campus)
• GG 4523/6523 Coastal Environments (on-campus)
• GG 8233 Environmental Geoscience (distance learning)
• GG 8203 Ocean Science (distance learning)
• GG 4533 Geosciences Study Abroad: Bahamian Field Methods (study abroad)

Honors/Professional Activities

• 2014-2015 College of Arts and Sciences Teacher of the Year

Graduate Students

• Alyssa Rodolfich (MS, expected 2021)
• John Cartwright (PhD, 2020)
• Lindsay Mullins (MS, 2020)
• Sara Smith (MS, 2017)
• Devon Flickinger (MS, 2017)
• Mike Maguigan (PhD, 2015)
• Dora Lambert (MS, 2015)
• Devon Bise (MS, 2015)

• Sankar, M. S., Dash, P., Lu, Y. H., Paul, V., Mercer, A. E., Arslan, Z., Varco, J. J., Rodgers, J. C. III.  (2019) Dissolved organic matter and trace element variability in a bay fed by blackwater rivers following precipitation.  Estuary, Coastal, and Shelf Science 231: 1-16.  Doi /10.1016/j.ecss.2019.106452
• Fuhrmann, C. M., Wood, K. M, and Rodgers, J. C.  (2019) Assessment of storm surge and structural damage on San Salvador Island, Bahamas, associated with Hurricane Joaquin (2015).  Natural Hazards.  DOI:   https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-019-03782-2
• Rush, S., Rodgers, JC,  Soehren,E.  and Trent, J. (2019) SPATIAL AND TEMPORA CHANGES IN EMERGENT MARSH AND ASSOCIATED MARSH BIRDS OF THE LOWER MOBILE-TENSAW RIVER DELTA IN ALABAMA, USA".  Wetlands DOI: 10.1007/s13157/-018-1082-x  https://rdcu.be/77rb.
• Bise R. D. , Rodgers J.C. III, Maguigan, M. A., Beaulieu,B.,  Keith, W., Maguigan, C. L., Meng, Q.  (2018) Sidewalks as Measures of Infrastructure Inequities. Southeastern Geographer 58: 39 -  57.
• Formby, J. P., Rodgers, J. C., Koch, F. H., Krishnan, M., Duerr, D., and Riggins, J.  (2018) Cold tolerance strategy and invasive potential of the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) in the eastern United States. Biological 
     Invasions  - online DOI 10.1007/s10530-017-1606-y 
• Crosby, M.K., Matney, T. G., Schultz, E. B., Evans, D. L., Grebner, D. L., Londo, H.   A., Rodgers, J. C., and Collins, C.,   (2017) Consequences of Landsat Image Strata Classification Errors on Bias and Variance of Inventory Estimates:  A Forest   Inventory Case Study.  Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing 10: 243-251.
• Maguigan, M. Rodgers, J., Dash, P., and Meng, Q.  (2016) Assessing net primary production in montane wetlands from proximal, airborne, and satellite remote sensing platforms.  Advances in Remote Sensing 5: 118-130.
• Bortoleto, L. A.,  Gigueira, C. J. M., Dunning Jr., J. B., Rodgers, J., da Silva, A. M.  (2016) Suitability index for restoration in landscapes:  An alternative proposal for restoration projects.  Ecological Indicators 60:  724-735
• Sorbal, A. C., Peixoto, A. S., Nascimento, V. F., and Rodgers, J.  (2014) Geospatial analysis of natural and anthropogenic influences on soil erosion and soil characteristics in Southeastern Brazil.  Regional Environmental Change: printed on-line.  DOI: 10.1007/s10113-014-0667-z
•  Ho, C. D., Mylroie, J., and Rodgers, J. (2014) Fuzzy-based Spatial Modeling Approach to Predict Island Karst Distribution: A Conceptual Model for publication in Environmental Earth Sciences.  Environmental Earth Science 71: 1369-1377.
•  Clary, R., Summral, J., Rodgers, J. C. III . (2013).  The Effects of Geographic Affiliation on Students' Perceptions, Awareness, and Responses to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Journal of Geoscience Education 61: 453-460.
• Rodgers, J. C. III.  (2013) Size-class distribution of Australian pine [Casuarina equisetifolia L. ex J.R. & G. Forst.] beach population on San Salvador Island, The Bahamas.  Caribbean Journal of Science 43(1): 37-49.