Eugene Palka comes to EKU from the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., where he served as Professor and Head of the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering for the last five years. Palka has instructed a varied catalogue of courses – from Conservation of Natural Resources to Environmental Science – in West Point’s Department of Geography from 1986-89 and since 1998.
While at West Point, Palka was intimately involved in the workings of Army’s athletics department, serving as the Head Officer Representative of the Army football and wrestling teams, while also sitting on search committees for head coaches of the Army football, lacrosse, basketball and wrestling teams. He was actively engaged with advising and mentoring student-athletes, monitoring compliance and assisting coaches with a range of projects.
“We are excited to have Gene join EKU in support of our student-athletes,” Director of Athletics Mark Sandy said. “During my time with him, I learned of his passion for academic success and his desire for each student to excel. I look forward to working with him as well as continuing our partnership with the Bratzke Center.”
A native of Beaver Falls, Pa., Palka has been a contributing member of academia for over 30 years. After graduating from West Point in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree and an infantry commission, Palka earned a master’s degree from Ohio University in 1986 and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995. He has since authored/edited or co-authored/edited 15 books, contributed to numerous textbooks and published a variety of professional articles covering topics as diverse as historical, cultural, environmental and military geography.
Palka’s expertise in the field of military geography is internationally-regarded, as he has been invited to speak at conferences in countries as far-ranging as Austria to South Africa.
Palka heads the Chad Bratzke Student-Athlete Academic Success Center at EKU. The Bratzke Center, located in Alumni Coliseum, is a comprehensive academic resource center designed to aid EKU’s student-athletes in all facets of their academic pursuits.
