Fritz Kessler

Fritz Kessler is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Geography at Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the John A. Dutton e-Education Institute. He teaches online and residential courses in cartography, GIS, spatial statistics, and coordinate systems. Previously, he served as Professor and Chair of the Geography Department at Frostburg State University. He holds a Ph.D. in cartography from the University of Kansas (1999), under Dr. Terry Slocum. His research focuses on map projections, cartographic design, geospatial analysis, and qualitative methods. He has authored two influential books: *Thematic Cartography and Geovisualization* and *Working with Map Projections: A Guide to Their Selection*.

His professional experience includes roles at USGS, Intergraph, and R.R. Donnelley & Sons. He actively contributes to the North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) and the Cartography and Geographic Information Science community. His work bridges academic research with practical applications, emphasizing geospatial education and geovisual analytics.

Research interests extend to geospatial big data analytics and spatial modeling, with recent studies exploring pandemic impacts on cancer mortality and geodetic datum systems. His teaching innovations include embedding geovisual analytics in international education programs for adult learners.