John Kelly

John Kelly is an Associate Professor of Geography at UW-La Crosse researching indigenous territorial governance, participatory mapping, and land-use conflicts in rural Latin America. His work combines political ecology, community-based cartography, and field ethnography to analyze conservation policies and resource rights.

Regional Expertise: Focuses on Mexico and Central America, including long-term projects in Campeche, Oaxaca, and Honduran Mosquitia. Collaborates with indigenous Miskitu, Tawahka, and Pech communities to develop territorial defense tools through participatory mapping.

Teaching: Leads courses on World Cultural Regions, Islamic Asia, and Power/Space dynamics, emphasizing critical geography and global justice frameworks. Serves as department equity liaison and AAG West Lakes Division chair (2018).