Rachel Isaacs

Rachel Isaacs is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Colorado Boulder, serving as Liaison with Continuing Education. She has taught physical geography, biogeography, climate change, GIS, and remote sensing courses continuously from Fall 2020 through Spring 2025.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in Geography from The Pennsylvania State University (2016)
• M.S. in Geography from Texas A&M University (2007)
• Bachelor's degree in Geography from the University of Hawai'i at Hilo

Research focuses on climate change impacts on treeline ecosystems (notably in Denali National Park), landscape ecology, and spatial analysis using GIScience and remote sensing. Fieldwork spans Scotland, Nicaragua, Alaska, Arkansas, Hawai'i, Washington, and California. Her methodological expertise includes spatial statistics and environmental modeling.

With 16 years of multidisciplinary experience, she has contributed to:

• Editorial work for the American Association of Geographers
• Metadata development at NOAA
• National Geographic video production
• Environmental compliance (GIS/drafting/surveying) for oil/gas industry via EMS and AK Environmental
• Instructional roles at Pennsylvania State University, Bucknell University, and Saint Paul College

Teaching portfolio includes:

• GEOG 1001: Our Changing Planet / Environmental Systems
• GEOG 2421: Visualizing Climate Change
• GEOG 3351: Biogeography (recurring)
• GEOG/GEOL 4093/5093: Remote Sensing (recurring)
• GEOG 4203/5203: GIS Spatial Modeling
• GEOG 4371/5371: Forest Geography
• GEOG 4001/5100: Climate Change Causes