Rebecca Sheehan

Rebecca Sheehan is a Professor of Geography at Oklahoma State University (OSU), specializing in cultural historical geography with a focus on public spaces, memorialization, and social justice. She holds a PhD in Geography from Louisiana State University (2006). Her research examines identity, inclusion, and exclusion in urban landscapes, particularly in New Orleans, addressing topics like Confederate monument removal and regenerative memorialization in the U.S. South.

Dr. Sheehan teaches courses such as Introduction to Cultural Geography, Black Geographies & Memorialization, and Geographic Renderings in Qualitative Methods, emphasizing critical thinking and spatial skills. She mentors graduate students in research methodology, theoretical frameworks, and academic writing.

Her funded projects include a 2019 study on Making Meaning in the Spaces of Incarceration and collaborations on the OSU-Native American Partnership Summit. Research interests span homelessness, tourism, and the intersection of race, gender, and public space. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals on inequality reduction and sustainable cities.

Dr. Sheehan’s publications explore topics like urban performance, memorial landscapes, and qualitative research methods. She actively engages with community-based research and advocates for equitable public space design.