Robert Kruse

Robert Kruse is a Professor of Geography and holder of the McMillen Endowed Chair at West Liberty University, located in West Liberty, WV. He has been affiliated with the university since 2005 and has held interim leadership roles, including Interim Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (2010-2012) and Interim Dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts (2013-2015). His teaching focuses on cultural geography, including courses like GEO 205 Introduction to Geography, GEO 312 Geographies of World Tourism, and specialized seminars in urban/rural geography.

Dr. Kruse's academic background includes a Ph.D. and M.A. in Geography from Kent State University and a B.A. in Geography from Slippery Rock University. His research interests span cultural geography, tourism, popular culture, and disability studies, with a notable focus on the socio-spatial dimensions of dwarfism and the interplay between music/art and geography.

His scholarship includes influential works on cultural landscapes shaped by figures like The Beatles, John Lennon/Yoko Ono, and John Cage, as well as studies on place identity in Appalachian communities like Point Pleasant, WV. Recent work explores the geographies of disability and cancer patients' spatial experiences.

Dr. Kruse actively engages in community activities, emphasizing outdoor pursuits such as kayaking and travel. He is affiliated with the Geography and Planning department within the College of Liberal and Creative Arts, contributing to both academic and public understandings of space and culture.