Toby Martin Applegate

Toby Martin Applegate is a Lecturer and Undergraduate Advisor in the Department of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He earned his PhD from Rutgers University in 2014 and specializes in human and political geography, with a focus on state power, human rights, and refugee care in Southeastern Europe.

• Position: Lecturer
• Department: Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences
• School: College of Natural Sciences
• University: University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Email: tapplega@umass.edu

His research centers on the political geographies of care, particularly non-sanctioned support systems for asylum seekers in Slovenia, and the legacy of post-socialist transitions. His doctoral work examined The Erasing—the systematic removal of non-Slovene residents from legal rolls after independence—a phenomenon that intersects with state sovereignty, human rights, and identity formation. He also investigates material culture, notably the Slovenian kozolec (hayrack), as a symbol of national identity and cultural practice.

His teaching includes Human Landscapes, World Regional Geography, and a graduate seminar on Marxist geography with Eve Vogel. His recent publications explore the European refugee crisis, post-socialist landscapes, and critical theory. Articles such as Becoming Erased and Post-Socialist and Neoliberal Landscapes in Response to the Refugee Crisis reflect a consistent engagement with political exclusion, humanitarian ethics, and spatial justice in the Balkans. His work combines ethnographic fieldwork, critical theory, and historical analysis.

He has no listed scientific awards in the provided texts. He advises no named students, but his mentorship is implied through his academic roles. He has collaborated with scholars such as Joanna Regulska and Lydia Pulsipher and has presented at conferences including SEDAAG and ASEEES.

He is active in public scholarship, having contributed media commentary on refugee issues and Slovenian identity, including an interview with Radio Slovenia International. His research is supported by a deep engagement with critical geography, Marxist thought, and the lived experiences of marginalized populations.