Murray State Professor named State Geographer

    A Murray State geographer has received an honorary appointment from the governor of Kentucky. 
       Gov. Steve Beshear appointed George Kipphut, chair of the geosciences department, to State Geographer for the traditional one-year term.
   Kipphut said the honorary appointment demands no specific duties, but it is an honor simply because there is only one state geographer per year.
       This title has traditionally gone to a senior geosciences professor, from larger schools such as the University of Louisville or the University of Kentucky, Kipphut said.
        “I presume this was an attempt to pay attention to qualified professors at other schools, not just the larger ones,” he said.
    This is one of the reasons Kipphut said he feels it is exciting to have someone from Murray State hold the position, considering no Murray State professor has held  this position since the 1980s.
    “I intend to use this publicity to help promote the study of geography to local schools and on campus,” he said. “It is an honor to Murray State as much as it is for me.”
    Since Kipphut has been recently appointed, he said he is still learning about his position, but he said he does not receive a pay increase or any other sort of compensation for this title; it is simply for the love of geography.
    Chris Lee, junior from Louisville, Ky., and one of Kipphut’s students, said he knows how dedicated Kipphut is to his job and is a great teacher because of it.
    “He always makes sure his students know the material and understand it,” he said. “He will go over whatever we need to go over, whether it is in the classroom or out of it.”
    Lee said Kipphut is used to having to take geography out of the classroom, so it only makes sense that he be given a title that transcends the campus.
    Lee said he has never doubted Kipphut’s passion for what he does.
    “Dr. Kipphut gives his all to what he does,” he said. “He does not settle for less than perfection, which can be seen in his work. I’m glad he is being rewarded for it.”
    Lee said he is excited for Kipphut, but he also agrees that it is an honor for Murray State as well.
    “By (Kipphut) being picked, this shows that the staff in the geosciences department is just as great as the staff from the bigger schools in the state. This shows that Murray can be and is on the same level as the bigger schools academically.”
    Kipphut replaces University of Kentucky’s Karl B. Raitz as State Geographer. His term will expire Jan. 1, 2011.
    Contact Steele at stephanie.steele@murraystate.edu.