A Conversation With...
Dr. Joseph Loon

Q: Where did you grow up and how did you get here, (A&M-CC)?

A: I’m originally from South Africa. I have a wife and eight adult children who live all over the world. I came to TAMU-CC by way of Italy, Israel and The Ohio State University. (He chuckles), But what really happened was that I actually received two degrees in Capetown South Africa; a Bachelor and Masters of Science degree in Land Surveying. Then, I went on vacation in Italy, did some work in Israel then ended up at The Ohio State University where I received a Masters and a Ph.D. in Geodetic Science. Geodetic means the mapping measurements of the earth. Next, I came to Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi in 1995 to work in the GIS, (Geographic Information Science) Program in the Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences.

Q: What motivates you and has helped you become who you are today?

A: What motivates me is that “I hate teaching”, but let me explain that. What I mean is that I try to be a learning guide and motivator. I think what should happen in the classroom is learning. When I meet with my students at the beginning of every semester, I give them two pages of information of class culture telling students what needs to be going on in the classroom and it’s learning! Also, I let them know, there’s no stupid question only a stupid answer, so I am taking all the risks!

Q: What makes you passionate about your field and teaching students?

A: First of all, in GIS, there are an unlimited number of opportunities in the world. My students are all over the world and I hear from them all the time. To hear from them and know how well they are doing makes me passionate to keep doing what I’m doing. I must be doing something right for them to be as successful as they are. There are quite a few of them that keep in touch.

Q: What course(s) are your favorite to teach?

A: “Introduction to GIS” and “Visualization for GIS”, which is a mapping course, are my favorites. I teach two other courses that I really enjoy also. They are a “Spatial Adjustments & Computations” course and “Information in Public Administration.” GIS is used everywhere, in every office, or out in the field, every city, every county, every state, every place everywhere needs and uses GIS.

Q: What co-curricular activities are you involved in, and how can students become involved with you in those activities?

A: I’m and advisor and faculty mentor to some of the students that are already in the GIS Program, which has about 80 students.

Q: Outside of TAMUCC, what extracurricular activities are you involved in; what do you do for fun?

A: I like to read and travel; my work just keeps me so busy but I did manage to go to London, England and Vienna and Australia.

Q: Who inspired you the most or had the greatest impact during your collegiate experience which directed you to your field of study?

A: Teachers along the way as far back as high school inspired me to learn. After high school, at University level, the teachers that started me off in land surveying were inspiring; then, Cartography, that is, map making – these all came together in GIS.

Q: What is your greatest achievement and whom do you attribute this to?

A: I’ve always been interested in what I am presently doing; you can never finish teaching in this field because it’s growing all the time.

Q: What question does the study of Geographical Information Science attempt to answer?

A: What is Where?

Q: Wouldn’t be caught dead wearing?

A: A leopard skin with the leopard still in it.