ESU Welcomes Dr. Rob Fergus

BY AMY LUKAC

SC Contributing Writer

Dr. Fergus is a new professor to ESU this year.

He was born and raised in Oregon, where he says it rains more than half the year, and that he has “rust spots” on his arms to prove it.

He currently teaches Cultural Geography, and next semester he will be teaching a World Regional Geography course.

Fergus explained that the course next semester is an exploration of the environment and cultural differences around the world.

“No matter what course I teach, it is an excuse to go exploring and have some adventures learning about this amazing world we live in”, said Fergus.

Dr. Fergus has many interests.

“I am a geographer because that allows me to study everything.  I’m particularly interested in people and the environment, so I’ve studied how people and birds interact in many settings around the world,” said Fergus.

Rob Fergus enjoys studying all types of birds in many places.

“You haven’t lived until you’ve found a scorpion in your bed, eaten alligator gar empanadas, or listened to howler monkeys screaming in a tropical forest while you’re perched on the top of a 1500 year old Mayan pyramid” he said.

Dr. Fergus got his bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University, where he studied Archaeology and Anthropology.

Dr Fergus also completed fieldwork in the Chipas, Mexico.

After his earning his undergradraduate degree, he spent three years traveling and working around the country counting birds, excavating dinosaurs, preparing fossils at the Smithsonian in DC, and banding birds in Texas.

He then received his Ph.D. there studying urban bird issues.

Dr. Fergus is enjoying his time at ESU.

“ESU is a fun campus, and the students have been diverse and fun to explore with,” he said.

“I live about an hour away, so I’m only here MWF, but I look forward to coming up for more sports and cultural activities.”

Fergus has many interests, his favorite movie is Raising Arizona, and really enjoyed all of his educational experiences.

“I took all the advanced placement type classes I could, and enjoyed them all,” he said.

“I took all the science classes I could as well as four years of Spanish—and I was the political cartoonist of our high school paper.”

“Of course,” Dr. Fergus said when asked if he was a fan of “The Stroud Courier.

When Dr. Fergus was “Little Robby” he wanted to be a herpetologist and study lizards and salamanders.

He even wrote a letter to the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists asking for career advice, when he was only 10.

He as been to all 50 states, much of Western Europe, Central America, Ecuador and New Zealand, and there are a lot more places he still wants to go.

Dr. Fergus has travelled all over the world.

“I loved living in Ecuador, and I would love to spend more time in New Zealand,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to my next research trip to Guatemala this summer and hope to take my three kids on an Antarctic cruise and an African safari someday.”

Email Amy at:

alukac@live.esu.edu