I have always been difficult to pin down or define too closely. This is true when you start looking at my work history, CV, or my academic degrees. The reality is that I’ve had some clear common themes in my life and my work you can read below.
My Blogs
Please check out my blog work that I would continue while in Iceland as a Digital Nomad.
- Above 63 (https://above63.com/). A reflective blog about place and space. Originally developed around my Fulbright experience in Iceland, I’m now expanding it to my larger travels and
- Lighted Spaces and Landscapes (https://lightedscapes.com/). A “daily drop” of photos I have taken while traveling, teaching, or doing field work (also on Instagram @lightedlandscapes).
Common Themes About Me
- I am married to Kathleen and she has been at the center of my life for a very long time.
- I have a deep love of travel and learning about place and culture. This has taken me to a number of wonderful places, but I still have more to go to. At times, I’ve been lucky enough to stay somewhere for a longer period of time to learn more about the people and place. That is what makes this year special.
- I have a love of photography and it is often part of my data storytelling. I take photos mostly for fun. I keep nearly all the images I take. I sometimes go back and find things I never saw when I took the photo originally.
- Lastly, I have a continuing interest in meeting people and getting to know them better.My career has been focused on working with students and helping them learn and grow as professionals and as human beings. This has always included the “technical” and tangible aspects of work along with all those things that help them find meaning in their work and life.
- Much of my professional work has been centered around data, analysis, and data storytelling. This has taken different forms in my life and career, explaining data and complex analysis in relatable ways is an important element of my work.
Then there are more formal descriptions of me in official bios and LinkedIn:
- LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliorivera/)
- Carthage College (http://www.carthage.edu/jrivera) where I am an Emeritus Professor of Geospatial Science, Management and Marketing.
Lighted Spaces and Landscapes 