Raven Milam
Teaching Assistant Professor
Raven Milam is a Teaching Assistant Professor of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the School of Environmental Sustainability at Loyola University Chicago. A Michigander turned Chicago-lover, Milam has lived in Chicago since 2022 and earned her PhD in Geography from Michigan State University in 2024. Her research and teaching interests center on geomorphology, GIS, physical geography, and using spatial technologies to better understand environmental systems.
Education
- PhD, Geography, Michigan State University
- MS, Geography, Michigan State University
- BA, Earth Science, Northern Michigan University
Research Interests
Milam is a geomorphologist specializing in periglacial processes, which are cold, non-glacial forces shaping landscapes in Alaska and the Appalachian Highlands. She uses quantitative methods and GIS to study past and present geomorphic processes and assess how they may respond to global climate change.
GIS is central to Milam’s research, enabling her to organize, manage, and analyze field data and to develop reproducible methods for studying environmental change. Recently, her work has addressed shoreline erosion and nearshore management along Lake Michigan’s southwestern shore, focusing on shoreline protection and habitat loss at Illinois Beach State Park.
As an instructor, Milam is committed to helping students recognize GIS’s potential for exploring physical and human environments. She teaches geographic theory and history along with practical GIS applications, emphasizing repeatable workflows that students can apply to their interests. Her teaching experience includes physical geography, cartography, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and GIS.
Specialty Area
Geographic Information Systems (GIS), geomorphology, physical geography, cartography, remote sensing, spatial analysis.
Professional/Community Affiliations
- American Association of Geographers
- American Geophysical Union
- Polar Geography Specialty Group, American Association of Geographers
- Permafrost Young Researchers Network
- United States Permafrost Association
- Gamma Theta Upsilon, International Geographical Honor Society
Courses Taught
- ENVS 380: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
- ENVS 381: Advanced GIS Applications
- ENVS 382: Remote Sensing
- ENVS 386: Python Programming for GIS
Publications/Research Listings
- Mitchell, R. J., & Nelson, F. E. (2025). The Hickory Run Boulder Field, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA: Morphology, Sedimentology, and Development. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. Accepted, in production.
- Queen, C. W., Nelson, F. E., & Mitchell, R. J. Characteristic periglacial landform assemblages of Eastern Beringia. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. Under review.
- Mitchell, R. J., Nelson, F. E., & Nyland, K. E. (2023). Little tools, big job: The periglacial conveyor system in cryoplanated uplands. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 34(3), 384–398.
- Mitchell, R. J., Nelson, F. E., & Nyland, K. E. (2021). Preliminary observations of nivation processes, Cathedral Massif, Northwestern British Columbia, Canada. Physical Geography, 0(0), 1–16.
Awards
- E. James Potchen “Graduate Geographer of the Year” Award, Michigan State University (2021)
- Cryosphere Student Innovation Award Flash Freeze Competition, American Geophysical Union (2020)
- ARCUS Early Career Conference Funding Award (2020)
- USPA/UPEF Conference Support Award (2020)
- University Rasmussen Fellowship Award, Michigan State University (2020–2024)
- Research Scholars Award, Michigan State University College of Social Science (2020)