Title: Emeritus Faculty (Retired)
Company: Arizona State University
Location: Tempe, Arizona, United States
Anthony James Brazel, PhD, retired emeritus faculty at Arizona State University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in higher education.
Before retiring in 2011, Dr. Brazel excelled in academia for over 40 years. Acquired by Arizona State University in 1974, he initially taught as an assistant professor of geography and later served as the department chair from 1991 to 1997. During his tenure, he also had the opportunity to serve as an associate director on campus and as a member of the doctoral student committee. Before joining Arizona State University, Dr. Brazel taught geography at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada, between 1970 and 1974.
As a leader in the industry, Dr. Brazel initially found success as a research scientist with the United States Army Corps of Engineers Lake Survey in Detroit from 1968 to 1970. After nearly a decade in the classroom, he became a state climatologist for the State of Arizona in Phoenix between 1979 and 1999.
Throughout his tenure in geography, Dr. Brazel was recognized as one of the first geographers to model aspects of alpine climatology using digital and numerical surface climate models. He also extensively researched dust storms, desertification of the Southwest U.S. and climate changes in this area. Moreover, Dr. Brazel’s field work included collecting original climate information and setting up weather stations on glaciers, mountains and cities throughout Phoenix and Windsor.
Possessing a rich educational background, Dr. Brazel received a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and a Master of Arts in geography from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1963 and 1965, respectively. Subsequently, he received a Doctor of Philosophy in geography from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1972.
Beyond his primary career objectives, Dr. Brazel chaired the Arizona Climate Committee in Phoenix in 1980. The opportunity allowed him to serve a pivotal role in advocating for sustainable practices statewide. As a result of his years of research, Dr. Brazel also contributed numerous scholarly articles to various peer-reviewed journals. He was also able to secure a grant from the National Science Foundation in support of his work.
As part of his dedication to the industry, Dr. Brazel has remained active with several leading industry organizations, including the Association of American Geographers, and as an elected fellow of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science and the Explorers Club. These organizations have allowed him to remain at the forefront of his industry while networking with other leaders in the field.
Dr. Brazel, who was encouraged to pursue a career in physical geography research by a professor at Rutgers University, describes him as a father figure. The professor offered him a trip to the mountains in Alaska as a research assistant, ultimately launching his career in Arctic outline research, which continued for most of his profession until he moved to Phoenix. While in Alaska, Dr. Brazel conducted cold environmental research versus a hot environment in Phoenix.
Dr. Brazel was honored to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in light of his decades of success. Humbled by the accolade, it is a testament to his dedication and passion for the work. He also notes his satisfaction from teaching his students, many of whom reside worldwide in places like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the U.S.
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