J. Henry Owusu

Department of Geography

Faculty - Associate Professor of Geography

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Degrees

•Ph. D. 1993: University of Iowa — Geography (Regional Development) •M.A. 1990: University of Iowa — Geography (Regional Development) •M.S. 1980: Indiana University of Pennsylvania — Geography & Regional Planning •B.A. 1977: University of Science & Technology, Ghana — Economics/Geography

Research Interests

• Conflict and Cooperation among the Riparian Countries of the Volta River Basin in West Africa.

• Industrialization (Formal & Informal Sectors) and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa;

• Decentralization, Local livelihoods and Sustainable Forest Management in Sub-Saharan Africa;

• Political Economy of Regional Development;

• Third World/International Development and Policy;

• Tropical Timber Trade, The Environment and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa;

• Regional Economic Restructuring;

• The Role of the Human Factor in Third World Development;

• Globalization;

Teaching Interests

• Human Geography
•  Economic Geography
• Cultural Geography 
• Regional Geography -- African Development
• Non-Western Cultures – Africa
• Geography of Economic Development

Service

Current (2010-2011): A. Department • Chair, Professional Assessment Committee (PAC) – Third Term • Coordinator, Fulbright Scholarships • Member, Promotion and Tenure ad hoc Review Team • Member, Diversity Committee • Member, Curriculum Committee • Member, Graduate Studies Committee • Associate Graduate Coordinator (scheduled to be substantive in 2012-13) B. College • Member, CSBS Diversity Council • Member, Honors Committee • Member, CSBS Senate (Alternate) C. University • Member, Standing Committee for Liberal Arts Core Review (Category 5) • Member, Non-Western Cultures Program Faculty -- Africa • Member, Graduate Faculty Previous (2000 - 2010): A. Department • Chair, Professional Assessment Committee (PAC) – First Term • Scribe, Faculty Meetings, 2001-2002; 2005-2006 • Member, New GIS Faculty Search Committee (2002) • Member, New GIS/urban Planning Faculty Search Committee (2004-2005) • Member, Committee of the Whole - Search for Department Head Committee (2005-2006) • Member, Curriculum Committee (2001-2002; 2008-2011) • Member, Diversity Committee (2009-2010) • Member, Promotion and Tenure ad hoc Review Team (2009-2010) • Member Professional Assessment Committee (2005 -2010) • Member, Graduate Studies Committee (2001-2009) B. College • Member, CSBS Scholarships Committee – Alderman Scholarships, 2000-2007 • Member, CSBS Senate (2007-2009) • Member, Honors Committee (2007-2010) • Member, CSBS Advisory Committee (2007-2008) • Member, CSBS Undergraduate Research Awards Committee (2002 -2007) • Departmental Representative, Fall Convocation (2005) • Panelist, New Faculty Orientation (Fall, 2009) C. University • Member, Graduate School Thesis Awards Committee (2001- 2007) • Member, Graduate Faculty (2000-2010) • Member, Social Sciences Category 5 Review & Standing Committee (2007-2011) • Member, Non-Western Cultures Program Faculty – Africa (2000- 2010)

Selected Publications

• Owusu, J. Henry. (Forthcoming). “Conflict and Cooperation among the Riparian Countries of the Volta River Basin in West Africa: A Geographic Perspective.” – Chapter 7 – In Vajpeyi Dhirendra, ed. Water Resource Conflicts and International Security.  Lexington Books (Rowman & Little Publishing Group): Lanham, MD.

• Owusu, J. Henry. 2010. “Trends in Ghana’s International Timber trade: Some Implications for Local Livelihoods  and Sustainable Forest management.” – Chapter 13 in German, Laura, Alain Karsenty, and Anne-Marie Tiani, eds.Governing Africa’s Forests in a Globalized World, for The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). London, U.K: Earthscan.

• Owusu, J. Henry. 2010. “Le commerce international du bois au Ghana : tendances et repercussions sur les conditions de vie locales et la gestion durable des forêts.” – Chapter 13 in German, Laura, Alain Karsenty, and Anne-Marie Tiani, eds. Gouverner les forêts africaines à l’ère de la mondialisation,Bogor, Indonesie: Center for International Forestry Research CIFOR.

• Owusu, J. Henry. 2006. “Political/Economic Convenience and Unprecedented Deforestation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Development Lessons from Ghana’s Adjustment Program”  –  Chapter 10 (pp. 161-181) in Konadu-Agyemang, K and Panford, K .eds. Africa in the 21^st Century: Pertinent Socio-Economic and Development Issues. Aldershot, HampshireUK: Ashgate International.

• Owusu, J. Henry. 2004. “Structural Adjustment sans Spatial Integration: Another Sub-Saharan African Development Policy Debacle.”  Chapter 4 (pp. 75-110), in Adjibolosoo, S. B-S. K. (ed.), The International Development Program of Activities: What are We Doing Wrong?  Bloomington, IN: 1^st Books.

• Owusu, J. Henry. 2001. “Economic Recovery, Debt and Dependence in African Economies: The Case of Ghana”, Chapter 2 (pp. 17-39), in Columbus, F. (ed.), Politics and Economics of Africa, Vol. I, Huntington, NY: Nova Science Publishers.

• Owusu, J. Henry. 1998. “The Myth of Development Under Ghana’s Structural Adjustment Program:  Evidence From The Formal Wood-Processing Sector (1983-1991),” Chapter 12 (pp.193-216), in Adjibolosoo, S. B-S. K. and B. Ofori-Amoah (eds.), Addressing Misconceptions About Africa’s Development: Seeing Beyond The Veil. Lewiston,NY: The Edwin Mellen Press.