Hello, my name is Austin Charron (pronounced "Shuh-RON"). I hold a PhD in geography and am broadly trained in the sub-disciplines of political and cultural geography. I am also a specialist in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), with a focus on cartography and geospatial analysis.

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My background is in academia, where I developed an expertise in social identities and their relationships with space and place, with a focus on the countries of the former Soviet Union and Ukraine in particular. Since 2020 I have shifted away from academia and am now focused on a career as a GIS professional. 

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I was born and raised in Corvallis, Oregon, but lived in the Midwest for ten years before returning to the Pacific Northwest in 2020. I currently reside in Portland, Oregon. As a life-long geography nerd, in my free time I love exploring new places both nearby and around the world, and have traveled to over 30 countries. I also enjoy getting outdoors, collecting records, and playing with my cat (Soupy) and dog (Tallulah).