Dr. Michael Ewers

I am a human geographer and interdisciplinary social scientist. My research and creative scholarly work focus on three areas: 1) migration and globalization, 2) worker welfare and inequality, and 3) human capital and sustainable economic development. My overall goal is to understand who moves where and why in a global context; how individuals and groups experience and navigate migration and work differently across space; and how places create human capital for sustainable economic development. My teaching and research interests are integrally linked, emphasizing global trends and particular expertise in the Middle East region. 

My interest in the Middle East began while serving as an Arabic linguist in the US Marine Corps. After four years, I emerged with a keen interest in the global and local complexities and influences shaping the region’s human geography. This experience grounds my academic approach, which often involves Arabic-English and mixed-methods data collection. Prior to joining UNC Charlotte in 2019, I was an Assistant Professor of Geography at Texas A&M University and a Research Associate Professor and Senior Policy Analyst at Qatar University’s Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI), an academic survey center established in association with the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. Upon my family’s return to the US, I joined the faculty at UNC Charlotte in 2019.

This background in both qualitative and quantitative methods has been the basis for new and innovative curricula. I have developed undergraduate courses on Global Geography, the Global Economy, World Urbanization, Renewable Energy, and the Middle East, as well as a graduate course on Geographic Theory and Practice. I also focus on community-engaged research, leading projects such as the 2023-2025 Gambrell Faculty Fellowship, “Charlotte Atlas of Climate Inequality and Community Resilience.”

Through my research, teaching, and service, I contribute to the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences (EEGS), where I serve as the Graduate Program Director for the Geography MA program, as well as to the Public Policy Program, where I am an affiliate faculty member. My work extends across the College and University, supporting multiple interdisciplinary research initiatives. I am actively involved in the University’s Research Areas of Excellence, including the Ignite Center in Migration and Diaspora Studies, where I Chair the Research Committee, and the Future Area of Opportunity in Climate Resilience through the Gambrell Fellowship.

Education

PhD (2010) Geography, The Ohio State University

MA (2005) Geography, The Ohio State University

Recent Publications

Contact Me

309 McEniry
mewers@charlotte.edu