About Dr. William Kory

Dr. Kory was a life long educator.  As a young man, he excelled in math and worked to earn his undergraduate degree in mathematics from SUNY Buffalo.  Prior to graduation, however, he volunteer for the newly formed Peace Corps.  He was stationed in Liberia from 1963 to 1965.  His time was spent teaching, coaching soccer, and even starting a choir.  This began a lifelong passion for the Nation of Liberia.

Bill received a Masters Degree from Case Western University and moved to Pittsburgh to earn a PhD. from the University of Pittsburgh in Geography.  

In 1971 he began teaching at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.  Over the next few years he worked to establish the Geography Department at UPJ and develop numerous courses from the general education course "Earth and People" to local Johnstown Area Studies, to special topic courses including Russia, Liberia, Political Geography, and Terrorism.  To learn more about the full history of the Geography Department at UPJ, click here.

One of the proudest achievements Bill had was seeing the success of his students.  Many Geography graduates have gone on to successful masters programs, government positions, and private sector jobs around the world.  

We lost Bill in April of 2022.  This foundation, founded by his former colleagues and students, works to continue to mission Bill dedicated so much of his life to.  The promotion and education of Geography to the next generation of Geographers.