Adult learner finds ‘antidote to aging’ through geography program

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — You might need a degree in geography to chart the career and life experience paths of Bob Myers. Thankfully, he has a few.

Myers is a geospatial expert and obtained a master’s degree in geographic information systems (GIS) in 2018 and master of science in spatial data science earlier this year. Along the way, he was awarded a post-baccalaureate certificate in geographic information systems in 2016, a graduate certificate in remote sensing and earth observation in 2020, and a graduate certificate in geospatial programming and web development in 2023, all at Penn State.

But GIS is a passion project for Myers. He made his career as a lawyer, and he currently serves as a senior partner for Vanaman German and as campus counsel for Santa Monica College.

Myers was the first member of his family to attend college. In 1972, he graduated from Cal State Fullerton before going on to Loyola Law School, where he was the editor in chief of the law review. He graduated summa cum laude in 1975. His decades-long impact on civil and human rights issues includes such highlights as writing Santa Monica’s rent control law as staff attorney with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and serving as Santa Monica city attorney from 1981 to 1992.

He was fired from the post, in fiery public fashion, for what he then called refusing “to compromise my principles and use the power of my office to hurt poor people in our community.” His work has earned him awards from the American Civil Liberties Union and National Lawyers Guild.

He spent decades continuing to advocate for the poor and under-resourced. His private law practice focuses on complex civil rights issues, and he has been involved with two post-conviction death penalty cases. He is a founding member of Death Penalty Focus, the leading organization in California seeking abolition of the death penalty. He’s also an outings leader with the Sierra Club and is navigation chair for their leadership training committee.

His work with nature organizations is what drove him to GIS and a love of mapmaking.

Now in his mid 70s, Myers admitted he’s not the average adult learner looking to gain a career edge. He said he’s just a lifelong learner using higher education — and Penn State — to keep his mind young.

“Unlike many people in the program, I already had a juris doctorate degree when I joined the program. I’m not done with my Penn State education and am looking at other degree options at Penn State because I view keeping my mind active as an antidote to aging; and it is fun to be involved in an educational setting,” Myers said. “I view everyone in a course as teachers. We all learn from each other, so sharing stories and experiences can help the overall learning process.”

At Santa Monica College, word has gotten out about Myers’ newfound skills. He serves on the emergency operations team and has used his GIS skills to assist with pandemic and wildfire responses. Some of his tasks include tracking hazards related to air quality and assessing wildfire impact on students and employees.

At University Park, Myers is also having an impact. This summer, he visited the GeoGraphics Lab for the first time. He started the GeoGraphics Lab Projection Fund, and this year leveraged his support with a $25,000 matching fund. He also contracted the lab to create a map in honor of the work of his late brother, David Myers, founder of the Wildlands Conservancy, who died earlier this year.

The GeoGraphics Lab is a multimedia cartography lab offering geospatial visualization services including design, production and research for businesses, nonprofits, government entities and more. The materials are produced with the help of geography faculty, students and staff.

The map details wildland conservation efforts, which are home to education programs that expose thousands of urban kids to nature. The conservancy is one of the largest nonprofit landowners in the western United States.

He also created the Myers Award for Cartographic Excellence, which benefits two students in the geography department. At Santa Monica College, he created the Myers Sullivan Geospatial Social Justice Scholarship, named after him and his wife.

Myers said he’s interested in helping students get the most out of their time at Penn State. As someone who commuted and worked during his time in college, that’s one life experience he didn’t get.

“As an undergraduate, I didn’t have much of the student experience. I didn’t go to football games or extracurricular activities because I was always working or studying,” Myers said. “Law school was a more meaningful experience for me. That’s where I developed long-term friends. It’s similar at Penn State. I’m enjoying the welcoming and receptive nature of the faculty and fellow students. Penn State is something I want to continue to be associated with and want to continue to support through charitable giving.”

Donors like Myers advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the Commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.