It has been more than thirty years since I first met Allen Noble. I was a first-year graduate student who had just entered the MA program in geography at the University of Akron. Allen was Head of the Department. One of my earliest memories of those graduate school days was a day-long field trip around Akron and its environs, an annual event which Allen always led for new students. It began early in the morning and went well into the evening. By day's end the group was completely exhausted save one. Allen ended the day as fresh, enthusiastic, and energetic as he began it.

Throughout my graduate days at Akron I saw that same enthusiasm and energy exhibited over and over again. I saw it in the classes I took from Allen, in the mentoring he provided as my thesis advisor, and in his informal interactions with faculty, staff, and students. Ultimately, I too entered academe and over the years have worked with Allen on various projects. And, yes, he always approached our collaborations with the same enthusiasm that I experienced in my early graduate school days.

Those who know Allen are quick to realize that this enthusiasm springs from his passion for all things geographical. It is a passion that spans Geography's spectrum – physical, cultural, social, regional, urban, etc. He brings a distinct intellectual curiosity to virtually every sub-field of the discipline. It is fitting, then, that this particular volume has been assembled in his honour.