Julie Urbanik

About the Author

Julie Urbanik is a distinguished geographer and scholar whose work illuminates the intricate intersections of human and animal lives in our shared environments. With a PhD in Geography from the University of Minnesota, she has dedicated her career to exploring how animals are placed—both literally and figuratively—in human-dominated landscapes, challenging conventional boundaries between nature and society. Urbanik's research draws on interdisciplinary approaches, blending cultural geography, environmental ethics, and animal studies to address pressing issues like urbanization, conservation, and ethical treatment of non-human beings. As an educator and advocate, she inspires students and readers to reconsider our responsibilities toward the more-than-human world, fostering a deeper appreciation for the geographies that shape coexistence. Her accessible yet rigorous prose makes complex concepts approachable, bridging academic inquiry with public discourse on sustainability and empathy.