Research interests:

• human-environment geography
• agriculture & environmental science
• water & soil management
• mountains
• Mexico & the Caribbean, Latin America

Education:

• PhD, University of Texas at Austin (2014)
• MA, Universidad de las Americas, Puebla, Mexico (2003)
• BA, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN. (1998)

Funding provided by:

• National Science Foundation (HEGS): #2314574, #1031676
  
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)
• Partnership for the Americas (Jenkins Foundation)
• National Geographic Society  
• Fulbright-Hays (w Mellon Foundation)
• Boren Fellowship for International Study (NSEP)
• US Department of State (WHA)
• British Library Endangered Archives Programme
• National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), University of Maryland
• University of Alabama
• University of Texas

LaFevor, M. C. Geography: Mexico (2025). (review essay) In Handbook of Latin American Studies: Social Sciences No.77, p. 159-169. (ed.) T. North. Hispanic Division, Library of Congress. Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN: 978-1-4773-3047-0

Hales, L. P., Hart, J. L., Hiesl, P., LaFevor, M. C., Snider, I. M. (2025) Soil and residual tree impacts of a draft animal-logged timber harvest in the southeastern United States. Forest Science. DOI: 10.1007/s44391-025-00035-7
 
Thapa, P., Davis, L., Amanambu, A., LaFevor, M. C., Frame, J. (2025) Enhanced river morphology analysis using deep learning and medial axis transform with Sentinel 1A imagery. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. DOI: 10.1002/esp.70158
 
Hales, L. P., Hart, J. L., Hiesl, P., LaFevor, M. C., Snider, I. (2025) Characterizing draft animal logging operations in the southeastern United States. Trees, Forests and People 20: 100824. DOI: 10.1016/j.tfp.2025.100824

Goode, J. D.; Hart, J. L.; Dey, D. C.; LaFevor, M. C.; Torreano, S. J. (2023) Restoration of low-intensity fire in Quercus-Pinus mixedwoods following a prolonged period of fire exclusion. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 54: 97-109. DOI: 10.1139/cjfr-2023-0016

Ramos-Scharrón, C.E.; Alicea-Diaz, E.E.; Figueroa-Sánchez, Y.; LaFevor, M.C.​; McLaughlin, P.; MacDonald, L.H.; Reale-Munroe, K.; Thomaz, E.L.; Viqueriera-Ríos, R. (2023) Three decades of road and trail runoff and erosion work in the Northeastern Caribbean: A research program perspective, ​Journal of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 66(1): 35-45. ​DOI:10.13031/ja.15078  

Azaeez, O.; Henderson-Mitchell, R. J.; LaFevor, M.C.; Gregg, A. (2023) Socioeconomic predictors of access to improved water sources, sanitation facilities, and household water treatment in Nigeria. Journal of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene for Development 13(11): 875-884. DOI: 0.2166/washdev.2023.169

LaFevor, M. C. (2022) Spatial and temporal changes in crop species production diversity in Mexico (1980-2020). Agriculture 12(7): 986. DOI:10.3390/agriculture12070985. (Cover Feature Paper)*

LaFevor, M. C. (2022) Crop species production diversity enhances revenue stability in low-income farm regions of Mexico. Agriculture 12(11): 1835. DOI:10.3390/agriculture12111835

LaFevor, M. C. (2022) Characterizing agricultural diversity with policy-relevant farm typologies in Mexico. Agriculture 12(9): 1315. DOI:10.3390/agriculture12091315

LaFevor, M. C. and Pitts, A. K. (2022) Irrigation increases crop species diversity in low-diversity farm regions of Mexico. Agriculture 12(7): 911. DOI:10.3390/agriculture12070911 ​(Editor's Choice Article)**

LaFevor, M. C. and Ramos-Scharrón, C. E. (2021) Effects of hillslope trenching on surface water infiltration in subalpine forested catchments. Hydrology 8(147): 1-20. DOI:10.3390/hydrology8040147

LaFevor, M. C., Frake, A. N. and Couturier, S. (2021) Targeting irrigation expansion to address sustainable development objectives: A regional farm typology approach. Water 13(2393): 1-19. DOI:10.3390/w13172393

LaFevor, M. C., Ponette-González, A. G., Larson, R., Mungai, L. M. (2021) Spatial targeting of agricultural support measures: Indicator-based assessment of coverages and leakages. Land 10(7): 1-17. DOI:10.3390/land10070740 ​(Editor's Choice Article)**

LaFevor, M. C. Geography: Mexico (2021) (review essay) In Handbook of Latin American Studies: Social Sciences No.74, (ed.) T. North. Hispanic Division, Library of Congress. Austin: University of Texas Press.

LaFevor, M. C. and Magliocca, N. R. (2020) Farmland size, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation management effects on maize and wheat yield in Mexico. Journal of Land Use Science 15(4): 532-546. DOI:10.1080/1747423X.2020.1800849

Weber, J. and LaFevor, M.C. (2020) Reconstructing Nevada's Arrowhead Trail from Submerged Cultural Resources. Geographical Review 111(3): 437-457. DOI:10.1080/00167428.2020.1800409

Ramos-Scharrón, C. and LaFevor, M. C. (2018) Effects of Forest Roads on Runoff Initiation in Low-Order Ephemeral Streams. Water Resources Research 54: 1-19. DOI:10.1029/2018WR023442

LaFevor, M. C., Cissell, J., Misfeldt, J. (2018) Agave Cultivation, Terracing, and Conservation in Mexico. Focus on Geography 61(1).  DOI:10.21690/foge/2017.61.1f

LaFevor, M. C., (2018) Review of Agrarian Crossings: Reformers and the Remaking of the US and Mexican Countryside (Princeton University Press, 2017) by Tore C. Olsson. In Journal of Historical Geography 60(1). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhg.2018.02.011

Alexander, S., Bishop, L., Budden, A., Cox, M., Crosas, M., Game, E., Geary, J., Hahn, C., Hardy, D., Johnson, J., Karcher, S., LaFevor, M.C., Motzer, N., Pinto da Silva, P., Pittman, J., Randell, H., Silva, J., Smith, J., Smorul, M., Strasser, C., Strawhacker, C., Stuhl, A, Weber, N., Winslow, D. (2018) Qualitative data sharing and re-use for socio-environmental systems research: A synthesis of opportunities, challenges, resources and approaches. SESYNC White Paper. DOI:10.13016/M2WH2DG59.

LaFevor, M. C. and Butzer, E. K., (2017) Medicinal Snow as a Public Good: Indigenous Communities, Merchants, and Justice in Colonial Mexico. Journal of Latin American Geography 16(3): 17-28. DOI:10.1353/lag.2017.0048

LaFevor, M. C., (2017) Review of City on Fire: Technology, Social Change, and the Hazards of Progress in Mexico City, 1860-1910 (University of Pittsburg Press, 2016) by Anna Rose Alexander. In Journal of Latin American Geography 16(2): 191-191. DOI: 10.1353/lag.2017.0035

Ramos-Scharrón, C. E. and LaFevor, M. C., (2016) The Role of Unpaved Roads as Active Source Areas of Precipitation Excess in Small Watersheds Drained by Ephemeral Streams. Journal of Hydrology 533: 168-79. DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.11.051

Suding, K., Higgs, E., Palmer, M., Callicott, J. B., Anderson, C. B., Baker, M., Gutrich, J. J., Hondula, K. L., LaFevor, M. C., Larson, B.. M., Randall, A., Ruhl, J. B., Schwartz, K. Z., (2015) Committing to Ecological Restoration: Efforts Around the Globe Need Legal and Policy Clarification. Science 350(6235): 638-640. DOI:10.1126/science.aaa4216

LaFevor, M. C., (2015) Environmental Concerns Facing the U.S. and Mexico: An International Perspective. In Neighborly Adversaries: Readings in U.S.-Latin American Relations, 3rd Edition. Michael J. LaRosa and Frank O. Mora, eds. (Roman and Littlefield): 265-276.

Hudson, P. F. and LaFevor, M. C., (2014) Introduction: Managing and Monitoring Human Impacts on Landscapes for Environmental Change and Sustainability, In P. F. Hudson and M. C. LaFevor (guest eds) special issue of the Journal of Environmental Management 138: 1-3.

LaFevor, M. C., (2014) Restoration of Degraded Agricultural Terraces: Rebuilding Landscape Structure and Process. Journal of Environmental Management 138: 32-42. DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.11.019

Hudson, P.F. and LaFevor, M.C., (guest editors) (2014) Management and Monitoring of Land Degradation and Environmental Change. Journal of Environmental Management 138: 1-96.

LaFevor, M. C., (2014) Review of Estudio Costero del Suroccidente de México (CIGA-UNAM, 2013) by Donald D. Brand. In The AAG Review of Books 2(3): 113-115.

LaFevor, M. C., (2014) Review of Environmental Histories of Modern Mexico (University of Arizona Press, 2013) edited by Christopher R. Boyer. In Journal of Historical Geography 43: 187.

Hudson, P. F., Sounny-Slitine, A., LaFevor, M. C., (2014) A New Longitudinal Approach to Assess Hydrologic Connectivity: Embanked Floodplain Inundation along the Lower MississippiRiver. Hydrological Processes 27: 2187-2196. DOI: 10.1002/hyp.9838

LaFevor, M. C., (2012) Building a Colonial Resource Monopoly: The Expansion of Sulphur Mining in New Spain (1600-1820). Geographical Review 102(2): 202-224. Received the Wrigley-Fairchild Award from the American Geographical Society. DOI: 10.1111/j.1931-0846.2012.00143.x

LaFevor, M. C., (2012) Sulphur Mining on Mexico's Popocatépetl Volcano (1820-1920): Origins, Development, and Human-Environmental Challenges. Journal of Latin American Geography 11(1): 79-98.

LaFevor, M. C., (2010) Review of Cartographic Encounters: Indigenous People and the Mapping of the New World (Reaktion Books, 2009) by John Rennie Short. In Journal of Latin American Geography 9(2): 183-185.

LaFevor, M. C., (2010) Mountains and Creative Mexican Maps: From Seminar to Survey. Portal: LLILAS Annual Review 5: 28-31.

*Feature Papers represent the most advanced research with significant potential for high impact in the field. This type of paper provides an outlook on future directions of research or possible applications.

**Editor’s Choice articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles recently published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to authors, or important in this field. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal.