Dr. Joel Helmer
Professor of Geography, Chair of Department of History, Geography, Intercultural Studies and Modern Languages
402-643-7302 Joel.Helmer@cune.eduJesse Hall 230
2024 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award Recipient
Dr. Joel Helmer serves as professor of geography and Chair of the Department of History, Geography, Intercultural Studies and Modern Languages at Concordia University, Nebraska, where he has taught since 2007. He teaches a variety of geography and environmental science courses and regularly leads international travel courses, with recent trips including Peru, New Zealand and Vietnam.
Dr. Helmer holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Oklahoma State University, an M.A. in Geography from the University of Akron and a B.S. in Secondary Education from Concordia University, Nebraska. His teaching includes courses such as GPS and Drone Technology, World Regional Geography, Introduction to Human Geography and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems.
Dr. Helmer’s book Nebraska's Bucks and Bulls: The Greatest Stories of Hunting Whitetail, Mule Deer, and Elk in the Cornhusker State was published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2020. A passionate traveler and outdoorsman, he has visited all 50 U.S. states and 23 countries. He enjoys reading, hunting, fishing and working on his acreage. Dr. Helmer and his wife, Holly, who serves as catalog librarian at Concordia, have three children, all of whom are Concordia alumni: Will ’20, Harrison ’21 and Hannah ’25.
“I value and support the ministry and mission of preparing young adults for a lifetime of Christian service to their families, church, employers and the world.”
Dr. Joel Helmer
Dr. Joel Helmer's Academic Programs
Undergraduate
Environmental Science / Studies
The environmental science program at Concordia University, Nebraska will prepare you for a variety of environmental careers by providing a core of required courses in different disciplines. You can then choose your area of emphasis: natural resources, geography, chemistry or business.
Geography
The geography program at Concordia University, Nebraska will help you explore why places are diverse economically, politically and culturally, and how humans shape and are in turn shaped by our environment. At Concordia Nebraska, you will combine rigorous scientific study with deeply conceptual theoretical analyses to learn more about God’s world and our place in it.
History
At Concordia University, Nebraska, we provide our students with a broad knowledge of history and equip them with the skills necessary to study and understand the past. You will leave the history program as a strong written and oral communicator and exceptional analytical thinker, which will serve you in studying the history and provide you with the tools you need to be successful in your future, no matter your choice of career.