The lifetime fellowship honors geographers who have made significant contributions to the discipline and can serve as a body of advisers for the AAG and mentors for early and mid-career faculty.
Hanna is noted for his work in critical cartography, drawing attention to the ways a map’s meaning changes through use. His research on tourism has changed the way slavery is interpreted for tourists who visit Virginia’s plantation museums.
The AAG also has appointed Hanna to a four-year term as cartography editor for its three journals, Annals, Professional Geographer, and GeoHumanities.