Alvena Storm

Alvena (Suhl) Storm (March 10, 1902 – June 11, 2003) was the American Professor Emerita of Geography at San Diego State University (1926-1966) and a founding member of the department, serving as department chair. She was considered an expert in the geography of the Western United States.

Early life Alvena Suhl (later Storm) was born on March 10, 1902, in Pendleton, Oregon, United States, to German immigrant parents.

Education Alvena Storm received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in geography from the University of California, Berkeley where she studied with Carl Sauer. Her Master's thesis focused on the San Diego region. She wished to pursue a doctorate, but was denied admission to the PhD program because of her gender. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by San Diego State University in 1996.

Honors She was awarded an Academic Achievement Award by the American Association of University Professors in 1958. She was also awarded an honorary doctorate from SDSU in 1996.