November Alumni of the Month 2014

November Alumni of the Month

Name: Carter Ray
Year of graduation: Dec. 2013
Major: Geographic Information Science – GIS/Computer Cartography
 

Current employment status:
• Employer: Geographic Services Inc.
• Position: GIS Analyst

Did you/do you currently go to graduate school? If so:
• School: University of Maryland
• Program: Geographical Sciences
• Degree: Masters of Professional Science in Geographic Information Sciences

Current Research:

I am currently working on a geographic names project for National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. This project consists of populating a geographic names database of locations in various counties around the world.  

Why did you want to be a GEOG/GIS/ENSP major?

I wanted to major in GIS because I have always been interested in maps.  I was the kid on family vacations that always wanted to be the navigator.  Geography is the most basic root of everything - the rise of civilizations, culture, economics, history and evolution - they all depend on their unique positions on this planet.  Geography spans such a wide range of scientific fields and is applicable to a myriad of research disciplines.  The spatial component of research ties everything together.

What internships or independent research did you do as a GEOG/GIS/ENSP major?

While an undergrad I worked on a research project for Montgomery County. We mapped socioeconomic factors that influenced county school zone performance statistics such as graduation rates and median income.  We developed a research procedure to define school districts based on census data.  We then produced maps showing the spatial distribution of high school performance and presented them to department faculty and a liaison from Montgomery County.  This was a valuable experience in designing a research project and presenting the results, in addition to the extra experience using ArcGIS.
 

What recommendations would you make to current GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors for career and academic success while they are still undergraduates?

INTERNSHIPS!! Get involved in as many different projects as you can.  You can work on research projects with faculty, graduate students, and other students.  You can even get credit for them.  Gain all the experience you can because it goes a long way to building your resume and increasing your skills.

What recommendations would you make to current GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors for career and academic success aftergraduation?

NETWORKING!! Keep in touch with the GEOG department and your professors.  If you haven’t had an internship, get one.  Start your job search and don’t be afraid to take positions that might not be exactly what you want to do.  Remember, you're looking for experience wherever you can get it.