December MPS Alumni of the Month: Karreem Ali

Name: Karreem Ali

Year of graduation: 2015

Current employment status:

Employer: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Position: GIS Developer
What is a recent project that you have worked on that you have drawn on skills from the MPS program?

I was charged to create a new enterprise geodatabase for an in-house working group. Using the skills that I learned from the spatial database system, and GIS programming classes,  I was able to plan the database, and create an intricate data ingestion system that updates features in the database using Python. I also used the JavaScript, and HTML web programming skills that I learned while in the program to create an administrative health check application to keep up with it all.

How have the skills you have learned in the MPS program helped you progress in your career?

While I was in the program, I worked as an intern for a government agency here in the Metro DC area. From the beginning, I applied the knowledge that I acquired from the program in my internship. The program manager saw the value of my GIS knowledge, and extended my internship from just a semester to a full year. I am proud to say that the scripts and applications I designed for that government agency four years ago are still in use today.

Today, as the only GIS Developer in my line office, I am tasked with a majority of the
large-scale GIS projects. I recently built out an internal enterprise GIS from the ground up; a majority of the skills I have learned in the MPS program were of great benefit to the effort. Some of the skills I have been able to apply from the MPS program include:

• Scripted automated data ingestion processes using Python
• Use of spatial analysis tools
• Construction of GIS databases
• Creation and design GIS web services
• Use of agile methodologies in project management

The MPS program has substantially enhanced my career in GIS. What I gained in the program helped me to become a better member of society, a geographic information scientist, and a highly skilled programmer. I am pleased to say that I graduated from this program.

What drew you to the MPS GIS program at Maryland?

I was impressed on how flexible the program was around my schedule. With the responsibility of a full-time internship/job during the workweek, it was important to me that the lectures were held in the evening. Having access to recordings of all the lectures, with the ability to review them whenever I wanted to was essential to my success in the program. The lecturers were cordial, and answered any questions I had; they were always timely, and relatable. Being in a program that recognizes the value of information availability, and access was very important to me.

What advice can you give current and prospective students about the MPS program?

Attend as many GIS meetups and professional development seminars as possible! In doing so, you will meet people of interest, and grow your net worth by increasing your network. Even if the event is not GIS-centric, you will come to find many IT applications have a geospatial component, or could be applied in a geospatial context. For example, I attended a Red Hat Linux developer event where they were making webmaps using some of the same JavaScript APIs as GIS techies do. GIS is everywhere, so be active in sharing its uses by speaking with people and planting seeds of opportunity for yourself. Meet people outside of your genre, venue or line of study.

What recommendations would you make to current students for career and academic success after graduation?

In general, always challenge yourself to learn different tools that you could use in your daily workflow:

If you are not a great programmer, take additional introduction to Python, JavaScript, or other programming language courses online. The UMD allows free access to Lynda.com training, if you are a registered student, so take advantage of this resource while you can! There are also plenty of other courses out there specifically geared toward GIS, you just have to look for them.

If you are more of an advanced user, try to be ahead of the curve with some of the new technologies in IT, and GIS. Right now, in the IT industry, there is a focus on DevOps with tools that help automate, and monitor your software, and hardware infrastructure. The GIS community is starting to use its own flavor of DevOps tools to work with GIS infrastructure. Try to learn as much as possible about these new tools, and others that are on the horizon.

What are some of your hobbies/interests? 

I used to be a mobile DJ during my time as an undergrad, and I still ‘whip out’ the old turntables (...or controllers nowadays) occasionally, to do a ‘gig’, or to play for friends. I am also interested in single board computing with Arduinos, and Raspberry Pi - very useful tools to improve your coding skills. Someday, I plan to build my own DJ controller from one.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Networking is everything. Feel free to reach out on professional social media outlets like LinkedIn, local organizations, and in asking professors for recommendations.

Stay creative!

June Alumni of the Month: Paul Lai

Name: Paul Lai

Year of graduation: 2016

Major: Geographic Information System

Current employment status:

·         Employer: IBM (International Business Machine)

·         Position: Technical Consultant

What drew you GEOG/GIS/ENSP?

 GIS

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

Internships:

Facilities Management (with the University of Maryland)

-          Working with GIs tools and applications along with working with front end development

FedCentric

-          Learned about cyber security working on spark and insider threat protection

CattLab (Center for Transportation Technology)

-          doing Gis development

What do you do at your current job?

I am currently doing procurement of goods with clients from all over the world. I work with the software to be able to do supply chain along with teaching other venders how to use the software.

Source orders of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics tests, and medical equipment to be sent to 39 countries – predominately in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia’s Mekong Region in support of the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).

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

I would recommend that they do as many internships in many different fields and gain a lot of experience as possible. Network with a lot of people and make connections to gain more exposure to what you are interested in and push and get out there and try to do as much as possible. Also, do not let your degree be the only thing that is giving you leverage because the more skills you have the more marketable you become. Look for what you are passionate about and try to gain exposure in those fields and set goals for you to get closer to what you are passionate about. 

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

Do not think that your first job will be your dream job. Also, do not be afraid to do something because you are not good at it, I would say give everything a chance and try to go above and beyond and get good at it. Once you get good at something then make the decision to whether is it right for you. I would say get comfortable being uncomfortable because that will lead to growth. Allow yourself to take in as much as possible and to never stop learning.  

What do you miss the most about UMD?

The thing that I miss most about UMD is the people and the memories that I made with others at the university. I miss the support system that the university provides to help students succeed, thank you to Keith Yearwood for always having your door open to talk and give me career advice and life advice. 

What are some of your hobbies/interests?

Rock climbing, watching movies, hanging out with friends, traveling, trying new foods

Anything else you’d like to add?

I would like to give thanks to Keith Yearwood, Naijun Zhou, and Allen Eney for the advice in life and the lessons in the classroom and for always going above and beyond to help students to succeed in their goals and passions. Thank you as well for Amanda Hoffman Hall for allowing me to come speak to her GEOG212 class about my experience and a chance to give back. 

June MPS Alumni of the Month: Trevor Olexy

Name: Trevor Olexy

Year of graduation: 2015

 Current employment status: Employed

·  Employer: United States Dept. of State

·  Position: Data Visualization Expert, Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations

What is a recent project that you have worked on that you have drawn on skills from the MPS program?

I have been running time-series statistical analysis on conflict data in Africa. Without a solid background in spatial stats from the MPS program, I would not be able to properly address questions I received from ambassadors. I routinely lean on ArcGIS to make stunning maps with a story. Model building and scripting are key when manipulating and organizing or cleaning data. Data is almost never clean. I’m down in the data-trenches daily, one of the best ways to get to know your data.

How have the skills you have learned in the MPS program helped you progress in your career?

 The skills gained from completing the MPS program allowed me to apply my expertise in transportation, deforestation monitoring, and now conflict analysis/big data. The wide array of courses available in the MPS program allowed me to take those courses I thought would be the most exciting and useful to me in the future.

What drew you to the MPS GIS program at Maryland?

-Two previous alums of the MPS program turned me on to the existence of something called GIS. It was only natural that my love of maps and computer programming led me to pursue a master’s degree with some wonderfully experienced professors at UMD.

What advice can you give current and prospective students about the MPS program?​

GIS is a massive and ever expanding field. I cannot stress enough how many opportunities exist for GIS professionals, even in fields you may think do not have a geographic aspect. As a student, it can take some time to pinpoint your geo-passion (unless you are one of the lucky-ones) but once you do and actually even if you don’t, doors will open. I started out as an intern with Amazon Conservation Association here in DC, was promoted to GIS/Remote sensing consultant under-taking large projects, and now on to the US State Dept on the advanced analytics team as their geospatial analyst for conflict. Never stop exploring!

What recommendations would you make to current students for career and academic success after graduation?

-Focus on what excites you. GIS is an expansive field with myriad niches to explore. Possibly anecdotal, but I have been required to back up policy recommendations, research, and analysis with a sound statistical foundation. Focus on your stats classes, they will help you in the future even if they may be painful (as they were for me!). It can be hard but if you can make some sacrifices for unpaid internships or lucky enough to find paid ones or consultancies, do as many as you can. Experience is paramount in the GIS job search. Strive to tell stories with maps. Shapes and colors can be made to look stunning, but if the customer is unable to interpret it and draws incorrect conclusions from the map…well you get the idea.

What are some of your hobbies/interests? 

-Almost too many to mention: competitive track cycling, sitar performance, woodworking, performing with my bluegrass band, fixing anything I can get my hands on, cooking and taking care of my dogs and chickens.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Background:

Bachelors in Psychology UMCP

Bachelor’s in Jazz Bass performance UMCP

MPS GIS: UMCP

Worked full time as a train control technician with WMATA while earning my Master’s degree (it’s possible!) and happy to have found my niche in the professional world. 

April Alumni of the Month: Matthew Norman

Name: Matthew Norman

Year of graduation: 2013

Major: Geography

Minor: GIS

Current employment status:

●     Employer: US Census Bureau

●     Position: Geographer

What drew you GEOG/GIS/ENSP?

I was changing my major and was initially interested in pursuing a career that would allow me to work with the environment.

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

I applied to the Census Bureau during my first semester as a geography student and received an offer for a summer internship. The internship was extended several times and eventually I was hired after graduation.

What do you do at your current job?

The team I’m on now largely works with spatial products for both internal customers within the Census and external customers such as local partners and the public. These spatial products are extracts from the MAF/TIGER database (MTDB) and are created throughout the year, usually from a benchmark and sometimes from the live database. I perform QC (quality control) for some of these products, such as the TIGER/Line shapefiles (which are available to the public here: https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/tiger-line.html). I am also now responsible for maintaining the software requirements documentation for several products which are generated from the MTDB, and as such I will be responsible for the QC of those products. Generally speaking, QC involves comparing a shapefile, geodatabase, or table to the requirements used to create it and the rules which govern the source data in the MTDB. It also involves ensuring that the contents of the files generally look appropriate, that fields are populated where expected or that spatial features exist and appear well-formed.

Our team is also involved in the development of new partnership software for partnership programs such as the Boundary Annexation Survey and the Block Boundary Suggestion Project. The software, known as GUPS (Geographic Update Partnership Software), is being developed by a separate team and my role is to provide user acceptance testing as a federal user. Testing is required for recently added features or improvements to the software as well as for finding defects and testing those which have recently been fixed. I use the software as if I were one of our partners providing updates to the Census and I provide feedback to the development team.

I also recently finished creating the Geodatabases with ACS 5-year estimate data for 2010-2014 (data which become available in December, 2015). The source data is provided to the public in the form of summary files (delimited text files) with several other files used as references for reading the data. I created a SAS script which reads necessary information from several of those reference files and then combines the summary files (the ones with data) into national tables grouped by overall theme. Empty fields are identified by the script and are dropped, and corresponding entries in the metadata table are dropped. The output tables have labeled fields and GEOIDs (read: “geo IDs”) for matching data to geography. I used python scripts to create the geodatabases and add the feature classes, metadata tables, and data tables. The resultant geodatabases make it much easier for an end user to create a thematic map using ACS 5-year estimate data. The geodatabases are available here: https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/tiger-data.html

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

Make an effort to learn technical skills now even if you don’t think you’ll need them

Don’t put off searching for an internship. Your career is already starting and it’s up to you to start off strong. You have so many opportunities right now that may be closed to you after graduation.

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

Take on greater responsibility. It will make you a better person and a more valuable asset.

Ask questions and show interest in all aspects of your life.

What do you miss the most about UMD?

I would say I miss watching the seasons change on campus and finally feeling like I belonged at UMD during my time in the Geography program, but I live and work nearby and haven’t completely lost those things. Funny enough, I miss all the time I spent in the computer labs in LeFrak. With the passage of time I tend to forget the moments of frustration and what sleep deprivation feels like... and I actually miss some of those late nights of everyone in the lab going stir crazy together.

What are some of your hobbies/interests?

-HiFi audio, especially if it involves vacuum tubes and comes as a kit that requires an evening or two of soldering.*

-Keeping my Oldsmobile running, despite it being slow and ugly by most standards.*

-Video games, but nothing competitive or that requires me to devote regular time to it.*

*To the extent that the responsibilities of adulthood and marriage will allow.

Anything else you’d like to add?

The Census Bureau is hiring geographers right now: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/429956300/

December Alumni of the Month: Michael Fileta

Name:  Michael Fileta

Year of graduation: December 2004

Major: Geography

Current employment status:

·         Employer: Marymount California University

·         Position: Director of Advising, Oceanview Campus

Graduate school:

Completed in 2014

·         School:  Azusa Pacific University, Azusa California

·         Program: College Counseling and Student Development

·         Degree: Masters of Science

In progress:

·         School: Claremont Graduate University, Claremont California

·         Program: Higher Education/Student Affairs

·         Degree: Ph.D.

Current Research (if any):

The effects of mattering and marginality on first-year college student academic performance and psychological well being.

October Alumni of the Month: Kristofer Lasko

Name: Kristofer Lasko

Year of graduation: 2012 (B.S.), 2014 (M.P.S. GIS)

Major: Geographical Sciences

Current employment status:

·         Employer: University of Maryland, Department of Geographical Sciences

·         Position: Graduate Research Assistant

Did you/do you currently go to graduate school? If so:

·         School: University of Maryland

·         Program: Geographical Sciences        

·         Degree: PhD (Current)

Current Research:

I am currently a 2^nd-year PhD student in the Department of Geographical Sciences who is mentored by Dr. Chris Justice and Dr. Krishna Vadrevu. My current research focuses on crop residue characterization, burning, and associated emissions in the greater Hanoi area of Vietnam. The research combines field-based methods and remote sensing observations.

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

Many college majors have curriculums which follow a rigid course schedule, with very little choice. Geography was appealing to me because I had a lot of choice in a plethora of electives as well as choice with major-related courses. This individualistic approach was beneficial to me because I had an interest in both the social sciences (demography, urban studies) and physical sciences (ecology, biology). I was able to take classes outside of the department or within the department that focused on these subjects –an opportunity I wouldn’t have been afforded in another major.

Further solidifying my interest in selecting geography at UMD was the size of the department. When I entered the program, there were only around 100 undergraduate students. This facilitated individual interaction with faculty members and teaching assistants who are often too busy to regularly interact within individuals in larger departments. The individual interaction is critical for intellectual discourse, networking, future recommendation letters, etc.

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

I worked a myriad of unrelated jobs (park ranger, guitar teacher, receptionist, etc.) while I was an undergraduate student before taking an internship in geography my senior year, as well as completing an independent study course in the geography department. The independent study course focused on eminent domain in the U.S. after the Kelo case. I encourage students to take an independent study course so that they can produce writing examples to highlight for future employers.

The internship was in the geography department and was guided by Dr. Krishna Vadrevu. The work initially involved GIS and remote sensing data processing broadly related to land cover and land use change science. The first major project we conducted was entitled “Fire Regimes and Potential Bioenergy Loss from Agricultural Lands in the Indo-Gangetic Plains”. After graduation, the position later evolved into a full-time position and then a subsequent graduate research assistantship during grad school. During this time I also TAed for GEOG373 and instructed GEOG579A.

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

Cultivate a passion in a topic that piques your interest. If you are getting a slow start at this, try seeking out guidance from lecturers, professors, or TAs from classes that you really enjoy. Sometimes, they may have opportunities for you to do some internship work or could offer guidance for a course project. Once you have found a passion, then you should seek-out documentable experiences related to this passion such as completion of an honor’s thesis (an excellent choice if you are even remotely considering graduate school).

I would also recommend you to develop a skill set as early as possible. You should aim to take the technical courses (GIS, remote sensing, programming, statistics, etc.) as soon as possible instead of during your senior year. This will give you a better chance at obtaining an internship during your senior year because you will have skills that are often desired in geography-related internships. With a competitive job market, 1 or 2 internships are often required before you can secure a geography job.

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

It can take many months to find gainful employment in geography. If you aren’t able to line anything up right after graduation, then I highly recommend you to gain breadth and depth in tangible and demonstrable skills (i.e. programming, because of the high demand and employability). Aside from internships/employment to boost your resume, you can use different GIS software, statistical software, etc. to build upon skills while working through problems in topics that interest you.

Echoing what some of the other alumni have said: Network! Getting a job in your desired field is largely about who you know and who knows you. GPA, field of study, coursework, and internships are important, but they will only take you so far. For the final step, you should find conferences, meet-ups, clubs, volunteer organizations, etc. which are related to your career interests. Not only will you learn a lot, make some connections, and have some excellent experiences, you may also find a job opportunity from one of these experiences. 

September Alumni of the Month: Fernando Ramirez

Name: Fernando Ramirez

Major: GIS

Year of Graduation: 2010

Current employment status: 

• Employer: University of Maryland, Department of Geographical Sciences
• Position: Systems Administrator

Did you/do you currently go to graduate school? If so:

• School: University of Maryland
• Program: Master of Professional Studies in Geographical Information Sciences

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

Becoming a GIS major was an easy decision. It was a program that would allow me to take advantage of my technical background and apply it to my interest in environmental changes. It was also a program that allowed flexibility when choosing a career path since the technology could be applied to many fields.

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

As a GIS major, most of the independent research I have done consisted of tracking the effects ski resorts have on their environment. Modeling soil erosion and water use were the two major components of my research.

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

From my experience, GIS careers are increasingly becoming more dependent on programming and scripting skills. Undergraduates should take advantage of the many courses available that teach good programming foundations on campus. This will allow them to take full advantage of GIS software features as well as one day make themselves more marketable to employers.

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

Post-graduation, I would recommend GIS majors to continue gaining knowledge in order to become successful in their careers. Due to the nature of technology, GIS is ever-changing, so keeping up with new features and methods is key to developing and growing.

August Alumni of the Month: Rachel Berndtson

Name: Rachel Berndtson

Major: Geography

Minor: GIS

Current employment status:

·Employer: University of Maryland

·Position: Assistant Director of Academic Programs

Did you/do you currently go to graduate school? If so:

·School: University of Maryland

·Program: Geographical Sciences

·Degree: PhD

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

To learn about human environment interactions, and to gain the skills necessary to analyze a breadth of phenomena from a geographic perspective. Geographers aren’t limited in their context of study, but rather apply Geographic thinking, skills, and analysis to better understand a wide range of topics.

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

Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) internship with the Environmental Protection Agency;

Independent studies and honors research on coastal shoreline erosion with Dr. Michael Kearney.

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

Take advantage of all opportunities (internships, research, honors program) through which you can apply your geographic skills outside the controlled classroom environment. 

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

Network at every opportunity. 

July Alumni of the Month: Tom Fitzwater

Name: Tom Fitzwater
Year of graduation: 2008 (BS), 2010 (MA)
Major: Geography/GIS, Anthropology
Minor: Astronomy

Current employment status:
• Employer: United States Census Bureau
• Position: Geographer

Did you/do you currently go to graduate school?  If so:
• School: UMD
• Program: GEOG
• Degree: MA

Current Research (if any):

I am a geographer and capacity building specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau’s International Programs. My group is funded primarily by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to build the capacity of national statistical offices through technical assistance and training. Why? Because high quality data are critical for making informed decisions, including geospatial data and GIS for mapping socioeconomic and health issues. In this role, I have worked in several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Previously, I was a global population analyst with the Census Bureau working to build geospatial data products to better understand local population dynamics around the world. I serve on several data/geospatial advisory committees within the agency and across agencies.

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

Geography is the ideal applied interdisciplinary major. Over the course of my academic career, I was a data analyst, programmer, remote sensing specialist, website designer, technical writer, statistician, soil scientist, archaeologist, environmental scientist, anthropologist, economist, sociologist, and more. Few other majors give students such tremendous flexibility in researching challenging, timely, and important social and physical science questions using a combination of quantitative and qualitative research. 

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

As an undergrad, I interned with the Land Cover and Land Use Change (LCLUC) program in Dr. Chris Justice’s group to help manage their website. Between undergrad and grad school, I interned with UMD'sEarth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) to develop scripts and programs for processing data into the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), part of the Chesapeake Bay Forecast System. During graduate school, I interned with the U.S. Census Bureau to process and classify satellite imagery into a raster product of impervious built-up area in Pakistan.

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

Get an internship! Coursework is important, but practical experience will enhance your skills and give you a valuable perspective on the field outside of academia. You may even get your foot in the door and line up a post-graduation career. At the very least, you should aim to make a good impression with some potential references for future jobs or graduate school applications. Also, build your knowledge of programming languages, statistics, web development, and data analytics. All of those skills complement each other and are in very high demand.

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

Network! Meeting people who share your professional interests has the dual benefit of building friendships and keeping you informed of the latest trends and practices. In a rapidly-evolving field like GIS, staying current is an absolute must and positions you well for the future. Attending conferences like AAG,Esri, FOSS4G, ASPRS, NACIS, State of the Map, etc. are very beneficial, but you should also look into local monthly meetups such as Geo DC.

May Alumni of the Month: Chris McPartland

Name: Chris McPartland

Undergraduate

Year of graduation:  2012

Major: Geographic Information Systems

Current employment status:

• Employer: Icaros Inc.
• Position:  Processing Manager

Did you/do you currently go to graduate school? If so:

• School: University of Maryland
• Program: Masters of Professional Studies
• Degree: Geospatial Information Sciences 

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

As a kid I always loved maps, and wanted to be involved in the making of them. When I heard that I would have a chance at making maps for all different kinds of purposes ranging from agriculture to military purposes I was hooked. 

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

While I was at the University of Maryland I had an internship with NOAA. NOAA offered this position to students to help expose them to the workings of a government agency. This position involved the managing of oceanic charts. We used ArcMap to alter shapefiles to help reduce redundancy of features such as roads. While working this internship I learned many GIS related skills, but also gained knowledge of how agencies worked in general. 

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

I would tell them to actively seek out internships in the field. Many students will wait until late their senior year to find an internship, and in many cases it is too late. I would also recommend that students work together. While taking many classes in undergrad, I found that I did some of my best work when helping and receiving help from others. One last word of advice is to apply for jobs early. Don’t be afraid to start applying early your senior year for jobs. 

 What recommendations would you make to current GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors for career and academic success after graduation?
Like I stated previously, the best thing you can do is set yourself up for success after graduation. Apply for jobs early so you are already ahead when you graduate. I would also recommend that anyone that is interested in a masters or PHD, should look into Maryland’s grad programs. Maryland’s MPS program is an amazing program with very knowledgeable professors and TAs. 

April Alumni of the Month: Mohammed Kemal

Name: Mohammed Kemal

Undergraduate

Year of graduation:  May 2014

Major: Geographic Information Systems

Minor:  Global Poverty

Current employment status:

• Employer:  NOAA OPSO Satellite Mission Operations and Maintenance Support
• Position:  Scientific Programmer(contractor)

Did you/do you currently go to graduate school? If so:

• School: University of Maryland-College park
• Program: Masters of Professional Studies
• Degree: Geographic Information Sciences 

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

To be honest the initial reason to why I wanted to be a GIS major was not that all exciting. Due to me changing over 6 majors in undergrad, in the end it came down to wanting to graduate on time. Though, at the time that was the deciding factor for me to become a GIS major, it was not till later on I learned the importance of GIS and remote sensing and how it can be relatable to the field I want to work in, which is Sustainable Agriculture. Often times, I joke and say I want to be a glorified farmer but there is nothing wrong with that. Especially considering much of the world’s income comes from agriculture, why not make it better. In return not only will I have an opportunity to succeed but most of all give back to the world.

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

I have had the pleasure to take part in several internships, ranging from land cover change to energy. I have worked at NASA, U.S. Department of State, USDA, USAID, Muslim Public Affairs Council and currently working at NOAA. With each and every one of these internships, I had the opportunity to dip my toes in many different applications of GIS but my favorite one thus far has to be NASA. The reason for this is because we had an opportunity to study mangrove extent for a 13 year period in which we then produce a prediction map for 2030. This was all done to show the Myanmar policy makers the need to change their policies and protect these mangroves.

Link to Project: http://earthzine.org/2013/11/17/the-bare-necessities-forecasting-myanmars-mangrove-extent-and-biomass/

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

I think the biggest thing I learned from being a GIS major is that, at the end of the day it is a technical field; there will always be a need for people in this field. I think the biggest draw back in undergrad is that as student we neglect experience and only focus on academics. Yes, a 4.0 will look amazing on paper but if you can not back it up with experience, what is the point? So I highly recommend undergrads getting out there and finding places to gain more experience, does not have to be all in GIS. In the end, you can always find a way to implement GIS. Lastly, PROGRAMMING! If I can go back in time, I would minor in Compuer science. There is an increasing need fro programming, whether it is in GIS or in general. If you can intern where you can program GREAT! If not use site such as Code Academy, Code school and UMD’s Linda to learn programming languages.

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

I would recommend undergrads to really look into the applications of GIS and not just the tool itself. Don’t get me wrong, I believe GIS is very powerful and thus why I am doing it as a grad student, but what is even more powerful is the application and versatility of the tool. I want to implement GIS and Remote Sensing in doing Sustainable agriculture and my recommendation would be to find something that you are passionate about and implement GIS to it.