My love of Geography has been cultivated since I was 8 years old by my mother, who after learning I was dyslexic, cultivated my intellectual strength of spatial analysis. She subscribed to National Geographic, my bedroom became plastered with maps, and I was forever the navigator on family outings. My formal education in Geography began as an undergrad at UMW with an intro to Human Geography class. I soon learned about GIS, which leverages the power of geography to inform, educate and illuminate spatial trends. I was hooked. Geography always seemed to explain the world in a way that I could easily comprehend. I love geography because it is universal – everything has a “where.” After graduation, I began a career as a GIS Analyst. Almost 8 years later, I am still happily employed in this sector and write geospatial policy for the federal government. I am currently working on a Masters in Information Technology to better deploy GIS Systems to different organizations. The bridge between my liberal arts background in geography and the technical experience I gained from my GIS Certification opened doors in the lucrative tech industry where thinking outside the box has benefited me greatly.
Besides what I learned in classes ranging from Spatial Statistics to Geopolitics, my favorite aspects of UMW’s Geography program was the community of people. Two of Geography labs were a frequent hangout spot for Geography students while completing schoolwork. Students were also encouraged to participate in faculty-led trips both internationally and domestically. The community of geography students helped everyone thrive. Older students regularly helped to understand concepts and theories, and enabled incoming classmates to find their grounding within the department. Late nights doing homework were always accompanied by some level of fun as some of us would gather to study or finish a project. On a faculty-led study abroad trip to South Africa, I met one of my life-long friends, Cassandra (Ratti) Pierandri. This community did not fade away once I joined the professional world. I networked with other UMW Geography alum to find jobs, help research projects, and go geocaching; in turn, as I have become more successful in my own career, I have supported recent graduates by providing internship opportunities. I would highly encourage anyone to study Geography at UMW.