Why did you choose to attend UNI? What factors influenced your reason for studying your major?

The UNI campus felt comfortable to me and I was aware of the variety and high quality of programs that the University had to offer. I also looked forward to having smaller classes which allowed me to get to know my professors and fellow classmates better.  I was also excited about the opportunity to participate in the Panther Marching Band.  One of the reasons the GIS major stuck out to me was my interest with Geography and maps, and how the GIS major has allowed me to incorporate my technology skills and analysis skills into solving real world issues.

What do you do in your future position? What do you think you will enjoy about it?

I am currently the GIS and Right-of-way Specialist at Cedar Falls Utilities. In my job, I map current and future assets for the city utilities, help provide input in the planning process of utility placement, and help acquire easements for the utilities to use. I enjoy the mix of being able to work on mapping within the office, but also being out in the field to GPS assets.

How did your major help prepare you for your future role? What skills will you still be using today?

I use ArcGIS and many of its applications in the office every day, GPS new buildings for the utility basemaps that are used in planning, and utilize skills of how to visually represent this data in a way that is easy to read and view. My coursework labs also increased my skills on how to best collaborate with others in a project setting, since teamwork is so crucial in the field. 

What is a memorable part of your studies or participation within your major?

Within my major, I really enjoyed my internship with GeoTREE where I was able to work on a real-world project related to mapping wifi access points on campus.  I also thought working on class projects in the Geography labs with my classmates helped us all learn the concepts better as we could share insights and talk each other through challenging spots. I also had fun in the Geography club, getting to know other people in my major.  Outside of my major, my time in Panther Marching Band and the Pep Band was a lot of fun, and also enhanced my leadership skills as part of the PMB Special Operations team.

What advice would you give to students currently interested in the same major and/or going into your career field?

For the major, I suggest making sure you talk with faculty and advisors so you understand the many options that are available to pursue in the field, and how to get the best experiences to be competitive when you graduate.  Along with that, I think it was really helpful to get involved in a variety of ways, like through the student club or research, etc.  For a career in a field that utilizes GIS, I would advise getting as much exposure to GIS as you can.  Different ways that I did were through classes, undergraduate research, and an internship followed by part-time employment in a GIS-oriented center.  This gave me a good knowledge of the large range of fields and applications where GIS is an important tool to accomplish goals (such as environmental resource management, construction management, city planning, agriculture, etc.), and helped me a lot during my interview to show that I could apply GIS skills.