Bio

Matthew Cross is an instructor in the Department of Geography & the Environment at the University of Denver, teaching classes in remote sensing and LiDAR. As a senior product manager at Maxar Technologies, he led the development and launch of core imagery products and services, working with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to deliver high-quality and user-centric outcomes. Matthew also contributed to the company’s mission of providing geospatial intelligence and insights to customers across various domains and sectors. Prior to that, he was an associate professor and coordinator of the GISci certificate program at the University of Colorado Denver, where he taught and mentored students, conducted research, and published papers on topics related to remote sensing of the environment. He has in-depth experience with databases, data management, and ArcGIS Pro, as well as a keen interest in the applications and implications of imagery and geospatial data for various fields and challenges.

Education

Matthew has a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering Systems from the University of Colorado Denver, and an M.A. in Climatology/Remote Sensing and a B.S. in Meteorology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Bio

Since 2003, Scott Kelly has worked with GIS and remote sensing, having started his career with the U.S. Geological Survey and then served as the Lab Director for the GIS and Remote Sensing Core Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has created online workshops and taught several geospatial courses. Other projects have included Grand Canyon archeology GIS management, land change detection with the BLM in southern Arizona, and ground water detection in Eastern Africa with USAID. Scott enjoys the combination of art and science that he finds in GIS and remote sensing. He currently resides in Flagstaff, AZ.

Education

Scott earned his M. S. in Geospatial Sciences from Northern Arizona University, and an M.S. in Sport and Leisure Services Management from University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Bio

Michelle Patton (Field) is an experienced Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP) with a longstanding history of integrating geospatial tools and location intelligence across many different companies and agencies. She has a deep understanding of geospatial strategies and builds lasting support for companies’ geospatial products.

Education

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Earth Sciences, as well as her Master of Science with a concentration in Geography from the University of Memphis. She is a certified GISP and a licensed Part 107 sUAS drone pilot.

Professional Background

Michelle currently serves as a GIS Developer on the Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW)’s GIS Administrative team, where she oversees robust enterprise geodatabases and develops geospatial tools for internal and external stakeholders. Previously, she served on the Memphis Area Geographic Information Council (MAGIC)’s Board of Directors and is a past-president. During her time at Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (SSR) she developed their drone operations program, which included capturing data, post-processing, increasing surveying accuracy to +/- 1 inch, training new pilots, and overseeing small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) projects. Before starting her career at SSR, Michelle worked at institutions such as the United States Geological Survey (USGS) researching spectral trajectories and Shelby County Government in Tennessee helping police and fire with their geospatial capabilities.

Bio

Shannon Sprott is a long-time member of the GIS community providing GIS and GPS services for over 20 years to many organizations, from local county government to non-profits. She has a great passion for the work she does within both the GIS industry and the classroom.

Professional Background

Shannon currently works as a contract GIS specialist for the USGS where she gets to work on current updates to the PAD-US (Protected Areas Database – US) database layers. Previously, she worked for 10 years as the GIS/GPS coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Biological Research Laboratory providing GIS and GPS support to staff, visiting research scientist and students alike. The start of her GIS career was working as the GIS technician for 10 years for Gunnison County, where she was able to assist in critical dataset creations such as newly created parcels, and E911 addressing data for emergency services.

Helping Students Be Successful

Shannon enjoys the diversity of her GIS work in life but thrives most when in the classroom and guiding others in learning about spatial data concepts, database creation, and the overall joy of map making. Her attentiveness and time put into her courses helps students to feel supported and confident when learning new software platforms. Shannon teaches her students introductory GIS concepts, geospatial technologies, geodatabase applications and some environmental modeling such as hydrologic processes. Her core instructional materials will have them feeling prepared for future courses and careers as successful GIS professionals. She is readily available via email and virtual office hours to answer questions, provide guidance, and offer insights from the GIS, GPS, and Geospatial world.

Education

Shannon earned her B.A in Environmental Biology & Ecology from Western Colorado University and her M.S in Geographic Information Science from University College at the University of Denver.

Bio

Steven Hick is the Director of the Geographic Information Systems program at the College of Professional Studies, and is a Professor of the Practice in Geographic Information Science (GIS) in the DU Department of Geography and the Environment. He has led GIS education and research activities in the department for three decades and was instrumental in creating one of the nation’s first Master of Science degrees in GIS.

He also provides crime mapping and analysis technical assistance to law enforcement agencies across the country, having taught crime mapping and analysis in the DU Crime Mapping and Analysis program under the auspices of the US Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice. Additional professional interests include Transportation and GIS. He has also taught GIS and Statistics for the Executive Master’s Program at the DU Transportation Institute.

Previous Professional Experience

Prior to joining the DU, Steven was a Technical Consultant at UGC Consulting and was a Cartographer with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (Defense Mapping Agency) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Before that, he was a Park Ranger with the National Park Service at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and Gateway Arch National Park.

Steven is a Certified Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP) through the GIS Certification Institute and holds an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification. He received the Faculty Career Champion Award from DU’s Career and Professional Development Office, and the National Geographic Society Certificate of Appreciation from the National Geographic Society.

Helping Students Be Successful

At DU, Steven teaches introductory and advanced GIS, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), project management, crime mapping and analysis, cartography, and spatial statistics. He also supervises numerous GIS Capstone projects, the final work designed and implemented by GIS graduate students.

Bio

Joseph Kerski is a lifelong geographer with experience in all four major sectors of society–nonprofit organizations, private industry, government, and academia. He is passionate about all things geospatial in education, through podcasts (Thinking Spatially), videos (Our Earth channel with over 6,000 videos), 150 chapters and articles, 1,000 lessons, and 11 books authored or co-authored.

Education

Joseph earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Colorado.

Professional Background

Joseph currently serves as Education Manager for Esri, the world’s largest provider of GIS software and solutions. He visits 35 campuses each year around the world and gives hundreds of online presentations and short courses, promoting and supporting GIS and spatial thinking in multiple disciplines in schools, colleges, museums, libraries, and universities. He has also worked for NOAA, the US Census Bureau, USGS, and served as president of the National Council for Geographic Education.

Joseph has given two TED talks on the “Whys of Where” and has received two lifetime achievement awards for his work in GIS in education. His research focuses on the implementation and effectiveness of GIS in instruction.

Motivation for Teaching

Joseph believes that spatial thinking and the use of geotechnologies is more than a wonderful and in-demand career pathway–it is absolutely essential for building a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable world. To solve our complex and troublesome 21st Century challenges requires people who can think holistically, spatially, and critically.

Helping Students Be Successful

Joseph is firmly committed to helping students become empowered to make smart decisions in their academic journey and in their future career pathways in business, government, nonprofit, and academia through the use of geotechnologies. His instruction seeks to engage students in hands-on work with real-world issues that affect people and the planet.

Bio

Ryan Abeloe (M.S. in GIS, University of Denver) currently works in Denver in the oil and gas industry with responsibilities ranging across ArcMap, ArcGIS Server/Portal, SDE, and even a few non-ESRI tools. Ryan discovered his passion for GIS while he spent a summer working between McMurdo and the South Pole, Antarctica. He previously worked in transportation engineering and for non-profits performing demographic analyses in GIS.