Geography Alumni and their careers

2023-2024

• Sriram Chakka (MA Geography) – Public School Teacher, Covina-Valley Unified School District, CA
• Judy Chovan (MA Geography) – Community activist, San Juan Island, Washington
• Patricia de la Mata (MA Geography) – IT analyst, Brooklyn, New York
• Becky Larson (MA Geography) – Professor, Public Health, Mercer University, GA
• Trace Marshall (MA Geography) – Geospatial Technician, Wiser Imagery, Nashville, TN
• Jessie McSwane (MA Geography) – Sr. Stewardship Manager, Peconic Land Trust, Long Island, NY
• Madison White (MA Geography) – GIS Analyst, Sanitation District No. 1, Fort Wright, KY
• Camaren Williams (MA Geography) – Office Associate, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

2022-2023

• Jasper Ball (BS Geography) – Regional Planner, FIVCO, Grayson, KY
• Rebekah Bouchard (MA Geography) – Financial Technician, Edward Jones, Lebanon, Tennessee
• Amanda Braasch (MA Geography) – Army Reservist, Fort Campbell, KY
• Paul Buck (BS Geography) –
• Alex Busch (MA Geography) – Teacher, Reedley High School, Reedley, California
• James Davis (MA Geography) – instructor Wright State University, Dayton, OH
• Michael Faust (MA Geography) – Teacher at St. John Vianney High School, St Louis, Missouri
• Kellie Gadeken (MA Geography) – GIS/Business Analyst | Freelance Editor, Knoxville, Tennessee
• Roman Geathers (BS Geography) – Marketing Strategist and Funnel Consultant
• James Higgins (MA Geography) – Project Manager Gaskins + LeCraw, Atlanta
• Sierra Hincke (MA Geography) – Planner I, Kootenai County, Idaho
• Mo Keane (MA Geography) – Director, Gandiol Eco Center, Mouit-Gandiol, Senegal
• Blake Lindsley (BS Geography) –
• Alexandra Manthey (BS Geography) – Senior Trusted Referee at ID.me, Alexandria, Virginia
• Jennifer Marcum (MA Geography) – School Teacher, Pt. Pleasant, WV
• Ty McCarthy (MA Geography) – instructor, Columbia College, Sonora CA
• Jessie McSwane (MA Geography) – Senior Stewardship Manager, Peconic Land Trust, Southampton NY
• Muzzammil Mohabir (MA Geography) – Instructor of Geography | Geographer | GIS Analyst, University of Guyana, Georgetown, Demerara-Mahaica, Guyana
• Sarah Pappas (BS Geography, Meteorology) –
• Raymond Patterson (MA Geography) – Oak Island, North Carolina
• Bryce Peacher (MA Geography) – ESRI marketing, Florida; Ph.D. student U. Central Florida
• Sam Powvall (BS Geography) – Geographic Information System Technician at WEST Consultants, Inc., Pauma Valley, California
• Stacy Rainey (MA Geography) – Program Assistant I, Marshall University
• Israel Roberts (MA Geography) – Planning Manager for the Town of Fairview, Texas
• Megan Ruggles (MA Geography) – GIS Technician, NiSource, Columbus, Ohio
• Justin Smith (MA Geography) – Small business owner, Huntington, WV

2021-2022

• Steve Aguilar (BS Geography) – Talent Management, Olympia, Washington
• R. A. (MA Geography)
• Alyssa Bandzuh (BS Geography) – GIS Intern at Greater Johnstown Water Authority, Portage, Pennsylvania
• Jaelin Carpenter (MA Geography) – Archaeologist at AECOM, Princeton, West Virginia
• Nate Crum (BS Geography) – Planner, City of Huntington, WV
• Robert Cushing (BA Geography) – Senior GIS Analyst at NV Energy, Reno, Nevada
• Martin de Gier (MA Geography) – High School Teacher, Seaside, California
• Robert Edwards (BS Geography)
• Tara Frey (BS Geography)
• Clay Fultz (BS Geography) –
• Jacob Glandon (BS Geography) – Mapping Surveying Tech, Ocala, Florida,
• Ann Harris (MA Geography) – Geology/Geography Lecturer at Hazard Community and Technical College, Manchester, Kentucky
• Jami Hickcox-Baker (MA Geography; Graduate certificate in GIScience) – Teacher at Fresno Unified School District, Fresno, California
• Joseph Hughart (MA Geography) –
• Andy Little (MA Geography) – Teacher at Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Annapolis, Maryland
• Stephen Magneson (GIScience certificate) – Consultant at FTI Consulting
• Harley Mehlhorn (BS Geography) – City Planner at City of Chandler, Arizona
• Javern Mentore-Alleyne (BS Geography)
• Blayke Murphy (BS Geography)
• Sean Musi (MA Geography; Graduate certificate in GIScience) – Stormwater Professional and Environmentalist, Mountlake Terrace, Washington
• Jerome Papajohn (MA Geography) –
• Axel Pearson (BS Geography) – Mapping Technician at EMWD, Menifee, California
• Alec Pierce (BS Geography)
• Kiersten Rose (MA Geography) – Demolition Specialist, City of Huntington, WV
• Antonio Smith (BS Geography) – GIS Tutor at Roane State CC, Knoxville, Tennessee
• Benjamin Smith (BS Geography) – Clerk at RITE AID, Douglassville, Pennsylvania
• Ian Stacy (MA Geography; Graduate certificate in GIScience) – Associate Professor at Whatcom Community College, Bellingham, Washington
• Stephen Tabor (MA Geography) – Political Scientist, Historian, & Geographer, Little Rock, AR
• Mandy Wallace (MA Geography) – Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
• Bob Weisenbeck (MA Geography) – Construction Project Manager, Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Trevor Wilburn (BS Geography) – Learning Records Administrator, LRA at Delta Air Lines, Nashville, Tennessee
• Ed Wood (MA Geography)

2020-2021

• Johnathan Adkins (MA Geography) – GIS technician, Western Virginia Water Association, Roanoke, VA area.
• Fernando Alvarez (BS Geography) – GIS Analyst, City of Palm Springs, CA
• Tom Beasley (MA Geography) – High School Social Studies Teacher, upstate New York
• Nicholas Bolin (Graduate certificate in GIScience) –
• Kaleb Crede (BS Geography) –
• Joe DeCeglia (MA Geography; Graduate certificate in GIScience) – GIS Technician, NJ Fish and Wildlife
• Becca Fisher (BS Geography) –
• Layton Gardner (MA Geography) – Geographer at US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, Geospatial Section
• Lindy Grosvenor (MA Geography) – Geography teacher, Episcopal School of Dallas, TX
• Allison Kelley (GIScience certificate) –
• Ann Lockard (MA Geography) – Geography instructor, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College; meteorologist, WVNS59, Ghent, WV
• Emily Mausteller (Graduate certificate in GIScience) –
• Donovan McFarlane (online MA Geography) – Adjunct, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Liberty University Online.
• Maggie McGhee (BA Geography) – GIS Intern, Village of Barboursville, WV
• Olivia Milam (GIScience certificate) –
• Aaron Murphy (BS Geography) – GIS Technician, Public Works Department, City of Oak Ridge, TN
• Nicky Nance (BS Geography) –
• Bennett Phillips (BS Geography) – Masters program, WVU (Recreation, parks and tourism resources)
• Chris Poitras (BS Geography) – Meteorologist at Wx Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Adolfo Reyes-Leal (MA Geography) – Emergency Management Specialist; Applicant Services Program Specialist at FEMA, Los Angeles, California
• Christina Rodriguez (MA Geography) – Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President
• Rachel Schubert (BS Geography) – Pharmacy Technician at CVS Pharmacy, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania,
• Robert Snead (BS Geography) –
• Kyle Weiss (BS Geography) – Weekend Meteorologist, WQOW, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
• Bradley Wells (BS Geography) – morning meteorologist, WVNS 59, Ghent, WV

2019-2020

• Nicholas Beaty (BS Geography) – Meteorologist, National Weather Service, State College, PA
• Jeremy Bozeman (BS Geography) – GIS Technician, Public Works Department, City of Oak Ridge, TN
• Alyssa Brady (MS, Biological Sciences; GIScience certificate) –
• Steven Curry (MA Geography; GIScience certificate) – Geographic Information Systems Technician at City of Ashland, Kentucky
• Alex Diedrich (BS Geography; GIScience certificate) –
• Brittany Evans (BA Geography) – Key Holder at THE NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM SOCIETY
• Christopher Fain (MA Geography) –
• Nathan Fleshman (GIScience certificate) – Field Technician at Environmental Solutions & Innovations, Inc., Cincinnati, OH
• Justin Furby (GIScience certificate)
• Lela Harrington (BS Geography) – WBI Energy, Glendive, MT
• Heidi Oberlin (MA Geography) – online part-time College teacher
• Tristan Poston (BS Geography) –
• Nick Shieler (GIScience certificate)
• Geneva Thompson (BS Geography) – Shipping/Receiving Coordinator at Glacier Nursery, Columbia Falls, Montana
• Floyd Watts (MA Geography) –

2018-2019

• Daniel Ball (MA Geography; GIScience certificates) – GIS Data Specialist at Gateway Area Development District, Morehead, Kentucky,
• Chase Childers (BS Natural Resources and Recreation Management; GIScience certificate)
• Charistin Clark (BS Geography) – weekend meteorologist for ABCNews4, Charleston, SC
• Steven Curry (MA Geography; GIScience certificate)
• Hunter Ellison (BS Geography) – Videographer/Editor at WSAZ NewsChannel 3, Huntington, WV
• Ian English (BS Geography)
• Marshall Holcomb (BS Geology; GIScience certificate)
• Jerome Larcher (BS Geography) – Engineering Technician, Indian Health Service, Sioux City, Iowa
• Ann Lockard (BS Geography) – Marshall University Geography master’s program
• Colton Snyder (BS Geography)
• Shannon Spencer (BS Geography)
• Matthew Thompson (BS Geology; GIScience certificate)
• Jennifer Trotta (MS Environmental Science; GIScience certificate)
• Kya Williams (online BA Geography)

2017-2018

• Nick Adkins (MS Geography; thesis) – ORC Utility & Infrastructure Land Services, Charleston, WV
• Katelyn Amspacher (MS Biological Sciences; GIScience certificate)
• Mike Andry (BS Geography)
• Madison Birchfield (BS NRRM; GIScience certificate) – WVU College of Law
• William “Todd” Cooper (MS Physical and Applied Sciences; GIScience certificate)
• Alan Edwards (MA Geography; Graduate certificate in GIScience) – Wayne County, WV Assessor, temporary GIS analyst
• Amber Miller (MA Geography) –
• Brian O’Keefe (BS Geography) – GIS Technician, West Virginia State Tax Department, Charleston, WV
• Kara Scott (BA Geography) –
• Jason Smith (GIScience certificate) – City of Ashland, KY
• Sean Wineland (MS Biological Sciences; GIScience certificate) – Graduate Research Assistant at University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma,
• Bob Wojcieszak (MA Geography; Graduate certificate in GIScience) – small business owner
• Jacob Wolfe (MA Geography; Graduate certificate in GIScience) – Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Charleston, WV, GIS Analyst
• Keith Zeigler (BS Geography) – Chromebook Sales Specialist, Wilmington, North Carolina

2016-2017

• Alexandra Bright
• David Copeland (MA Geography; Graduate certificate in Geospatial Information Science) – Delivery Driver Assistant (Seasonal) at UPS
• Michael Fields
• Nathan Hoxie (MS Biological Sciences; GIScience certificate)
• Katarena Jarrell – Account Specialist at Avalara
• Paul Morrison (MS Physical and Applied Sciences; GIScience certificate)
• Jonathan O’Neil (BS NRRM; GIScience certificate)
• Kasey Osborne (MS Biological Sciences; GIScience certificate)
• Chantz Sigler (BS Geology; GIScience certificate)
• Robert Strider (thesis) – Intelligence Analyst II at BAE Systems
• Riley Tavish
• Kyle Wallace (BS NRRM; GIScience certificate)

2015-2016

• Nicholas Adkins – Marshall University Geography Department master’s program; GIS Technician at West Virginia State Tax Department
• Tanner Beckett – Cenergy, LLC
• Delbert (Chris) Cannoy – Cartographic Tech, US Census Bureau, Jeffersonville, Indiana
• Christopher Carr – Geographic Information Systems Professional, Warrenton, Virginia
• David Copeland – Marshall University Geography Department master’s program
• Jeff Cragle – CAD Drafter at Adecco Staffing, Austin, Texas
• Joseph Fitzwater – Weekend Meteorologist, WOWK TV 13, Charleston, WV
• Jessica Hutchinson – English Teaching Assistant, Marshall University
• Linda McGuffey – IT Consultant at Marshall University
• Mike Michael – GIS Analyst/Manager, City of Troutdale, Oregon
• Aaron “Aari” Nelson – Lead GIS Analyst | The Villages® Technology Solutions Group, FL
• Heidi Oberlin (online BS) – Meteorologist and GIS specialist, Chloeta Fire, Oklahoma City
• Alexandria Phares – EFNEP Youth Associate at WVSU, Charleston, West Virginia
• Andrew Pritt – Long Term Substitute Teacher (History) at Pocahontas County High School, WV
• Kiersten Rose – Graduate Student at Kobe University, Osaka, Japan
• Amanda Wallace (online) – Web Search Evaluator, Appen LTD.
• Douglas Wiley – Cabell County Solid Waste Authority, Barboursville, WV

2014-2015

• Megan (McCrosky) Click – Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator for the Geospatial Information Science program, Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, WV
• Chris Hale
• Jialun Jiao – Geographer, US Census Bureau, Washington, DC
• Lora Meadows – Geographic Information Science and Technology Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Rashad Nisar – GIS Field Engineer, Salt Lake County, Layton, Utah
• Christopher Shaffer

2013-2014

• Britt Arcadipane – GIS Analyst IV, Hatch Mott MacDonald, Charleston, WV
• Zachary Ball – Contractor for Dominion Energy, Parkersburg, WV
• Daniel Kirby
• Lakin Johnson – GIS Analyst, City of Fort Walton Beach, FL
• Linda McGuffey – Marshall University Geography Department master’s program
• Zachary McLain – WV Department of Highways, Huntington, WV
• Taylor Lee – Biological Field Technician, Western Ecosystems Technology, Inc., Greenbrier County, WV
• Aaron Nelson – Marshall University Geography Department master’s program
• Jerrod Stout – GIS Analyst, Gulfland Appalachian Energy, Inc., Paintsville, KY

2012-2013

• Chris Cannoy – Marshall University Geography Department master’s program
• Seth Davidson (thesis) – GIS administrator at Northeast Natural Energy in Charleston, WV
• Randy Epperly – WV Department of Highways, Charleston, WV
• Jared Figgins (thesis) – GIS Analyst at the Piketon, OH Uranium Enrichment Plant
• Aaron Johnson
• Amanda Payne – Project Manager, Strategic Resolutions Experts, Inc., Martinsburg, West Virginia
• Veronica Ross
• Yisha Shi – pursuing Ph.D. opportunities
• Ashley (Ostrow) Stephens – Analyst, US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, WV
• Douglas Wiley – Marshall University Geography Department master’s program

2011-2012

• Andrew Brown
• Sara Cremeans – Research / Data Analyst / GIS Recognition Media LLC
• Carrie Haight – Senior GIS Mapping Development Planner, LUMOS Networks, Charleston, WV
• Robert Hupp – Lowe’s of Barboursville, WV
• Marla Johnson – GISP, GIS Analyst EA Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland Area
• Jake Keaton – NASCAR driver
• Robert Maynard – GIS Analyst, Dominion (one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy), Parkersburg, WV
• Deloris Musick – Lexington, KY
• Dominique Norman (thesis) – Master Planner, Vernadero Group Incorporated, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
• Jonathan Phoenix – Senior GIS Specialist, GAI Consultants, Inc., Homestead, Pennsylvania
• Benjamin Stratton – Network Planner/GIS Analyst, Segra, Charleston, WV
• Patricia Usher – Zoning Officer at City of Huntington, West Virginia

2010-2011

• Libby Callicoat (thesis) – Geography Instructor, Midlands Technical College, West Columbia, SC
• Mark Collins – Environmental Resources Analyst, WV Department of Environmental Protection, Charleston, WV
• Jacqueline Crawford – GIS Analyst, WV Department of Environmental Protection, Charleston, WV
• N. Zack Fraley – US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, WV
• Daniel Grafton – San Diego State University, PhD program in geography
• Josh Krumski – GIS Analyst II at Williams, Oklahoma City, OK
• Dustin Lowers – GIS Database Admininstrator I, West Virginia Department of Transportation
• Lora Meadows – Marshall University Geography Department master’s program
• F. Britt McNew – GIS Coordinator at Advantage Timberland, Bluefield, Virginia
• Ashley Ostrow – Intern, US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, WV
• David Rucker – Project Manager with Summit Engineering (mine engineering and permitting) in South Charleston, WV

2009-2010

• Jessica Beres – GIS Analyst at Gulfport Energy Corporation, Martins Ferry, Ohio
• Crystal Chambers – US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, WVV
• Emiko Hori — GIS Programmer Analyst II at WVDOT Division of Highways
• Chad Pyles – Project Manager at Cenergy, LLC, Fraziers Bottom, West Virginia
• J. Michael Stanton (thesis) – Maryland Department of Agriculture

2008-2009

• Jackie Crawford – MU Geography Master’s program
• Ibrahim Alkhady (Thesis) – Assistant Professor, GIS at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
• Brian Brown (Thesis) – Social Studies/English Teacher at Ben Franklin Technical School, Huntington, West Virginia Area
• Eric Tadlock (Thesis) – Pilot – Maryland State Police
• Stephanie (Young) Thorn (Thesis) – Marketing Coordinator at VisitGreenvilleSC, Greenville, South Carolina
• William Stockwell – Marshall University staff

2007-2008

• Amy Blankenship (Thesis) – MountWest Community and Technical College instructor, Huntington, WV; Lab Expediter at Eyetique
• Aubrey Dickerson – Owner at West Virginia Publishing Company, Cool Ridge, West Virginia
• Won Hoi Hwang (Thesis) – Ph.D. program at Virginia Tech, VA
• BJ Jones (Thesis) – Ph.D. from Shanghai University, China
• Jeanette Kripas Weaver (Thesis) – Research Analyst, GIS&T Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Christa Moore – self-employed, Huntington, WV
• Aaron Patterson (Thesis) – fiber Company, Kansas City, KS
• Tara Shleser – City of Beckley, WV
• Kristi Stephens (Thesis)
• Joe Trimboli – US Army Corps of Engineers

2006-2007

• Alexandria Rovatsos (Thesis) – Law school
• Craig Rife – City of Huntington, WV Public Works

2005-2006

• James Barker (Thesis) – Kansas State U. Geography Ph.D. program, Law school
• Daniel East – Bridge Inspector at WV Department of Highways, Spanishburg, West Virginia
• Maria Simental (Thesis) – WV Department of Homeland Security, Charleston, WV
• Frank Ming-Jen Chu (Applied Project) – Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Project Manager, National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, Taiwan

2004-2005

• Rhonda Burcham – MU Master of Arts in Teaching program; plans to teach Geography in middle school
• Michael Marchyshyn — Transportation Planner, HDR, Inc Chicago, IL
• Aaron Patterson — MU Geography Master’s program
• James Schlacter — United States Air Force
• David Woods — Continental Airlines pilot
• Jennifer Barnette — GIS analyst and planner for the Putnam Co., WV Development Authority
• Jim Davis — WV American Water in Charleston, WV
• Kelley Galloway — United States Army
• Aaron Goodman (Thesis) — US Army, Operations Division, Alexandria, VA
• Scott Jones — Redistricting Analyst at West Virginia Legislature
• Jay Newberry (Thesis) — Michigan State U. Geography Ph.D. program
• Stephen Porter (Thesis) — US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, WV
• Jennings Starcher — GIS Manager, Charleston, WV Sanitary Board
• Craig Rife – MU Geography Master’s program

2003-2004

• Philip Holman – MU Graduate school
• Linda Chafin – US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, WV
• Michael Farley – Tennessee graduate school
• Craig Rife – MU Graduate school, intern with WV Department of Environmental Protection
• Alexandrea Rovatsos – MU Graduate schoool
• Nicholas Orsini
• James A. Martin
• Rebecca Pierce (Thesis)
• Michael Koon (Thesis) – US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, WV
• Suzanne Heckenbach – US Department of Veterans Affairs, Huntington, WV
• Mami Itamochi (Thesis) – Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Winfield, WV
• Jared Bledsoe – US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, WV

2002-2003

• Megan Boggess Thompson – US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, WV
• Bobby Nutter – Allegheny Gas Company, northern WV
• Jody Sigmon – GIS analyst, WV Department of Highways, Charleston, WV
• Matthew Straley – City of Virginia Beach, VA
• William Stockwell – MU Geography Master’s program
• Jennings Starcher — MU Geography Master’s program
• Lowell Loudin – International businessman, Southeast Asia
• Brady, Elizabeth
• Galloway, Kelley — MU Geography Master’s program
• Castle, Jeffrey
• Cheryl Easton

2001-2002

• Kenneth Brevard – GIS position with Virginia Information Technologies Agency
• Steven Durrah
• Joe Guttman – Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville; College instructor; continuing education
• Adam Knubel
• Michael Koon — MU Geography Master’s program
• Richard Lawson – ESRI sales for 10 years, now continuing education
• Ira Miller
• Lois Ratanamalaya
• Jody Sigmon – MU Geography Master’s Program
• Katherine Smith – Master’s in GIS at London, UK; then Ph.D. program at Ohio State University
• Dennis “Mark” Snuffer – Plans Reviewer/Floodplain Manager/Addressing Coordinator, Charleston, WV
• James Spicheck
• Kyle Weatherholt – Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth LLC, Ohio

Way Back!

• James A. Martin – 1997 – Solution Consultant at Meridium, Inc., Roanoke, Virginia Area
• Chuck Peterson – 1988 – Vice President of Business Information with the Greater Richmond Partnership, a regional economic development organization in Richmond, Virginia
• Dean Neal – B.S. 1980 – Director of Zoning for the city of Pinellas Park, FL.
• Ray Rappold – M.S. 1977 – Faculty – ABE program at Bridgemont Community and Technical College; Marshall Faculty – 1998-2003.