Todd Bacastow, PhD

Todd Bacastow has been with the GIS certificate and MGIS programs since their inception and assisted in the co-authoring of numerous courses over the past years. He is currently the option director for the geospatial intelligence options of the MGIS and intercollege master of processional studies in homeland security. After a career in the U.S. Army that included teaching at West Point, he returned to Penn State, his alma mater, in 1994. As a result of his contributions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, he was appointed as a permanent associate to the Legislative Office for Research Liaison (LORL), an agency of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He serves on numerous committees and panels advising the professional development of the geospatial intelligence professional. Dr. Bacastow can be reached by email at bacastow@psu.edu.

Dennis J. Bellafiore, PhD

Dennis J. Bellafiore is the coauthor of GEOG 885: Advanced Analytic Methods for the Geospatial Intelligence Professional. Over the past twenty years, Dr. Bellafiore has served as an organizational change consultant, as president and chief operating officer of a technology-leading digital-print book manufacturer, and as a strategic marketing consultant with a recognized geospatial information company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He has consulted on many GIS and IT projects at statewide, regional, county, and local government levels in Pennsylvania and has been involved in geospatial requirements analysis, strategic planning, project management, project scoping, customer relationship management, business development, marketing, and organizational consulting involving all aspects of geospatial application development and implementation.

Dr. Bellafiore has been a research contributor to a Harrisburg-based think tank for economic and workforce development projects funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission, Brookings Institution, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, the William Penn Foundation, and National Governors Association. He is a member of the Academy of Management and Sigma Xi. He can be reached by email at dxb45@psu.edu.

Mark Corson, PhD

Mark Corson is an associate professor of geography at Northwest Missouri State University and a former faculty member in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering at the United States Military Academy. As a visiting associate professor at Penn State, Dr. Corson teaches GEOG 882: Geographic Foundations of Geospatial Intelligence, a course he authored for the World Campus certificate program in geospatial intelligence. He also authored the Trends in GIS course in the Northwest Missouri Department of Geography's master's program. He specializes in political and military geography, with regional expertise in Europe and Southwest Asia.

Dr. Corson is also a brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve, specializing in transportation and multifunctional logistics. He currently commands the 103d Expeditionary Sustainment Command in Des Moines Iowa. The 103d ESC is a division level sustainment headquarters capable of conducting the full range of sustainment operations in any environment and across the spectrum of conflict. BG Corson and the 103d ESC deployed to Iraq in 2010–2011. Mark can be reached by email at mwc11@psu.edu.

William Doe, PhD

William Doe has taught a broad range of courses in physical and cultural/regional geography, land use planning, and environmental studies at both the United States Military Academy (West Point, New York) and Western Illinois University. He currently administers and teaches online at Colorado State University for the Sustainable Military Lands Management (SMLM) graduate certificate program. He is a geographer with research and applied expertise in military lands management, watershed management and modeling, ecosystem characterization, and sustainability practices for universities and federal installations.

Currently Dr. Doe is also a senior research scientist and associate dean for research in the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University (CSU). As an Army Corps of Engineers officer, he served on active military duty for twenty-two years, spanning experience in disaster response, civil works, and state/federal agency interactions, as well as his teaching at West Point. He is an active member of the Association of American Geographers (AAG) and serves as a board member for the Military Geography Specialty Group. He can be reached by email at wwd2@psu.edu.

Peter Guth, PhD

Peter Guth is author and instructor for GEOG 884: Geographic Information Systems for the Geospatial Intelligence Professional. Currently a professor of oceanography at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Dr. Guth teaches courses in physical geography, geological oceanography, GIS, and honors research methods. He became interested in geology and trilobites at Deep Springs College in Eastern California, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, and then went on to earn his PhD in geology, based on field work in the Sheep Range of Nevada, as a Fannie and John Hertz Fellow at MIT. He served on active duty in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for eleven years and in the reserves for seventeen years. His research interests include the application of GIS to geology, visualizing topography, and geomorphometry. He is the author of MICRODEM, a free GIS mapping program for computers. Dr. Guth can be reached by email at plg14@psu.edu.

David L. Hall, PhD

David Hall is the interim dean in Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) and also director of its Center for Network Centric Cognition and Information Fusion (NC2IF). He joined IST from Penn State's Applied Research Laboratory (ARL), where he served as associate director and senior scientist. At ARL he oversaw the 150-person Information and Network Systems Office, composed of four divisions: Information Science and Technology, Navigation Research and Development, Systems and Operations Automation, and Communications Science and Technology. Dr. Hall has more than twenty-five years of experience in research, research management, and systems development. He is the author of more than 175 papers, reports, books, and book chapters, and he has delivered numerous lectures on his research, research management, and artificial intelligence. His book Mathematical Techniques in Multisensor Data Fusion has been used as a text at the State University of New York at Buffalo, George Mason University, Colorado State University, the Air Force Institute of Technology, and the Naval Postgraduate School.

Dr. Hall has been a faculty member at the University of Colorado as well as at Penn State, and has served on the graduate-degree candidacy committees of nearly a dozen students. He has been listed in Who's Who in Frontiers of Science and Technology and the Who's Who Worldwide Registry of Business Leaders. Dr. Hall was named an IEEE Fellow for his contributions in multisensor data fusion. Prior to joining Penn State in 1993, Dr. Hall worked at HRB Systems, Inc., in State College, Pennsylvania, as director of research and operations programs. He can be reached by email at dlh28@psu.edu.

Karen Schuckman

Karen Schuckman is an instructor in geography at Penn State, teaching remote sensing and geospatial technology in the online GIS programs offered by the Dutton e-Education Institute. She also serves as a consultant to the URS Corporation in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where she provides expertise in remote sensing and photogrammetry to engineering practice groups, including floodplain mapping, disaster response and preparedness, critical infrastructure, and transportation.

As the geospatial technology leader at URS in 2005–06, Ms. Schuckman supported response, recovery, and mitigation projects with FEMA following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. From 1995 through 2005 she was with the EarthData group, where her positions included geospatial applications director for EarthData Solutions, senior vice president of EarthData Technologies, and president and general manager of EarthData International of North Carolina. Notable projects she led for EarthData include lidar acquisition for the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, numerous transportation mapping projects for state DOTs, and technology demonstration projects for NOAA, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Prior to joining the private sector, Ms. Schuckman worked for the USGS National Mapping Division, in Menlo Park, California. She is the immediate past president of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, vice chair of the NOAA Advisory Committee for Commercial Remote Sensing, and a member of the Committee on Floodplain Mapping Technologies of the National Research Council. She can be reached by email at kschuckman@psu.edu.

Greg Thomas, MPA

Greg Thomas has more than twenty years of hands-on law enforcement and educational experience in intelligence. He has both developed operational intelligence concerning criminal activities and selected, trained, and supervised analysts in a criminal intelligence center. Thomas has wide-ranging practical experience reviewing analytical products and providing team guidance on planning and developing intelligence and analytical products. He has extensive experience teaching intelligence and analytical techniques to college students as well as intelligence analysts and law enforcement personnel. His current doctoral research focuses on the role of law enforcement in homeland security. He is a certified criminal analyst and has published articles relating to criminal intelligence analysis, organized crime, and terrorism. He can be reached by email at gat5@psu.edu.

George Van Otten, PhD

George Van Otten is the author of a newly developed course, GEOG 880 (temporarily GEOG 897), Regional Geography for Civil Security. Dr. Van Otten is a geographer with more than forty years of experience in the government and academia and has published more than twenty articles, four book chapters, and numerous presentations. He is a former Dean of Training of the 111th MI Brigade Army Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Dr. Van Otten can be reached by email at gav10@psu.edu.

GIS Faculty

Anthony C. Robinson, PhD

Anthony Robinson is the lead faculty member for the postbaccalaureate certificate and master's in geographic information systems (MGIS) at Penn State. For the Dutton Institute, he teaches and advises students in the MGIS program and coordinates faculty and staff to handle student affairs to ensure the long-term sustainability and strength of Penn State's online geospatial education portfolio. He also serves as assistant director for the GeoVISTA Center in the Department of Geography.

His research focuses on the science of interface and interaction design for geovisualization and geovisual analytics tools. He has developed interface design and usability assessment methods for integrating geographic visualization tools with work in epidemiology, crisis management, and homeland security. Robinson's recent research projects have focused on the design of map symbol standards, developing tools for collecting and adding meaning to geographic information, and eye-tracking to design new geovisualization techniques. Anthony received a bachelor of science in geography from East Carolina University, and a master of science and doctorate in geography from Penn State. Anthony can be reached by email at arobinson@psu.edu. View Anthony's full academic CV.

George Chaplin, MS, GISP

George Chaplin has worked with GIS for more than twelve years. He was awarded his master of science in GIS with Distinction and was the winner of the Association of Geographic Information Student of the Year Award. He has interests in anthropology, as well as geography, and uses modeling, spatial statistics, and complex spatial analysis in his research at Penn State. He studies human ecology, ancestry, and epidemiology. Chaplin can be reached by email at guc5@psu.edu.

Ken Corradini, MS

Ken Corradini is a research assistant at the Penn State Institutes of the Environment and a lead instructor of GEOG 487: Environmental Applications of GIS. He has a bachelor's degree in environmental resource management, a master's degree in soil science, and a master's degree in environmental pollution control from Penn State. His research interests include watershed hydrology, best management practices, and the development of GIS and simulation models and their application to environmental problems. Ken can be reached by email at kjc139@psu.edu.

Jim Detwiler, MS

Jim Detwiler is lead instructor and author of GEOG 485: GIS Programming and Customization and GEOG 489: GIS Application Development. He is also a co-author of GEOG 484: GIS Database Development, teaches a GIS programming course for undergraduates in residence, and conducts ArcGIS training as part of the Department of Geography's ESRI Authorized Learning Center. Prior to coming to Penn State, Detwiler worked as a GIS analyst for the Chester County (Pennsylvania) Bureau of Land Records. He received a bachelor's degree in earth science from Penn State and a master's degree in geography from the University of Delaware. He can be reached by email at jimdetwiler@psu.edu.

Adrienne Gruver, MS

Adrienne Gruver is a lead instructor of GEOG 486: Cartography and Visualization. Gruver has a bachelor's degree in biology, is a certified science illustrator, and is completing her master's degree in geography from Penn State. Her research interests include GIS for public health, geovisualization, and map design. She can be reached by email at abg152@psu.edu.

Frank Hardisty, PhD

Frank Hardisty has more than twenty years of programming experience and enjoys new programming challenges. Dr. Hardisty received his PhD in geography at Penn State in 2003, under the direction of Alan MacEachren. He then taught and researched geographic visualization at the University of South Carolina until 2007, when he rejoined the Department of Geography at Penn State. He can be reached by email at fah109@psu.edu.

Patrick Kennelly, PhD

Pat Kennelly is author and instructor of GEOG 584: Geospatial Technology Project Management. He is a graduate faculty member in Penn State's Department of Geography and a student adviser in the MGIS program. He has project management experience with both an environmental/engineering consulting firm and a state geological survey. He is a visiting assistant professor at Penn State and an assistant professor at Long Island University in New York. Dr. Kennelly can be reached by email at pjk15@psu.edu.

Fritz Kessler, PhD

Fritz Kessler is an instructor of GEOG 861: Map Projections for Professionals. He is currently an associate professor of geography at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland, where he teaches a range of cartography and geography courses. He received his doctorate from the University of Kansas in 1999 and his master's degree from Penn State in 1991. He recently collaborated with other Kansas doctoral alumnus on thematic cartography and geographic visualization. He can be reached by email at fck2@psu.edu.

Beth Fletcher King, M.Ed.

Beth King is co-author and instructor of GEOG 483: Problem Solving with GIS. She also teaches GEOG 482: Nature of Geographic Information and developed GEOG 488: Acquiring and Integrating Geospatial Data for the master of geographic information systems (MGIS) program. As the coordinator of adult learner services, King follows the progress of students in the MGIS degree program and communicates regularly with students to identify questions and concerns and to ensure that questions are being addressed by the appropriate faculty member, staff member, or administrator. She previously worked as a GIS analyst for a private water/wastewater engineering firm, where she managed a wide range of GIS projects, from turnkey sanitary sewer conversion to 911 rural addressing. She can be reached by email at bethking@psu.edu.

Rachel Kornak, MS

Rachel Kornak teaches GEOG 487: Environmental Applications of GIS. She is based at the University of Michigan where she is a GIS/database manager. Kornak previously worked in environmental consulting and land-use planning and enjoys using GIS to manage and share information. She designed a GIS property management system which won the 2007 IMAGIN GIS for Everyone award. Kornak earned a bachelor's degree in environmental geology, a bachelor's degree in Spanish, and a master's degree in environmental science at the University of Michigan. She also completed a certificate in GIS at Penn State. She can be reached by email at rnk114@psu.edu.

Doug Miller, PhD

Doug Miller is an associate professor of geography and instructor of GEOG 596A and B. In addition to teaching for the MGIS program, he is the director of the Center for Environmental Informatics in the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. Miller can be reached by email at miller@essc.psu.edu.

David O'Sullivan, PhD

David O'Sullivan lives in New Zealand, where he is a senior lecturer in geography at the University of Auckland. Originally from Ireland, O'Sullivan holds degrees from the University of Cambridge (England), University of Glasgow (Scotland), and University College London, where he was the first PhD to "escape" from the innovative Center for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA). He became involved in the World Campus MGIS program when he was an assistant professor of geography at Penn State, and has continued his involvement from afar. He is an internationally recognized researcher with numerous journal article publications in the areas of spatial analysis and dynamic spatial modeling. His current research focuses on the measurement and simulation of the social dynamics in urban neighborhoods. He is also presently involved in international collaborative research with colleagues at Stanford University and Penn State. O'Sullivan is co-author, with Professor David Unwin, of the book Geographic Information Analysis. He can be reached by email at dbo2@psu.edu.

Sterling Quinn, MGIS

Sterling Quinn is an author and instructor for GEOG 485: GIS Programming and Automation. He works as a product engineer on the ArcGIS Server development team at ESRI, and lives in the Olympia, Washington, area. Sterling's interests include web map optimization, cloud computing, and technical communication. He has experience in online learning from the student perspective, having completed the MGIS degree from Penn State in 2009. Sterling can be reached by email at sdq107@psu.edu.

Michael Renslow, M.Sc.

Mike Renslow is a photogrammetric consultant specializing in the application of advanced technologies. He is a senior lecturer for the Penn State Geography Department’s e-Education Program; technical editor for Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing; and 38-year member of ASPRS, serving as instructor for the workshop, treasurer for the Foundation, chair of the Evaluation for Certification Committee, and editor for the new ASPRS Airborne Topographic Lidar Manual. Renslow is a member of the ISPRS Council and a trustee for the ISPRS Foundation. An ASPRS-certified Photogrammetrist and Registered Professional Photogrammetrist in Oregon, Renslow has 44 years of experience as an engineering surveyor, photogrammetrist, cartographer, aerial photographer, and business manager working for government, academia, and the private sector. He is active in Commission I — Active Sensors and Data Development. Mike can be reached by email at mrenslow@psu.edu.

Jim Sloan, MS

Jim Sloan is principal instructor of GEOG 492: Nature of Geographic Information and instructor and co-author of GEOG 484: GIS Database Development. He has taught GIS and cartography courses since 1995, at both Penn State and the University of Florida. Sloan can be reached by email at jls@essc.psu.edu.

Michael L. Thomas, PhD

Michael Thomas is currently assigned to Naval Space and Warfare Center (SPAWAR) Charleston as a C4ISR systems engineer in the Communications and Networks Division. His prior assignment with SPAWAR was in the Heidelberg, Germany, office supporting HQ USAREUR in geospatial engineering. He is currently on detached special duty as a Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) liaison officer to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Immediately prior to his assignment with SPAWAR, he was the Chief J-3 Technical Projects, assigned to Georgia Tech University as a Special Projects Officer. Notable among the projects were management and requirements analysis of the Digital Mapping Server (DMS) GIS portal in coordination with the Naval Research Lab, and the day-to-day management of the Digital Mapping Center (DMC) which provided GIS support for and between various federal, Department of Defense, state and local law enforcement agencies. The technology was recognized in several papers and is patented by the U.S. Navy. In this assignment, Dr. Thomas also chaired the National Guard Bureau Technology Consortium that included partners from industry, government, and academia. The DMS efforts led to recognition for DoD support to both the DEA and the FBI. Dr. Thomas can be reached by email at mlt222@psu.edu.

Jan Van Sickle, PhD

Jan Van Sickle has more than forty years of experience in GIS, GPS, surveying, and mapping. Dr. Van Sickle created and led the GIS department at Qwest Communications for the company's 25,000-mile worldwide fiber optic network. He began working with GPS in the early 1980s when he supervised control work using the Macrometer, the first commercial GPS receiver, and he supervised the first GPS control survey of the Grand Canyon. He led the team that collected, processed, and reported GPS ground control positions for more than 120 cities around the world for the ortho-rectification of satellite imagery now utilized in a global web utility.

Dr. Van Sickle has led nationwide seminars based on his books, GPS for Land Surveyors and 1,001 Solved Fundamental Surveying Problems. The latter book has been serialized in the magazine POB (Point of Beginning). His latest book, Basic GIS Coordinates, Second Edition, is being published by Taylor and Francis, London. He has been a featured speaker at many conferences, including Geospatial Information and Technology Association (GITA) conferences and the Institute of Navigation (ION) Annual Meeting. He was formerly on the board of RM-ASPRS and was the vice chairman of GIS in the Rockies. Dr. Van Sickle earned his master's degree in engineering and his doctoral degree in GIS engineering from the University of Colorado. He is a licensed professional land surveyor in Colorado, California, Oregon, and North Dakota. Dr. Van Sickle can be reached by email at jxv20@psu.edu.

Jim Wright, PhD

Jim Wright, a lecturer in GIS, is based in the School of Geography at the University of Southampton in England. In addition to researching aspects of primary health care in the United Kingdom with GIS, Dr. Wright has research interests in GIS and health in developing countries. He is currently involved in a project that is looking at ways of managing water quality test results from developing countries using GIS. He can be reached by email at j.a.wright@soton.ac.uk.

Michelle Zeiders, MS

Michelle Zeiders teaches both GEOG 483: Problem Solving with GIS and GEOG 484: GIS Database Development. She has been teaching introductory and software-intensive GIS courses since 1998. Prior to joining the certificate program, Zeiders worked as a GIS programmer/instructor for the Penn State Population Research Institute, a GIS project manager/instructor for the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at North Carolina State University, a GIS project manager at a private civil engineering firm, and a GIS analyst at MapQuest. She received a bachelor's degree in public administration and a master's degree in geoenvironmental studies from Shippensburg University. She can be reached by email at zeiders@psu.edu.