GSS Spotlight!
ROSE KRAUS
STUDENT TECHNICIAN
What is your education and/or professional background?
I am a senior Environmental Biology major at Saint Mary's University and I have been working at GSS for almost two years.
What led you to GIS? More specifically, how did you get to Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (SMUMN) in Winona?
I was led to Saint Marys after being recruited here to play hockey. After I looked into the Environmental Biology program, I knew it would be perfect for me. Before GSS, I worked at the SMU Help Desk. While there, I heard a little bit about GeoSpatial Services but I really didn’t have a clue what GIS was or what the job entailed. After talking to some of my E. Bio classmates who worked with GIS, I knew that I needed to apply because it would be a great opportunity for me.
Explain briefly a project at GSS you've done that contributed to your overall knowledge and educational experience.
Since starting at GSS, I have worked on many projects including mapping wetlands in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. When school got shut down due to COVID, I got to work full time from home during the summer of 2020. While working at home, I had the opportunity to work at Cascade Meadow with other GSS staff to help with invasive species control, water sampling, and macroinvertebrate research. All of the work that I have done at GSS has positively affected my education experience at Saint Mary’s and I will use it for the rest of my life.
How do you see GIS fitting into your future?
I definitely see myself using GIS in my future career. It is such a growing field and many jobs I have applied to have it as a required/desired skill. Because of this, having GIS experience on my resume will help me stand out from other candidates, especially in the environmental field.
Where can we find you outside of GSS?
Outside of GSS, you can almost always find me at the hockey rink or in the library. When I am not playing hockey or studying, I like rollerblading around Lake Winona or hiking the bluff trails.