GIS Interns
Yu Zhang
Yu grew up in Beijing, China and is at Saint Mary’s University pursuing a doctoral degree in education. She is excited about learning and working with GIS, as her knowledge from GSS will be beneficial in applying for a future job. Yu enjoys outdoor walking and hiking, nature activities, and spending time with family. Working in GIS has her following her father's footsteps, as her dad worked at a geographical institution for his entire career. Her hope for the future is to continue furthering her education.
Francis Perroud
Francis is from Argentina and is a junior at Saint Mary's University. He is majoring in General Biology and plays on the basketball team. Fran likes to spend his free time playing basketball, spending time with friends, talking with family or sleeping.
Theresa DeGross
Theresa is an undergraduate at SMUMN from Minneapolis, planning to major in Public Relations and Digital Media. She hopes to become a journalist who uses the media to empower those whose human rights have been abused around the world. Theresa also dreams of living in an idyllic cottage in the countryside, taking care of goats and traveling by bicycle. She loves to learn many things including Welsh, guitar, and how to beat monsters in Breath of the Wild!
Leo Walter
Leo is from Red Wing, MN, and is a senior majoring in Environmental Biology at SMUMN. He hopes to go into a career that has to do with working outside and applying himself in the field. He enjoys video games, working with his hands on projects, and camping, as well as playing soccer and Ultimate Frisbee.
Danielle Ilunga
Danielle grew up in Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa. She is a senior nursing pre-med major at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. She started working at GSS over the summer of 2022 and plans to continue working for the duration of her time at SMUMN. Danielle is on the SMUMN track and field team and spends her free time in the gym, hiking, exploring, and spending time with friends. She's always up for a chat and ready to help so say "Hi!"
Samuel King
Sam is from Austin, MN, and is a junior at Saint Mary's University. He will be pursuing a major in Environmental Biology and would like a career in field biology. In Sam's free time he enjoys hammocking, hiking, kayaking, and weight lifting.
Clare Culver
Clare is a senior at Saint Mary's University who is double majoring in Spanish and Secondary Education (K-12) with an integratus minor in Global Diversity and Social Justice. She grew up in Hokah, Minnesota and is pursuing a career in Spanish Education at the high school level. Some things that Clare enjoys in her free time are going out on the river, enjoying sunshine, discovering new movies and tv shows, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family.
Isabella Griffin
Isabella is a senior at Saint Mary's University and is a double major in Spanish and Biology Pre-Medical Professions. She grew up in Saint Paul, MN, and is pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. She is also a pitcher on the Cardinal softball team. In her free time, she can be found reading, watching movies, doing puzzles, or visiting her family and pets in the cities.
Morgan Muhlbauer
Morgan is a junior at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She is from Carroll, IA. She is pursuing a major in Environmental Biology and Conservation with minors in Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resource Management. Her long-term goal is to become an Environmental Biologist in the state of Iowa. In her free time, she likes to get outdoors, do arts and crafts, binge Netflix shows, listen to music, and hang out with family and friends.
Conner Perry
Conner is from La Crosse, WI, and is a junior in the 3+2 PA Program with Saint Mary's and Mayo Clinic. He plans on moving to Washington after graduation, where he will continue through a three year medical school program. In Conner's free time, he enjoys rock climbing, biking, hiking, and doing research on where to travel next.
Sophia Wysopal
Sophia is a junior at Saint Mary's University, from Fridley, Minnesota. She is pursuing a degree in environmental biology and plans to apply it to a job working at a State or National Park. Sophia is excited to learn about GIS and hopes to use it in her future career. Her favorite pastime activities are hiking, reading, and hanging out with family, friends, and her dog Gus.
Savannah Swanson
Savannah is from Marengo, Illinois. She is a senior at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota pursuing a degree in Environmental Biology. She also plays on the school's softball team. In her free time she likes to hike, read, cook, and go on walks with her dogs. She would like to have a career in wildlife conservation.
Morgan Wallendal
Morgan grew up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She is a senior at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and is an environmental biology major. In the future, she hopes to be a marine biologist. Morgan is on the track and field team at SMUMN and in her free time she loves to weightlift, swim, and do anything outdoors!
Zachary Campbell
Zachary grew up in Ellsworth, Iowa and is a junior at Saint Mary's University pursuing a degree in Environmental Biology. His long-term goal is to do something in the field of sustainability in Agriculture. In his free time he enjoys stargazing, hiking, working out, listening to music, watching movies, and playing video games.
Bradley Budach
Bradley is from Janesville, MN. He is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science at Winona State University. He began working at GSS in the spring of 2023. Bradley enjoys reading, hiking, fishing, video games, hanging out with friends, and more.
Luke Shappell
Luke was raised in LaCrosse, WI and completed his B.S. in International Business at SMUMN. Upon graduation, he completed a six-year enlistment with the U.S. Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. Luke is currently pursuing his M.S. in Data Intelligence and GeoAnalytics with his Alma Mater. Following graduation, he wishes to continue working for GSS at Saint Mary's or pursue a career with the National GeoSpatial-Intelligence Agency. In Luke's free time, he enjoys hiking, working out, diving, shooting, writing, and coaching high school wrestling.
Krystal Baptiste
Krystal is from Antigua in the West Indies and is an undergrad student at Saint Mary’s University. She is pursuing a criminal justice degree with the intentions of working with children in the system in the future. Krystal enjoys going for walks, swimming and spending time with friends and family.
Ella Schultz
Ella is a junior at Saint Mary's, majoring in Environmental Biology and Conservation. She grew up in Winona. In her free time, Ella loves to travel, hike/be outdoors, hang out with friends, and binge Netflix.
Tristan Ostrem
Tristan is from Cochrane, Wisconsin and is an undergrad student at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He is majoring in Environmental Biology and Conservation. In the future, Tristan would like to live in the Driftless Region. In his free time he enjoys hunting, fishing, camping and spending time outdoors.
Sajida Mirzada
Sajida is originally from Kunduz province, Afghanistan and has been in the U.S for 4 years. She is a sophomore at Saint Mary's University of MN, majoring in Management and minoring in Computer science. In her free time, Sajida loves to draw, paint pictures and read books. Her favorite sports are soccer and tennis. In the future, she wants to run her own business, travel around the world, and help people.
Diego Corvera
Diego is from La Libertad, El Salvador. He is a Biology Pre-Medical Professions Major entering his senior year at Saint Mary’s University. After graduation, he plans to pursue a medical career in Radiology. In his free time, he likes playing sports, hanging out with friends and family, traveling, and listening to music.
Huwa Mohamed
Huwa is an undergraduate student at Saint Mary's University. She is majoring in Psychology and plans to continue schooling to become a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games, hiking, weightlifting, playing pickleball, learning languages, and spending time with her family and friends
Grant Schneider
Grant is from Moorhead, Minnesota. He is currently a junior at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and is a Computer Science major. In the future, he hopes to use his degree to build and develop apps/websites. Grant is a member of the cross country and track team at SMUMN. In his free time he loves to run, hammock, fish, hike and be outdoors!
Bailey Ann Rheinheimer
Bailey is from Wautoma, WI and is enrolled at Winona State University for Geoscience. She is on the Women’s Lacrosse Team and runs their social media accounts. In her free time, Bailey enjoys being outside, hiking, biking, going on road trips with her family, and hunting for rocks to add to her collection. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, going to concerts and meeting new people
Ribika Bhauju
Ribika is from Nepal, a country located on the lap of the Himalayas. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Business Administration from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. She started working as an intern at GSS in the summer of 2023. In her free time, Ribika enjoys reading, traveling, sunbathing, swimming, dancing, and watching movies, among other things.
Theo Landy
Theo is from Tucson, AZ, and is a first generation student. He is currently a senior at SMUMN, studying Environmental biology and environmental sustainability. He grew up around the Rodeo and enjoys his western culture. In the future, Theo would like to work in Forestry and/or possibly work with the BLM to manage rangelands in the southwest. In his free time he enjoys hiking, fishing, camping, team roping and weightlifting as well as cooking. He hopes to someday run a restaurant that focuses on sustainable cuisine. Theo is very excited to work at GSS and eager to learn more about where this opportunity can take him in life.
Celia Midtbo
Celia is from Minneapolis, MN, and is an undergraduate at Saint Mary's University. She is majoring in Environmental Biology and Conservation with a minor in Natural Resources Management. She also plays on the women's hockey team. In her free time she likes to spend time on the water with friends and family as well as going on hikes with her dog.
Megan McGinnis
Megan is a sophomore at Saint Mary's University majoring in Psychology in hopes of entering the Sports Psychology field. She is from Kimberly, Wisconsin and also plays for the Cardinal softball team. In her free time, she enjoys lifting, listening to music, going for walks, and spending time with family and friends.
Katie Flitsch
Katie is from Lakeville, MN, and is an undergraduate student at Saint Mary's University. She is majoring in Environmental Biology and Conservation, and aspires to work in the field someday. Outside of school, Katie enjoys figure skating, reading, making pottery, and spending time on the lake.
Preston Ruppert
Preston grew up in the Winona area and is currently an undergraduate at Winona State University. He is majoring in Geoscience Geology option and minor in Geography. He is looking to pursue a job in the geoscience field. In his free time, Preston likes to read, play video games, listen to music, and snowboard in the winter.
Emily Amundson
Emily is from Andover MN, and is a senior majoring in Environmental Geoscience, and a minor in GIS at Winona State University. At Winona State, she is involved in the Alpine club, and volunteers at Winona Humane Society. In her free time she enjoys skiing, tennis, reading and board games.
Skye Norgren
Skye is from Fergus Falls, MN and is an undergraduate student at Saint Mary’s University. She is majoring in Environmental Biology and Conservation with a minor in Criminal Justice. She also plays on the Women’s hockey team. Outside of school, Skye enjoys spending time at the lake, hunting, fishing, training hunting dogs, going on hikes with her dog, and anything outdoors.
Ian McKinzie
Ian is an undergraduate student at Winona State University, currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Geoscience. He hopes to one day attain a Master’s degree and work on the cutting edge of the industry, for the benefit of the global community. In his spare time, Ian likes biking, hiking, reading and writing poetry, playing videogames, cooking, and looking for new things to try.
Rob Liebhart
Rob grew up in Pennsylvania before moving overseas to teach in international schools. After 13 years as an educator in South Korea, in the United Arab Emirates, and in Minnesota, he is now a grad student at SMUMN pursuing his graduate certificate in Geographic Information Science. Rob enjoys cycling year-round in the Twin Cities, reading lots of non-fiction books, and attending local hockey games and soccer matches.
Ben Earley
Ben is from Woodbury, MN and is a junior at Winona State University majoring in Geoscience. In his free time, he enjoys longboarding, rock collecting, video games, tabletop and roleplaying games, and just enjoying nature.
Cece Risden
Cece grew up in Westmont, Illinois and is a junior at Saint Mary’s University pursuing a degree in Biology: Pre-Veterinary Medicine and a minor in Chemistry. Her long-term goal is to go to vet school, then work in wildlife rehabilitation or rural veterinary medicine. She is excited about learning GIS and meeting new people through this opportunity. In Cece's free time, she enjoys hiking, swimming, and photography. She also does dog training and walking for friends and family.
Leah Ramsey
Leah is from Buffalo MN, although it would be cooler if it were NY, but sadly not. She is going to be a senior this year at Winona State. After switching her major three times to finally land on environmental geoscience and picking up two minors along the way, it's a miracle that she is going to graduate on time in the spring. Hobbies include, but not limited to, reading, anything live music (both playing and listening), bumming about on the beach/water with friends, thrifting, traveling, cooking (but mostly the eating part of this), biking, random bursts of crocheting and hiking.
Olivia Kulak
Olivia grew up in Plainfield, Illinois and is a junior at Winona State University pursuing a degree in Geoscience-Environmental Science and a minor in GIS. She is excited for her start with GSS. In her free time she enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Shane Cleary
Shane is an upcoming senior at Saint Mary's studying software engineering and cyber security. He is interested in machine learning and artificial intelligence and intends to eventually pursue a career in this field. Shane is also interested in travel and recently went to England (the picture is in York). In his free time, he enjoys watching Minnesota sports teams and attending games whenever possible.
James Watkins
James is from Rochester MN, and is currently a sophomore majoring in Human Resources at Winona State University. Outside of school, he likes going on vacations, fishing, spending time outdoors, and weightlifting.
Cannon Manley
Cannon is a track runner who grew up in the small town of Burton, Texas. His prowess for diversity makes him a jack of all trades, with interest in video games, running, photography, painting/drawing, religion, drumming, and more. He's majoring in Environmental Bio at SMUMN and wants to grow a personal relationship with animals.
Zack Illg
Zack is from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He is majoring in Environmental Biology and getting a minor in chemistry. On campus, he is an active member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as their FEO and Historian. In his free time, he enjoys watching television and hiking.
Gianna Brewer
Gianna grew up in Byron, MN and is a freshman in the 3+2 PA program with Saint Mary’s and Mayo Clinic. She hopes to work as a PA at Mayo after graduating, and is thinking about specializing in cleft palate facial reconstruction. In Gianna’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, baking, writing, listening to music, and drawing.