GSS SPOTLIGHT!
BRE TEWS
What is your education and/or professional background?
I am a senior, undergraduate student at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota majoring in Environmental Biology with a minor in Zoology.
What led you to GIS? More specifically, how did you get to Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (SMUMN) in Winona?
I was first informed about Geospatial Services while taking a GIS class here on campus. Afterwards, a fellow student and professor urged me to apply to GSS and become a member of the team, which I was lucky enough to be accepted into. The workers and atmosphere within the GSS Watter’s building, where I am stationed, is what makes the job so special and truly a great experience.
As for finding my journey to Saint Mary’s campus, I knew this school would give me a great opportunity to learn and grow in an environmental setting. I didn’t always know that I wanted to be an Environmental Biology major, but I knew no matter where my path would lead me, Saint Mary’s campus would help me achieve my dreams.
Explain briefly a project at GSS you've done that contributed to your overall knowledge and educational experience.
A project that I am currently working on is called ‘40 mile’ which takes place in Alaska. I am tasked with reshaping rivers and adding polygons that consist of land formations, such as sand/gravel shores, riparian vegetation, and any other unknown land formations within the area. In past work, I have also been tasked to map and attribute wetlands in numerous other states around the U.S.
How do you see GIS fitting into your future?
My hope for the future is to continue furthering my education by attending graduate school and getting a Master’s in Marine Biology. Using my knowledge from GSS would be immensely beneficial in any possible field work opportunities, as well as technological skills that I will need to apply to my future job. I may not be directly using GIS mapping software, but the hard technical skills that I received from working at GSS will be incredibly useful to carry over into the field I will be working in.
Where can we find you outside of GSS?
Outside of working at GSS I am always looking for activities to take part in. I love traveling, hiking, and socializing, but the majority of what I do in my free time pertains to being outdoors.