GIS-Mapping
Exchange
About us
OUR TEAM & MISSION
With the support of a small Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant, a group of locally and nationally-based organizations are partnering to develop a hands-on professional training program on geospatial data and mapping literacy in hopes of showing how this knowledge can positively impact their service to library patrons. Our overarching goal is to support equitable access to geospatial information and technologies.
Led by Dr. Nancee Hunter, Director of PSU’s Center for Geography Education in Oregon (C-GEO) and Assistant Professor in the Geography Department, the research team also includes Randy Morris (PSU’s Institute of Metropolitan Studies), David Banis, Lauren McKinney-Wise (PSU Masters student), Thien-Kim Bui (PSU PhD student), Spencer Keller (PSU Masters graduate), and Catherine Green (Project Coordinator) working in partnership with the Multnomah County Library System, the University of Pittsburgh Civic Switchboard project team (including Carnegie Library), ChickTech, and The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA). In addition to these key partners, other community members, libraries and data providers from government agencies, non-government organizations and local businesses are contributing to this work.
With the support of a small Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant, a group of locally and nationally-based organizations are partnering to develop a hands-on professional training program on geospatial data and mapping literacy in hopes of showing how this knowledge can positively impact their service to library patrons. Our overarching goal is to support equitable access to geospatial information and technologies.
Led by Dr. Nancee Hunter, Director of PSU’s Center for Geography Education in Oregon (C-GEO) and Assistant Professor in the Geography Department, the research team also includes Randy Morris (PSU’s Institute of Metropolitan Studies), David Banis, Lauren McKinney-Wise (PSU Masters student), Thien-Kim Bui (PSU PhD student), Spencer Keller (PSU Masters graduate), and Catherine Green (Project Coordinator) working in partnership with the Multnomah County Library System, the University of Pittsburgh Civic Switchboard project team (including Carnegie Library), ChickTech, and The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA). In addition to these key partners, other community members, libraries and data providers from government agencies, non-government organizations and local businesses are contributing to this work.
Nancee Hunter
Nancee Hunter is the Director of the Center for Geography Education in Oregon (C-GEO) and an Assistant Professor with the PSU Geography Department. Prior to this, she served as a Senior Researcher at the Oregon State University (OSU) Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning and as the Director of Education for Oregon Sea Grant, where she oversaw the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center’s Visitor Center and K-12 education programming. She has also served as Director of Education at the National Geographic Society where she was responsible for technology initiatives, curriculum and professional development, and signature outreach programs. In January 2016, Nancee completed a doctoral program in Environmental Sciences/Geography at PSU. Her dissertation assessed the multifaceted learning outcomes from a hands-on international teacher professional development program.
Nancee has spent much of her career understanding what motivates individuals to pursue professional growth and in turn, what types of programming works best for different learners with varying attitudes, personal backgrounds and rationale for participation. Nancee also has extensive experience creating STEM and geography curriculum and managing education programs. She has served on numerous leadership teams in the state and region and has established award-winning partnerships that support a variety of learners.
David Banis
David Banis has managed the Center for Spatial Analysis and Research (CSAR) in the Geography Department at Portland State University since 2006, working with a wide variety of partners at the federal, state, and local levels on applied GIS projects. The projects themselves are equally diverse, and they range from practical database compilation and mapmaking to the study of human/environment interactions in a variety of contexts, to explorations in cultural geography. A number of CSAR’s research programs employ public participatory mapping to explore how cultural values and human perceptions of landscapes might be used to improve public land management.
With colleague Hunter Shobe, David has published two books: Portlandness: A Cultural Atlas, and Upper Left Cities: A Cultural Atlas of San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. Both books explore the diverse ways that cartographers can tell stories with maps. In collaboration with the Center for Geography Education in Oregon, he was chief cartographer for both English and Spanish language editions of the Student Atlas of Oregon, as well as the classroom Atlas of Oregon Climate and Climate Change. David is one of the partners in the development of an interactive Atlas of Oregon Lakes. He also teaches courses on cartography, GIS, map use and analysis, and the relationship of maps and GIS to culture and society.
Savannah Madden
Savannah Madden is the GIS Coordinator for the GIS Mapping Exchange Project at Portland State University, the Retention and Recruitment Coordinator at Portland Community College, and a graduate of Portland Community College's GIS and UAS certificate programs. Savannah has a background in Elementary and Computer education and has worked on many GIS projects that focus on teaching and sharing GIS with educators. Savannah has her Part 107 license and is always looking for more ways to incorporate remote sensing and drones into her GIS work, you can almost always catcher her on a nice day flying her drone to capture some beautiful PNW imagery. As the coordinator on this project, Savannah looks to support all our participants and bring her expertise on teaching and sharing new skills with all community members.
Lauren McKinney-Wise
Lauren McKinney-Wise is a GIS Tech 2 at the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the head GIS tutor at Portland Community College, and a master’s student at Portland State University. Lauren has worked on myriad GIS projects and has served/continues to serve on various GIS boards and groups. She was also recently named one of the “23 Geospatial Professionals to Watch in 2023” by the GIS and surveying magazine, Xyht. As an active member of the GIS community, Lauren seeks to help others learn about the opportunities that GIS and open data can provide. As a member of this project team, Lauren hopes to uplift the lived experiences of community members through equal access to data and knowledge creation.
Catherine Green
Catherine Green received a Geographic Information Science Certificate at Portland Community College (2020), and is currently pursuing a Geospatial UAS Specialist certificate. She was also the President of Portland Community College ’s Student Chapter of ASPRS. She has a MA in Geography with emphasis in Energy Resources and Climatology, as well as a BA in Environmental Studies; both from California State University, East Bay. Catherine has worked in the nonprofit sector in a variety of roles, including researcher, communications manager, development manager, outreach coordinator, and volunteer coordinator for organizations focused on Environmental Health, Environmental Justice, Climate Policy, and Community Arts.