Lab Assistants
Lab assistants make the wheels turn in the GIS Lab. They are a diverse group of students who have completed at least ID 210. They staff the GIS Center (see schedule below) generally in the evenings when Director Bettigole is not around. Lab assistants serve as hybrid teaching assistants, lab assistants, and research assistants. They are available to help students in ID 210, as well as support faculty research across disciplines. You can often find lab assistants working on a map for faculty publications, digitizing Maya ruins in Guatemala, or consoling confused Intro GIS Students. Don't hesistate to swing by and use this amazing resource!
EMILY HEALY
Environmental Science major - 2025
I love GIS because of its ability to share complicated and important data in an accessible format. I’m currently using GIS while working for the San Bartolo-Xultun Regional Archaeological Project Lidar Initiative rendering polygons from DEM data of previously undocumented archaeological sites in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala with Professor Heather Hurst. My favorite project so far has been working with the DEC to create a method of mapping spongymoth defoliation across NYS.
Sara Powers
Certified Drone Pilot
Computer Science major - 2025
I find the interdisciplinary nature of GIS to be really cool! To me, it’s a way to combine my love for technology to practically any subject, since it has so many different applications. I’m especially interested in its use in both geologic and archaeological settings; in fact, my favorite project has been working with Prof. Heather Hurst to digitize “footprints” of ancient Maya civilization in Guatemala.
Logan Mallory
Undecided - 2026
Hey, I’m Logan. I’m a Junior at Skidmore, and I enjoy GIS and the lab because of the collaborative community of map-makers it fosters. I love making pretty maps that convey data ina super digestible format, and it’s why GIS is such a great tool. My favorite project which was with Kate was finding out how much carbon Skidmore’s newly acquired lands stored. I love to cook, chill outside, play games, and help you with your maps hope to see you in the lab.
Priscilla Kayku
Environmental Science - 2025
Hi I'm Priscilla! I am a senior Environmental Studies major with interests in computer science and pyublic health. I love everything to do with the outdoors: kayaking, hiking, camping and picnicking. I love GIS becuase it allows you to visualize data in the coolest ways. It allows you to interact more with what could arguably be boring numbers and data, and to present them in friendlier, more understandable ways. am very interested in using GIS to model/create eco-friendly neighborhoods and cities for everyone!
Griffin Burns
Environmental Science - 2025
Hello, I'm Griffin, a Senior Majoring in Environmental Science. GIS is almost
limitless in the different ways you can perform various geospatial analyses and I'm excited to continue delving deeper. A couple of my favorite GIS projects include work I did with TSIP mapping out farmland last semester, and determining possible prehistoric human migration paths in South Africa. When I'm not in the lab I like to either ski, watch movies, or practice photography.
Julia Johnson McGuigan
Environmental Studies - 2025
I’m Julia, a Senior Environmental Studies Major. I love how interdisciplinary GIS is and how powerful a good map can be for science communication. My favorite GIS projects include work done with the Crandall Public Library’s Folklife Center on the Champlain Canal, along with mapping forest fires across time. Outside of the lab I love hiking, swimming, and making art.
Chris Meade
Neuroscience - 2026
Hello, I’m Chris and I’m a Junior studying Neuroscience. I walk amongst the elite strike force of geospatial wizards here to assist you this semester. My favorite aspect of the GIS skill set is its applicability as a tool for exploration and discovery - my favorite project so far has involved mapping and forming theories about ancient Mayan structures in the Guatemalan rainforest. Your journey to geostatistical supremacy will be long and arduous. In times of trouble, just remember the wisdom of Lao Tzu - “A journey of a thousand maps begins with a single layout”