Alysha Heckman

1) What major(s), minors, and/or certificates you are working on at UMD?.

I am completing a dual degree in Geographic Information Systems and Anthropology

2) What are your interests within your program(s)?

I am most interested in crime and intelligence mapping and using a mix of GIS and cultural knowledge to help law enforcement officers better understand and fight criminal activity in the Baltimore and DC areas.

3) What previous jobs, internships, and volunteer experience have you had?

I worked with Dr. Paul Torrens in the Geosimulation lab on campus from 2012-2013. Since March 2013 I have held an internship with the Baltimore/Washington High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) as a GIS Intern working within the Intelligence Support Center.

4) Where you are from (optional)?

Bel Air, MD

Internship:

1) Where you are interning?

Washington/Baltimore HIDTA

2) What are your internship responsibilities?

I make map products to support current cases. This includes performing, geocoding, density maps, and flow maps of drug and gang activity.

3) What project(s) are you working on or contributing to?

HIDTA performs many law enforcement support functions which I help with. We make maps for the Baltimore Center for Safe Solutions and Local Police departments.

4) How the internship experience is relevant to your studies in Geographical Sciences.

This internship is directly relateable to my interests in Geography. I am learning how to apply the techniques that I learn in class to real-world problems. I am seeing how I can apply GIS to law enforcement purposes.

5) What are your career goals after your graduate?

I want to work for the government as an intelligence analyst or geospatial analyst.