Name: Nirvana Sookdeo

Year of graduation: 2012

Major: Geography, Geographic Information Systems

Current employment status: Employed (PT)

Employer: The MITRE Corporation

Position: Geospatial Analyst, Computer Science staff. Division: Center for National Security. Department: Geospatial Intelligence Capabilities. 

Why did you want to be a GEOG/GIS/ENSP major?

I was undecided for my first two years of undergrad. I had an interest in Urban Planning but there wasn't an undergraduate program for Urban Planning at UMD. So, I took various "Intro's to..." including Architecture, and Agricultural and Resource Economics, to name a few. But none of them sparked my interest. A family friend who knew I was interested in Urban Planning recommended that I look into GIS, so I did. I first picked up GIS as a minor, and after taking some of the introductory GIS classes, I found it very interesting. So, with some encouragement from Dr. Luna who was my advisor at the time, I decided to make GIS my major. I like that GIS can be used for research and analysis in so many different fields, professions, etc. I am also a very visual person, so I liked being able to create maps and understand what I was doing by looking at something concrete, as opposed to theoretical. My dream is to be able to use GIS as a tool to help communities in need. Right now, as a Geospatial Analyst at The MITRE Corporation, I help provide our government sponsors with meaningful research and analysis. I have taken some ESRI classes post-undergrad and I plan to get a Master's in GIS as well, and continue to gain work experience. And I hope that I will be able to use my knowledge and experience to turn my dream into a reality one day.

What internships or independent research did you do as a GEOG/GIS/ENSP major?

During my final Spring semester, I worked on an independent research project with Professor N. Zhou in the Geography Department. The project was to create a reference map which highlighted various restaurants, parks and recreational locations around the University campus, and was intended for visitors and family members of students at UMD. This map project was a request from the Associate Director for Community Relations for the Office of the Vice President at The University of Maryland.

What recommendations would you make to current GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors for career and academic success while they are still undergraduates?

I would recommend that all GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors do an internship while they are still undergraduates. Even if you don't get an internship that directly relates to your major or career path, you can still gain valuable experience and connections from that internship. I interned at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at their Office of Aviation Safety, during my senior year in undergrad. And although I was placed in Human Resources, where most of the staff had never heard of GIS, I was able to network within the FAA and actually got introduced to some GIS Analysts while I was there. I was also able to attend the ESRI Federal User Conference and sat in on some GIS-focused meetings at the FAA, which was very insightful. Additionally, I gained experience from being in a professional environment which is always beneficial for career success.

What recommendations would you make to current GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors for career and academic success after graduation?

My recommendation for GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors after graduation is to never stop learning. Whether you continue onto graduate school right away, or start working immediately after graduation, or whether you take some time off and volunteer, or travel the world...whatever you do, make it a learning experience and find ways to make those experiences work in your favor for your future. Network. Practice your communication and social skills. Attend a seminar on finances. In the real world, you will need both academic knowledge and knowledge that comes from experience. So, get out and experience as much as you can!