Alumni Focus

IESA regularly features graduates from its AESA B.S. and Certificate programs in its "Alumni Focus." Because our graduates are hired for public and private sector jobs and accepted to graduate schools at a very high rate, we wanted to highlight these outstanding students and find out what made their experiences at UNG so unique.

Alejandro Schwedhelm (UNG '12) - GIS Consultant

Which concentration did you follow in your AESA degree?

Environmental Studies

Were you considered a traditional or non-traditional student?

I was a non-traditional student.

What did you do before coming to UNG?

I was a full-time athlete for USA Canoe Kayak.

What was your primary motivation for earning the AESA degree?

My passion for understanding the interrelations between Geography and the Social Sciences.

Where are you currently employed and what is your function?

I am currently working as a freelancing GIS consultant. I recently completed a four-month project for the New York City Housing Authority. My task consisted of using Spatial Analysis to analyze the accessibility of public housing recipients to public transit and community service facilities. I also used statistical analysis software to look at correlations between recipients' accessibility and economic self-sufficiency over a 6 year period.

Is this your first job after graduating?

No, I worked as a GIS student and faculty consultant at New York University after graduation while pursuing a Masters of Urban Planning.

Describe the most challenging or most rewarding project you have worked on since graduating that involved the use of geospatial technology.

My last consulting project was the most challenging one because it involved using geospatial technology tools I had not used before and required me to become more proficient at statistical software such as SAS and SPSS.

.What are specific skills that you acquired in the program that have helped you in your current position?

Being able to use various spatial analysis tools

Multispectral satellite imagery analysis with ERDAS

Using the models to streamline geo-processing tasks

Alumni Focus Archive