Geospatial Graduate Student Organization
The GGSO is a registered student government organization that supports all graduate students affiliated with the Center for Geospatial Analytics. The organization sponsors professional development activities, social events and service projects, such as partnering with Wake County's Holiday Cheer program.
Who We Are
Community, Career-Building and Support
The Geospatial Graduate Student Organization (GGSO) supports students from all graduate programs at the Center for Geospatial Analytics. We provide educational, networking and other professional development opportunities to connect students in the geospatial community and advance the interests of interdisciplinary geospatial research and education.
Any student currently enrolled in the center’s graduate programs –– including the Master of Geospatial Information Science & Technology (MGIST), Ph.D. in Geospatial Analytics and Graduate Certificate in GIS –– as well as any NC State student working closely with or being advised by center faculty or faculty fellows to earn a master’s or Ph.D. can become a member and serve as an officer or committee member. Check out the GGSO’s Constitution and Bylaws for more information.
How to Get Involved
Interested in a leadership role with the GGSO?
Any center-affiliated graduate student, online or on-campus, can serve as an officer or committee member. Officer and committee members serve a one-year term beginning each May.
Join the GGSO on NC State’s Get Involved site to ensure that you receive announcements for officer and committee chair nominations and voting in early May each year.
- Submit your suggestions for future Geospatial Forum speakers
Suggestion Box
If you have suggestions for future GGSO activities or would like a way to anonymously express concerns related to the GGSO or the center’s graduate programs, please use the form linked above and we will do our best to support you.
Suggestions can include ideas for Lunch + Learn topics, career-building, networking, socializing, academic support, volunteering, physical and mental wellbeing, etc. Any topic or endeavor that you think would be valuable for Center for Geospatial Analytics graduate students are welcome.
Thank you for your input!
Current Officers (2024–2025)
Co-Presidents
Erin O’Connell, eoconne@ncsu.edu
Isabel Gutierrez, igutier2@ncsu.edu
Presides over meetings of the organization; maintains contact with organization advisors; serves as a spokesperson for the organization; acts as student liaison to Center faculty and fellows; advocates for issues on behalf of the student organization; serves as the student representative during center-wide meetings.
Internal Affairs Officer
Christina Perella, cdperell@ncsu.edu
Obtains appropriate facilities for organization activities; keeps a record of all members of the organization; notifies all members of meetings; prepares organization’s calendar of events; keeps and distributes minutes of each meeting.
Is familiar with university and center accounting procedures and policies; pays organization bills; prepares all budget requests for funds; prepares and submits financial reports to the members; provides faculty advisor with a summary of financial records at the end of the academic year.
External Affairs Officer
Pratikshya Regimi, pregmi3@ncsu.edu
Serves as GGSO representative in the NC State Graduate Student Association (GSA). Updates GGSO on relevant information. Designs and organizes online and in-person social events for CGA-affiliated students, faculty and staff.
Current Committee Members
Geospatial Forum Committee Chair
Rebecca Composto, rcompos@ncsu.edu
Serves as lead student representative on the Geospatial Forum Committee and works with other committee members to help identify and secure speakers for the Geospatial Forum.
Geospatial Forum Committee Members
Titilayo Tajudeen, tttajude@ncsu.edu
Kasey Boyd, kdboyd2@ncsu.edu
Serves on the Geospatial Forum Committee and works with the other committee members to help identify and secure speakers for the Geospatial Forum.
Faculty Advisor
Rachel Kasten, rlgreens@ncsu.edu
Serves as an initial contact person for any feedback the GGSO would like to provide to center leadership and/or faculty; ensures that the GGSO adheres to all of the standards outlined in its constitution; relays center-related information to the GGSO as appropriate.
Center-Wide Resources For Students
GIS Week @ NC State
GIS Week at NC State University is designed to be an accessible learning and professional development event series centered around geospatial analytics and spatial data science. Drawing inspiration from NC State’s motto “Think and Do,” GIS Week is designed to connect researchers, practitioners and industry partners across varying sectors and disciplines. The week-long event offers workshops, social events and opportunities to learn how geospatial analytics is being used at NC State and nearby universities.
Good News Form
Share your accomplishments with the whole Center! Please fill out this form each time you win an award, receive a grant or publish a paper; are interviewed by the press, invited to speak somewhere, accepted to present at a conference; or have anything else you’d like to share. The info will help our Graduate Services Coordinator, Rachel Kasten (rachelkasten@ncsu.edu), and our Science Communicator, Dr. Megan Skrip (mmskrip@ncsu.edu), to spread the word about just how great you and your work are!