Two Center Faculty Fellows Named 24-25 University Scholars

Two Center for Geospatial Analytics Faculty Fellows were among 20 early- and mid-career faculty named as 2024-25 University Faculty Scholars. Faculty receive this designation in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and contributions to NC State through their teaching, scholarship and service to the university and beyond.

Dr. Mirela Tulbure leads the Geospatial Analysis for Environmental Change Lab where she uses satellite data and machine learning to quantify flood risk and surface water dynamics. She joined NC State in 2019 as a Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program cluster hire in Geospatial Analytics. She is an international thought leader in her discipline, presenting at universities and conferences around the world. Dr. Tulbure is acclaimed for her ability to translate cutting-edge science into solutions for real-world challenges. Her collaborative work with a small, low-income community in rural Georgia resulted in updated flood maps that empowered residents to advocate for vital flood mitigation infrastructure. Her commitment to extending science beyond campus not only benefits local communities but also prepares students and future science professionals to replicate these efforts in flood-prone regions in North Carolina and beyond.

Dr. Justin Baker has established a highly successful research program in forestry and natural resources economics focused on solving real-world challenges. He is rapidly emerging as a national and international thought leader on greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and natural resource policy. Specifically, demand for his expertise in modeling carbon flows through forest and agricultural systems is increasing. He is a frequent speaker at national and international scientific meetings and is sought by government agencies and NGOs to provide critical policy analysis of GHG mitigation in the forestry sector. His thoughtful leadership is transforming both scientific discourse and driving public policy far beyond the confines of academia.

Portions of this post were originally published in NC State News.