Leadership
The strategic vision of the Center for Geospatial Analytics is shaped by an interdisciplinary group of forward-thinking faculty, staff and community partners, led by director Ross Meentemeyer and his team of associate directors.

Our diverse leadership leverages unique expertise to build a community of researchers and scholars who strive to push the boundaries of geospatial thinking. In addition to center Director Ross Meentemeyer, three associate directors work to advance the mission of the center:
- Associate Director of Geovisualization, Helena Mitasova
- Associate Director of Professional Education, Eric Money
- Associate Director of Spatial Computing & Technology, Raju Vatsavai
Dr. Meentemeyer and Dr. Vatsavai joined NC State as part of the Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program cluster in Geospatial Analytics. As the hub for the cluster, the center serves as a go-to place for interdisciplinary solutions to complex problems. The center director and associate directors are also supported by two directors emeritus, who continue to expand the center’s legacy both nationally and internationally, and an External Advisory Board that provides valuable input and guidance.
Browse the Leadership directory100+ Years of Combined Leadership Experience
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Dr. Helena Mitasova
This professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences is the center's associate director of geovisualization, a faculty fellow and one of the key minds behind Tangible Landscape.
Dr. Ross Meentemeyer
The center's director served as president of US-IALE for two years, enhancing the association's communication initiatives and pushing to expand membership to all of North America.
Dr. Eric Money
The associate director of professional education oversees the professional master's program in GIST as well as popular after-school program for high school students.
Dr. Raju Vatsavai
The center's associate director of spatial computing and technology partnered with the Lenovo Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center to predict the impacts of floods and drought on agriculture.