After completing my B.A. in geography in 1978 from Syracuse University, I was in residence at the University of Kansas from 1978-83 where I completed my M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. At the University of Kansas, I became interested in cartographic generalization, in particular building and evaluating algorithms for the simplification and smoothing of cartographic features, and later turned to issues of creating conceptual models of the process and the design of user interfaces. This collection of work was published in a series of journals papers and resulted in two books, Map Generalization, co-edited with Barbara Buttenfield, and Generalization in Digital Cartography, co-authored with K. Stuart Shea. Although I have recently turned my efforts to other research interests, I still have a few research projects involving generalization.

My life trajectory continued westward when I started as an assistant professor of geography at UCLA in 1983. At UCLA I taught courses in cartography, digital cartography, remote sensing, quantitative methods, and GIS. In terms of research, I worked extensively on my generalization projects, became interested in tracing the development of academic cartography in the United States, and, perhaps most importantly, became interested in risk assessment and GIS, working in conjunction with one of UCLA's human geographers. Our initial project involved building a spatial database of hazardous materials and geodemographics in Santa Monica, California, and creating a GIS-based risk assessment model. It was somewhat rudimentary, but showed us how well these new systems could be used for modeling purposes. As part of the national academic reshuffling associated with the siting of the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, I accepted a position at Syracuse University in 1988, and then later moved to the geography department at the University of Minnesota in 1990.

Although my first years at Minnesota were spent working in the area of generalization, I have recently shifted more fully into research on GIS and society, in particular risk assessment (once again) and public participation GIS. The Minneapolis risk assessment project is focusing on the development of better spatial methodologies, including both statistical and cartographic approaches, for the purpose of assessing environmental injustice. Our work (Leitner, Sheppard, McMaster and some extremely talented graduate students) assesses environmental injustice based on a series of hazardous sites (Toxic Release Inventory, Superfund, Petrofund) from a variety of scales, resolutions, and analytical approaches. At the same time, we work with individual neighborhoods to determine, exactly, how they might utilize spatial methodologies for environmental inventorying, monitoring, and potential conflict resolution. These two research projects have been funded by NSF and the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA).

A research team, including John Adams, Mark Lindberg, and myself from geography, recently received a 5 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation to build the National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS). The project involves building a comprehensive census database of both geography and attributes back in time for both census tracts (back to 1910 for some cities) and United States counties (back to the late 18th century). When complete, these Web-delivered datasets will allow researchers to tackle true spatio-temporal problems for the first time.

Other professional activities at Minnesota have included serving as Editor of Cartography and Geographic Information Systems from 1990-96, serving as a steering committee member for the GIS/LIS'92, '93, and '94 conferences, Co-director of the Eleventh International Symposium on Computer-Assisted Cartography, Chair of the UCGIS Research Committee (1997-99), and President of the Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS), a member organization of ACSM. I am currently serving on the Board of the UCGIS and am a Vice President of the International Cartographic Association.

Marisa Anne Pagnattaro, the I.W. Cousins Professor of Business and a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Terry College of Business, was named Vice President for Instruction in 2022. She added the responsibilities of Senior Vice Provost for Academic Planning to her portfolio in 2023. Pagnattaro oversees the University’s enrollment management, student success initiatives, academic affairs, instructional infrastructure as well as student and faculty support services. This includes the offices of admissions, financial aid, registrar, curriculum, academic advising, experiential learning, and online learning. Also included are the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Office for Student Support and Achievement, the First-Year Odyssey Seminar program, and STEM education. Pagnattaro provides academic oversight to UGA’s extended campuses in Washington DC, Griffin, and Gwinnett as well as pre-health and pre-law advising offices.

Prior to being named Vice President for Instruction and Senior Vice Provost for Academic Planning, Pagnattaro served as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. In this role, she assisted with all matters of academic administration, policy and planning, and acted on behalf of the Provost when he was not available. She chaired the UGA Arts Council and oversaw the Georgia Museum of Art, McBee Institute of Higher Education, and the Performing Arts Center. She also worked closely with the Office of Global Engagement. She jointly oversaw the UGA Griffin campus with the Dean and Director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Before that, Pagnattaro was the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs in the Terry College. In this role, she led strategic planning efforts related to research and graduate education, directed the college’s international programs, and chaired its Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board.

Her scholarship focuses on international trade and business ethics, and she is the author or co-author of more than 30 journal articles and book chapters and numerous shorter works. She is the author of “In Defiance of the Law: From Anne Hutchinson to Toni Morrison,” which explores literary depictions of the American legal system. She is the co-author of three additional books, including a widely used business law textbook. In addition, Pagnattaro served as the editor-in-chief of the American Business Law Journal and was president of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business.

As the AVC of Enrollment Management, Jim Rawlins serves as the chief enrollment officer for the University. This role leads the Enrollment Management division in its work of identifying, recruiting, admitting, yielding, enrolling and funding talented and diverse undergraduate students. As AVC-EM, Jim collaborates across the entire campus to reach these goals by working closely with UC San Diego’s academic schools, colleges and campus units. Externally, he works with community partners throughout the state with a vested interest in UC San Diego’s enrollment management goals. Jim serves as a member of the San Diego Divisional Academic Senate, as well as an ex officio member of the Senate’s Committee on Admissions, and is responsible for implementing the decisions and policies of the Academic Senate. Jim has more than 30 years of experience in enrollment management and admissions, and is a former president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).