GSS Spotlight!
MATT HOGAN
Student Intern
What is your education and professional background?
I went to undergrad at the University of Dubuque, majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Natural Resource Management, and playing baseball. Immediately continuing on to a M.S. in GIS at Saint Marys in Winona, that has now transformed into a M.S. in Data Intelligence and GeoAnalytics (DIGA).
What led you to GIS? More specifically, how did you get to Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (SMUMN) in Winona?
Junior year of undergrad I took an intro to GIS course, Remote Sensing, and Adv GIS, working with ArcMap pretty extensively and I immediately began to think that it was something I could see myself pursuing further and making a career of. No other course in school made me think that until GIS. It was pretty much a no-brainer when i decided I wanted to continue my education after undergrad in a Masters degree in GIS.
Explain briefly a project at GSS you've done that contributed to your overall knowledge and educational experience.
The Minnesota NWI project has been the bulk of what I have been working on here at GSS for almost a year now. I have learned how to identify many wetland plant species as well as different types of wetland complexes. I have enjoyed doing the work in my current state and on the type of terrain that I am familiar with and spend time on.
How do you see GIS fitting into your future?
My M.S. has just recently shifted a little bit from Geographic Information Science to "Master of Science in Data Intelligence and GeoAnalytics" or DIGA. I am also interested in getting a basic pilots license and exploring what else I can do with that in the world of GIS, Data Intelligence, and GeoAnalytics. I am still open to any and all possibilities. I am hoping to stay in the Upper Mississippi River Valley area.
Where can we find you outside of GSS?
You can find me fishing for walleyes or hunting waterfowl in the fall, mainly on the "Mighty Miss" but also anywhere across the upper midwest. Secondary to fishing and waterfowling, I also dabble in a bit of turkey hunting, morel hunting, bow fishing, and anything out of doors. If I am not in the great outdoors, I am obsessing over the Cubs at beautiful Wrigley Field, cheering for the Bears, watching the Blackhawks, or waiting for someone to come save the Bulls, in that order.