Karen Tuerk has been selected by the Geography Department at UW-Madison to be the manager of its GIS Certificate Program. The program, begun in 2000, provides a post-graduate certificate for students from diverse academic backgrounds.
The manager position was recently created to provide services to students and to promote the program. Tuerk, a native of Delaware with a background in biological science and non-profit development, is herself a 2001 graduate of the GIS Certificate Program as well as a 2003 graduate of the UW-Madison’s Professional M.S. Program in Environmental Monitoring. While a student she has done work with both the Wis. Dept. of Natural Resources and the UW Sea Grant Program.
Among Tuerk’s early projects will be developing promotional and orientation materials, organizing activities surrounding GIS Day, and tracking alumni of the program. We expect to be working with her on some common goals relating to campus-wide GIS coordination.
Students in the certificate program include those fresh from receiving a bachelor’s degree, some looking for skills as part of a career change, and others gaining advanced training through employer arrangements. The program can be completed in one year including an internship. Learn more at www.geography.wisc.edu/gradProgramCert.html.