Graduate Students

Explore the scholars who have shaped—and continue to shape—our MA in Geography and Master of Science in GIS (MSGIS) programs. This section highlights both current students and alumni, showcasing the breadth of research, innovation, and professional growth within our graduate community.

Expand the profiles below to learn more about each student’s academic journey, including their thesis work, professional experience via LinkedIn, and the faculty mentors who supported their success throughout the program.

M.A. in Geography 

Check out the amazing work accomplished by our current and past students! 

Schultheis, Brendan Scott, (2024) Estimating Oak Tree Biomass Using Canopy-Based Estimates of Trunk Diameter Derived From High-Resolution sUAS Imagery. 
Thesis Committee - Dr. Paul Laris (chair), Mr. Scott Winslow, Dr. Mystyn Mills. 

Venegas, Maria, (2023) Vulnerabilities and Resilience to Weather Events: Woodford Saint Andrew, Jamaica. 
Thesis Committee - Dr. Gary Hytrek (chair), Dr. House-Peters, Dr. Dmitrii Sidorov. 

Mayer, Cameron, (2022) New West Tension and Threatened Species Protection: The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Debate in the Morongo Basin, California
Thesis Committee - Dr. Paul Laris (chair), Dr. Argandona, Dr. House-Peters

Dowell, Julia, (2022) Taking the Temperature of Climate Change in Long Beach: Concerns and Responses of Long Beach Residents Regarding Extreme Heat and Health Impacts
Thesis Committee - Dr. Gary Hytrek (chair), Dr. House-Peters, Dr. Jocoy

Siwabessy, Andrew, (2021) Geologic Mapping of Terra Cimmeria, Mars, and Resultant Implications for the Martian Plate Tectonics Hypotheses
Thesis Committee - Dr. Rodrigue (chair), Dr. Onderdonk, Dr. Wechsler

Jacobs, Rebecca L. (2018) Determinants of Fire Intensity in a Mesic West Africa Savanna: A Statistical Analysis of Fire Characteristics
Thesis Committee - Dr. Paul Laris (chair), Dr. Rodrigue, Dr. Langdon

Timm, Susan E., (2008) Using remote sensing, GIS, and landscape ecology techniques in wildland management
Thesis Committee - Dr.Lee (chair), Dr. Wechsler, Dr. Behl

Pitts, Lisa, (2005) GIS in high schools: A case for teaching geography through technology
Thesis Committee - Dr. Wechsler (chair), Dr. Garver, Dr. Rodrigue

Student Thesis Thesis Committee
Cisneros, AidaParents’ Perceptions of Pollution Exposure on Their Children in the City of Long Beach, CaliforniaDr. Perlitsh (chair), Dr. Hytrek, Dr. Ban
Prell, Kathryn LindsayCannabis Policy and Equity Outcomes in Long Beach, CaliforniaDr. Jocoy (chair), Dr. House-Peters, Dr. Sidorov

Student Thesis Thesis Committee
Cano, AndreaAn Archival Study of Gratitude in Visitors to Reserva Pinar Del Norte, Villa Gesell, ArgentinaDr. House-Peters (chair), Dr. Dudley, Dr. Hytrek 
Carvalho, DarrellFear, Discomfort, and Gendered Urban Mobility: A Case Study of the Los Angeles Metro A LineDr. House-Peters (chair), Dr. Macias, Dr. Jocoy
Salas-Yoshii, Alana“I Don’t Want to Taste the Rainbow Anymore”: The Political and Legal Struggle for Justice Against Rainbow Disposal in Huntington Beach, CaliforniaDr. Hytrek (chair), Dr. Jocoy, Dr. Toji
Nada, MinaREADING BETWEEN THE BRANCHES: EXPLORING THE GEOGRAPHY OF TREE MORTALITY IN BLUE OAK WOODLANDSDr. Laris (Chair), Dr. Wechsler, Dr.Li, 
Schultheis, Brendan ScottEstimating Oak Tree Biomass Using Canopy-Based Estimates of Trunk Diameter Derived From High-Resolution sUAS ImageryDr. Laris (Chair), Mr. Winslow, Dr. Mills
Avrit, Sara ElizabethAn Economic and Ecological Gap Analysis of Epaulette Sharks, HemiscylliumDr. Mills (Chair), Dr. Laris, Dr. Pepper

Student ThesisThesis Committee
Ishak, SamanthaPolitical Ecology of Oil Consolidation and Restoration Efforts at Los Cerritos Wetlands, Long Beach, CaliforniaDr. House-Peters (chair), Dr. Argandoña, Dr. Laris
Amoah, Isis AmandaGoods Movement Projects and Toxicity: Struggles for Environmental Justice Among Communities in Southern CaliforniaDr. Hytrek (chair), Dr. Toji, Dr. Argandoña
Venegas, MariaVulnerabilities and Resilience to Weather Events: Woodford Saint Andrew, JamaicaDr. Hytrek (chair), Dr. House-Peters, Dr. Sidorov
Charnon, DylanA Statistical Analysis on the U.S. Forest Service Artificial Nest Island Variables for Dusky Canada Geese (Branta canadensis occidentalis)Dr. Mills (chair), Dr. Ban, Dr. Langdon
Marcom, NatalieResistance in Action and Gardens of Knowledge: The Importance of Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the Nü’Ma CommunityDr. Gregor (chair), Dr. House-Peters, Dr. Li

Student Thesis Thesis Committee
Saldana, Christiana FrancisSwimming in Place: Community, Identity and Geography in Needles, CaliforniaDr. Dallman (chair), Dr. Hytrek, Dr. Bezdecny
Dowell, JuliaTaking the Temperature of Climate Change in Long Beach: Concerns and Responses of Long Beach Residents Regarding Extreme Heat and Health ImpactsDr. Hytrek (chair), Dr. House-Peters, Dr. Jocoy
Mayer, CameronNew West Tension and Threatened Species Protection: The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Debate in the Morongo Basin, CaliforniaDr. Laris, Dr. Argandoña, Dr. House-Peters

StudentThesisThesis Committee
Vallarta, ArthellaOperation Next: Is This Expansion of Recycled Water Reuse Possible in Los Angeles?Dr. Dallman (chair), Dr. House-Peters, Dr. Jocoy
Nwanze, ChieduRecreation, Health, and Safety: A Study of the Accessibility and Utilization of the City Parks in Long BeachDr. Laris (chair), Dr. Hytrek, Dr. Rodrigue
Siwabessy, AndrewGeologic Mapping of Terra Cimmeria, Mars, and Resultant Implications for the Martian Plate Tectonics HypothesesDr. Rodrigue (chair), Dr. Anderson, Dr. Onderdonk, Dr. Wechsler
Abramova, AnnaQuantifying Coal Mining Contamination and Estimating Their Spatial Distribution: Svalbard ArchipelagoDr. Wechsler (chair), Dr. Stevens-Landon, Mr. Winslow, Dr. Dallman 

Student ThesisThesis Committee
Garcia, KyleFunctional Patterns: An Auto-Ethnography into the Spatialities of Training Intentionally, and Not HabituallyDr. Ban (chair), Dr. Hytrek, Dr. Miller
Georges, KatherineBehind the Practice: Drought and Decision Making by Tulare Basin FarmersDr. Dallman (chair), Dr. House-Peters, Dr. Laris
Berg, KirstenHow Green Is the Green Port? Shifting Port Narratives in Long Beach, CaliforniaDr. House-Peters (chair), Dr. Dallman, Dr. Hytrek
Emmons, DerekThe Flow of Resilience: A Case Study on Working Land Conservation in the Tule River Watershed, CaliforniaDr. House-Peters (chair), Dr. Laris, Dr. Dallman
Johnson, AnnaDocumentary Discourses on Climate Change: A Critical Discourse Analysis of An Inconvenient Truth and An Inconvenient SequelDr. House-Peters (chair), Dr. Dallman, Dr. Caputi
Guidimadjegbe, SegnideThe New Face of Agriculture in Southern California: Ventura County Farmers' Adaptations to Climate ChangeDr. Laris (chair), Dr. Dallman, Dr.House-Peters 
Vann-Foster, RachelNative California Forb and Grasslands: La Jolla Valley, Malibu a Long-Term Study of Species Change over TimeDr. Laris (chair), Dr. Rodrigue, Dr. Langdon
Yang, LilianEffects of Fire Disturbance and Grass Removal on Tree Growth in Mesic SavannasDr. Laris (chair), Dr. Rodrigue, Dr. Langdon
Golden, LaurelYosemite Soundscape: An Assessment of Anthropogenic Noise in Tuolumne MeadowsDr. Rodrigue (chair), Dr. Wechsler, Dr. Ban

M.S. in Geographic Information Science

Connect and see where our MSGIS students are today! 
Click on their names to view their LinkedIn.