The Board of Women in GIS is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Awards and Scholarships Program. We received a large volume of applications and nominations with high merit and contributions to the GIS/Geospatial fields. We would like to thank all applicants for their time, and we encourage those who were not selected this year to apply in the next cycle.

Awards

Distinguished Contribution Award Plaque

The committee did not receive qualifying applications in the service award category, and thus the board decided to give two awards in the Distinguished Contribution category because of the merit of the nominations received by the Awards and Scholarships Committee. The two awardees are:

• Nadika Senadheera (Works at the World Health Organization), from Sri Lanka.
• Lucy Chepkochei (Works in the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development – RCMRD), from Kenya.

Young Professional Award Plaque

• Marilyn Cepeda (Work in the Fire Department of Riobamba) from Ecuador.

Scholarships

Graduate Scholarships [$1,000 each]

• Aymber McElroy (Studying at the University of Wyoming, USA).
• Chayanika Devi (Studying at the University of Cincinnati, USA).

Undergraduate Scholarships [$500 each]

• Tamrin Jahan (Studies at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Bangladesh).
• Michaela Roberts (Studies at Arizona State University, USA).

Grants for Professional or Academic Geospatial Work [$2,000 each]

• Ayushi Gupta (Works in The Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development at Banaras Hindu University, India).
• Aqsa Qalb (Works in The University of Management and Technology, Pakistan).

To learn more about the Awards and Scholarships program, visit this page.

In April WiGIS members will elect five key roles to our WiGIS Board of Directors. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please consider nominating yourself for one of these positions. All active (current, dues-paying) members are eligible for nomination and to vote. 

Nominations are due March 24, 2023.  Deadline extended to March 31, 2023.

To see the open positions and additional details about nominations, visit this page. 

Details

Women in GIS is pleased to announce the newest addition to our Professional Development series of workshops. On March 21 we bring you the first in a 4-part series of workshops on building your communication and presentation skills. Join two of our favorite presenters, Eva Reid and Jami Dennis, as they provide you lessons and hands-on experience where you will gain the skills to become a master presenter! 

This is offered as a complete 4-part series. WiGIS members get the complete workshop series for $75! We also welcome non-members. And, should you choose to join WiGIS you'll get the member pricing along with all the goodness that comes with being a member.

Get the full details on the event page.

Workshop Details

Women in GIS is excited to announce the launch of our new podcast, Geographers without Borders. Hosted by our own Shannon Foxx Day, the inaugural episode features WiGIS President Caitlin Hagar-Kuhn. 

New episodes will be available monthly on the first Thursday of the month. This interview-style podcast brings you guests from around the world to share about their niche in geography. From GIS to Urban Planning to Marine Biology, scientists and professionals around the world use the science of geography to solve problems critical to humanity every day.

It's available on a variety of podcast outlets - iheartRadio, Apple, Amazon Music, and Spotify. 

Listen Now

WiGIS is now accepting applications for our 2023 Recognition Awards and Scholarships. In collaboration with Esri, WiGIS will recognize 3 individuals and award 6 scholarships. 

Recognition awards will be given for the following:

• Distinguished Contribution to the Geospatial Field
• WiGIS Young Professional Award
• WiGIS Service Award

Two scholarships will be awarded in each of the following categories:

• Undergraduate Scholarship - $500 each
• Graduate Scholarship - $1000 each
• Grant for Professional or Academic Geospatial Work - $2000 each

Applications must be received by midnight Pacific on January 31, 2023. For full details on these awards and scholarships including how to apply see the Awards & Scholarships page. 

Details

Women In GIS has a new Job Board where members and sponsors can post 30-day job announcements for free! Additional features are also available for free and reduced pricing as well. 

Check out the benefits of being a member or sponsor and find a plan that's right for you!

Visit the Job Board

Member Benefits

Sponsor Benefits

Over the past year Women In GIS has grown, adding both new members and organizational sponsors. As an all-volunteer run organization, the work we do would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. 

Thank you to our current sponsors, Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center - Platinum Plus, WestLand Resources - Silver Plus, and Axim Geospatial - Silver Plus.

To learn more about the benefits of being a sponsor, visit our Sponsor Benefits page.

Create a resume that gets noticed! 

Women in GIS is hosting a hands-on resume writing workshop that will show you how to create a resume and cover letter that stands out from the crowd.

Landing that perfect job all starts with having an impactful resume that highlights your knowledge, skills, and abilities. To help you develop that resume, we are once again partnering with Laura Royal to bring you a half-day workshop where you will learn techniques and skills for creating a stand-out resume. 

Get the full details here!

Women in GIS is excited to connect with our members in person at the ESRI UC, July 11-14th.

• We will be co-hosting a Special Interest Group meeting with ESRI's group Women and GIS. Tuesday at 7am. Location TBA (Yes, there will be coffee!)
• We will have a booth (no. 2309) in the Vendor Expo. Come say hi and learn about some of our newest initiatives!
• Communities of Practice will be playing a fun networking game involving stickers, social media and some of your Board members. Stay tuned!

Thank you to everyone who voted in the Women In GIS annual election of officers. 

Congratulations and welcome to our newly elected officers! We also wish to thank the outgoing officers for their dedication and work over the past year.

Newly elected (will take office on June 1, 2022):

• Alia Roca-Lezra, Vice President
• Azza Kamal, Awards & Scholarship Committee Chair
• Eva Reid, Outreach Committee Chair
• Irene Kaufman, Mentorship Committee Chair
• Tia Morita, Secretary (re-elected)

Thank you to these outgoing leaders for the work you have done over the past year:

• Ahna Miller, Vice President 2019-2020, President 2020-2021, Past President 2021-2022
• Suzi Cameron, Treasurer 
• Susana Crespo, Outreach Committee Chair 
• Golnaz Badr, Mentorship Committee Chair 
• Sandra Chakra, Interview/Spotlight Committee Chair