Alum Profile: Tristan “TJ” Connolly

Tristan ConnollyA lifelong Geographer with experience as a GIS Specialist and Geospatial Research Specialist. Skills include environmental and historical research, geodatabase management, environmental consulting and data analysis. Strives to provide collaborative solutions to environmental issues and innovate new cartographic and geospatial products.

Education

2016 – 2018 | Bemidji State University
Geography, B.S. with emphases in Geographic Information Science & Physical Geography
GPA: 3.65, Cum Laude

2015 | Normandale Community College
Liberal Education courses

Impact

Bemidji State University Geography Department and their dedicated and knowledgeable professors provided the fundamental skills needed to launch my career in geospatial research. The faculty taught me technical, theoretical and applied knowledge that were instrumental to advancing my professional ambitions. In addition, Geography showed me different ways to view the world we inhabit, our impact on that world and the influence that we could have in the future through sustainability. I had the chance to apply this knowledge by analyzing tree rings in the dendrochronology lab to interpret forest responses to disturbance events, such as drought. This experience allowed me to apply the practical knowledge learned from coursework to real world issues of sustainable forestry. The BSU Geography Department is truly interdisciplinary and can pave the way to successful careers in many different fields.

Experience

2020 – Present | Geospatial Research Specialist
East View Geospatial, MN

  • Procurement of nautical, topographic, geologic and trade maps.
  • Maintenance of geospatial databases using ArcGIS and QGIS Software.

2019 – 2020 | Senior Researcher/GIS Specialist
Historical Information Gatherers, Inc., MN

  • Assembled spatial data from multiple sources for Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA).
  • Performed property research for environmental professionals using ArcGIS to produce aerial photography and historical maps and data for locations across the United States.

2018 | GIS Intern
Beltrami County Natural Resources Management

  • Used ArcGIS edit forest stand data and correct boundaries for updated ownership.
  • Interpreted aerial imagery to update trails data.