Michelle G. Zeiders

Michelle G. Zeiders is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Geography within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. She maintains dual affiliations with the Department of Geography and the John A. Dutton e-Education Institute, where she serves as a key faculty member in the online Geospatial Program offering seven programs including a Master of GIS and Certificate in GIS.

Dr. Zeiders specializes in GIS spatial analysis and online geospatial education, with expertise spanning geoenvironmental studies, geospatial big data analytics, spatial modeling, and remote sensing. Her teaching focuses on practical GIS applications across environmental challenges, database development, and problem-solving methodologies. With over 25 years of combined industry and academic experience since 1998, she brings substantial real-world knowledge to her classroom.

Dr. Zeiders teaches multiple courses including GEOG 483: Problem Solving with GIS, GEOG 484: GIS Database Development, GEOG 487: Environmental Applications of GIS, and GEOG 868: Spatial Database Management, with upcoming courses scheduled through Spring 2026. She has been instrumental in developing and delivering GIS curriculum that bridges theoretical knowledge with professional applications.

Through her work with the Geographic Information Analysis (GIA) Core for the Social Science Research Institute and Population Research Institute, Dr. Zeiders facilitates the integration of geospatial data into social science research, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration across campus.

Her professional journey includes diverse GIS roles at North Carolina State University's Institute for Transportation Research and Education, a private civil engineering firm, and Mapquest, providing comprehensive industry perspective that enriches her teaching methodology and student mentorship.