Marcela Suárez

Marcela Suárez is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Spatial Data Science in the Department of Geography at The Pennsylvania State University. She teaches cartography, GIS, and spatial data analysis in the John A. Dutton e-Education Institute's Online Geospatial Education Programs, contributing to the advancement of geospatial education.

Her research focuses on the intersection of Geographic Information Science, Cartography, and Emergency Management. Using spatial analysis, geovisualization, machine learning, and data mining, she explores how user-generated content and volunteered geographic information can complement official data sources to improve decision-making during emergencies and analyze social-environmental dynamics at local scales.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Geography (2020), University of California, Santa Barbara
  • M.Sc. in Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response (2011), University of Costa Rica
  • B.Eng. in Cadastral Engineering and Geodesy (2005), Universidad Distrital Francisco Jose de Caldas, Colombia
• Professional Experience:
  • Research Specialist, Center for Spatial Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
  • Consultant, United Nations Development Program for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Colombian Massif
  • GIS Specialist, various governmental organizations in Colombia

Her outreach work, such as the 2016 GeoClub initiative in Colombia, highlights her commitment to democratizing geographic knowledge and empowering youth to use geospatial tools for solving community challenges through web mapping and data analysis.