"Geography is everywhere," writes Nasir Shir. "[It's] what I use everyday in my life whether … at work … or outside of work." Shir should know. With a double major in Geography and International Development, his first job after graduation from Clark was with the State of Maine, collecting and editing GPS (global positioning system) data for emergency 911 projects. After three years in that position, he became GIS (geographic information system) Lab Manager for the University of Southern Maine, teaching, managing GIS hardware and software, and working with faculty on GIS projects. While working fulltime he completed an M.A. in Community Planning and Development from USM's Muskie School of Public Service.
Although Shir's focus at Clark was cultural geography, he advises geography majors to take classes in GIS and statistics, and to hone their writing and research skills--"absolutely a must," he says about the latter.
Shir also values the opportunity Clark provided to mix with students from many countries. "The interaction and friendship with International students gave me a better understanding of the world," he explains. "These days, this interaction is very vital." In this spirit, Shir will begin a one-year leave of absence from USB at the end of March 2003 to work for United Nations Development Programme in Kabul. There he'll work with the Afghanistan Information Management Service, training Afghanis in the use of GIS.