Scott Sweet
GISDE/M.A. '04
 
1. Please describe your present professional position? Please include the URL of your organization.
 
I am presently working for the United Nations Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) which is administered by the World Food Program (WFP). I am a GIS Coordination Officer working in South Sudan on an inter-agency infrastructure assessment project. My main tasks are to provide up-to-date cartographic products on the infrastructure of South Sudan, increase the ability to quickly update road conditions and rehabilitation status reports for use by the humanitarian community, donor community and South Sudan authorities, to improve the data for use in population accessibility analysis, road repair prioritization etc. and to initiate an infrastructure data management framework (collection, processing and storage) for use by South Sudan redevelopment authorities.
 
2. What do you find satisfying about your position?
 
Working in the international community is most satisfying. I appreciate the diversity of living and working with people from all over the world. I am also happy with how this role has led me into the realm of coordination and inter-agency GIS cooperation rather than just technical work.
 
3. How did the GISDE program at Clark University help to prepare you?
 
By increasing my ability to perform well under stress and prioritize the most important tasks. The GISDE program also gave me a solid background in analysis and problem solving, thereby allowing me to come up with creative solutions.
 
4. Why should prospective students enroll in the GISDE program at Clark University?
 
Because it will create many opportunities to become a professional GIS analyst / developer / programmer / technician domestically or abroad.
 
5. What was the topic of your research while at Clark University?
 
Assessing the accuracy of a commonly used fire prediction model.