As we transition into summer, we're happy to highlight one of our many excellent outgoing students who will be moving on to the next steps in their lives and careers. Consolata Macharia is one of those students, graduating last month with her M.S. and the recognition of being one of the co-awardees of the department's annual outstanding geography graduate student award. But before Consolata fully leaves us to start her PhD in geography at Arizona State University, get to know her and her GEOS journey below!
Where are you from originally?
I'm originally from Kenya.
Where did you go to school before coming to GSU?
I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya.
What year in school are you?
I’m now a GSU alumni, having started my M.S. in August 2022 and graduating in May 2024.
What’s your concentration?
Geography
Which class has been your favorite to take in the Department of Geosciences?
I have three favorites: Introduction to Remote Sensing with Dr. Kiage, Urban Political Ecology with Dr. Freshour, and Digital Cartography with Dr. Shelton.
What is your favorite thing about being a GEOS grad student?
The diversity at GSU Geosciences allowed me to interact with students from disparate backgrounds. I also enjoyed the great connection I had with graduate students, which provided an avenue to share graduate life experiences – given that the students encountered similar issues and experiences, this propelled me forward.
Tell us a bit about your research and work while here at GSU...
My master’s thesis was titled "Understanding the Intersection of Social Vulnerability, Land Cover Changes, and Heat Exposure in Reno, Nevada, USA.” Some of the key takeaways of my research include: 1) Location is a factor that affects vulnerability to extreme events. 2) Vulnerability is an equity issue – Individual susceptibility to natural hazards is influenced by socio-economic and political factors.
As a teaching assistant in the department, I mostly taught the GEOG1112L Weather and Climate Lab, which expounded my breadth of knowledge in climate change and its devastating impacts on the planet and ecosystem’s functionality. The most fulfilling thing about teaching is noticing that your students understand the concepts you impart on them so well that they can pass on the same knowledge to their fellow students.
What are you planning to do after GSU? And how do you think your GEOS degree at GSU has prepared you for that?
I have secured a position in the PhD program in Geography at Arizona State University for this fall and will start my research assistantship on an NSF-funded project this summer. The rigorous nature of my master’s program in the Geosciences department has laid a solid foundation in the field of geography. The extensive coursework and research has also allowed me to critically think about the intricate relationship across diverse real-life issues and how we researchers should come in to make significant contributions to alleviate the everyday challenges.