Graduate Students

	Parsa Keshavarz Alamdari he/him & he/they parsa.keshavarzalamdari.322@my.csun.edu Geog 105: Weather Lab Teaching Assistant Member of GAERG and CLASS research groups

Thesis Title: Temporal Aboveground Biomass Density Estimation for National Parks Coniferous Forests in Washington State (2017-2025).

Bio:
A human-environment geographer, Parsa is a graduate student pursuing his master's degree in geography at CSUN. His research interests include applications of remote sensing for environmental monitoring, land use change, land stewardship, political geography, political ecology, climate science, and environmental humanities. 

	Georgia Kirakosian she/her georgia.kirakosian.123@my.csun.edu

Thesis Title: Do Vacant Properties Influence Crime?

Bio:
Georgia’s research interests include crime analysis pertaining to crime contributors within a specific geographic location as well as emergency management.

	Connor Owens he/him connor.owens.458@my.csun.edu GAERG Member Geog 102: Physical Geography Lab Teaching Associate

Thesis Title: Tidewater Glacier Movement and the Impact on Seasonal Harbor Seal Haul-out Availability

Bio:
Connor is interested in biodiversity conservation, wildlife biogeography, and geomorphological change, particularly within the context of Southeast Alaska. However, he can get excited about any landscape with topographic variety. Outside of school, Connor likes rock climbing, looking at birds, and hurting himself on skis when the climate is right. Two life goals of his are to get a scientific diving certification and to witness an erupting volcano.

	Elmer Reyes he/him elmer.reyes.377@my.csun.edu                                            Instructional Student Assistant Research Assistant

Thesis Title: Using GIS to Describe Overall Access to Amenities in Los Angeles County.

Bio:
Elmer graduated from CSUN with a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Studies in December 2022 and now is pursuing a master’s degree in Geographic Information Science. His research interests include GIS, spatial accessibility, and urban quality of life.

	Jordan "Jordy" Rose he/him jordan.rose.235@my.csun.edu                                         GAERG Member Research Technician

Thesis Title: From Fire to Flow: Monitoring Channel and Water Quality Change in the Burned Reaches of McGee Creek.

Bio:
Growing up across the diverse landscapes of Southern California, from the high desert of the Antelope Valley to the coastal environments of San Diego County, Jordan’s identity as a physical geographer and environmental scientist was shaped. He began his academic path in Environmental Horticulture, earning an A.S. degree, before transferring to San Diego to complete a B.A. in Geography with a minor in Sustainability, where his interest in GIS and water science took root and quickly blossomed. During his undergraduate studies, he worked as a GIS Specialist with the National Latino Research Center, supporting community-focused spatial analysis projects. Additionally, he collaborated on wildlife mapping research using camera traps and AI technologies through the Wildlife Insights program. His hands-on work with the San Diego River Park Foundation further strengthened his focus on riparian systems through water quality, pollution monitoring and field studies. Today, through the guidance of Dr. Amalie Orme, his research centers on fluvial geomorphology and watershed processes, with his graduate thesis examining water quality and landscape dynamics in the Long Valley Caldera of the Sierra Nevada along McGee Creek

	Bryan Sanchez bryan.sanchez.108@my.csun.edu                                                       GAERG Member Graduate Student Assistant SEPM

Thesis Title: Pool and riffle sediment analysis: Key hydrologic indicators of channel patterns, McGee Creek, Eastern Sierra Nevada, California.

Bio:
For the past 10 years, Bryan has been working as a soil scientist in geotechnical and environmental engineering. He enjoys researching sediment transport at different time scales, and how it is affected by other mechanics such as fires, climate change, or glacial tilling. He is currently expected to graduate by Fall 2026. He is currently undecided if he will continue in academia or continue to focus on consulting.

	Ari Tilles he/him ari.tilles.787@my.csun.edu Geog 102: Physical Geography Lab Teaching Associate Research Assistant at CGST

Thesis Title: tbd

Bio:
Ari is excited to be studying Geographic Information Science in the Geography and Environmental Studies Department at CSUN. Within the University, he is a Teaching Associate in the department and a Research Assistant at the Center for Geospatial Science and Technology. His research interests are in urban & transportation planning. He is interested in studying how we can make our cities and transportation systems more sustainable, accessible, and equitable. Outside of academics, he enjoys traveling, watching & playing sports, and writing & playing music.

	Rebecca "Becc" Thompson she/her rebecca.thompson.818@my.csun.edu                            GAERG Member President of Geography Club

Thesis Title: Wildfire Evacuation Vulnerability in the McGee Creek Corridor, Eastern Sierra

Bio:
Becc is a graduate student in the MS in Geographic Information Science program who is particularly interested in applying GIS to urban planning, environmental risk, and community resilience. Her academic research focuses on wildfire risk, evacuation accessibility, and infrastructure vulnerability, particularly among fire-prone and underserved communities around California. She is interested in combining spatial analysis, policy, and real-world planning applications to promote equitable decision-making, hazard mitigation, and sustainable land-use practices.

	Valerie Jaffee Washburn she/her valerie.washburn.612@my.csun.edu

Thesis Title: Urban Perches: Ethnic Patterns and Security Narratives in Central LA's Gated Communities.

Bio:
Valerie is a midlife graduate student working on her MA in Geography after previous lives as a Chinese literature grad student, a real estate transactional attorney, and a stay-at-home mom. Her interests lie in humanistic geography, landscape semiotics, urban development and sustainability, and the potential for using GIS to assemble and communicate human geography stories.

	Mindy Collins melinda.collins.039@my.csun.edu

Thesis Title: tbd

Bio:
coming soon...