Three MS-GEOINT Students Selected for Prestigious USGIF Scholarships

Student awardees highlight the expertise and impact of the MS-GEOINT program across federal, academic and industry sectors.

The Master of Science in Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) program at the University of Maryland is celebrating three students who have been awarded with scholarships from the 2025 United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF). Their achievements reflect the growing strength of the MS-GEOINT community and the depth of talent cultivated in the Department of Geographical Sciences.

“This is another remarkable year for our UMD GEOINT program, with three GEOINT students among the 22 total recipients. You have made us proud!” said Ruibo Han, director of the MS-GEOINT program.

Ken Miller Scholarship for Advanced Remote Sensing Applications: Erin Macri

Graduate student Erin Macri brings more than 10 years of federal geospatial experience to her studies. Her work in remote sensing and GIS has supported defense, environmental and infrastructure missions across federal agencies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in geospatial science and cartography from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in environmental geoscience from Mississippi State University. Her interests center on applied geography and related sciences to address operational challenges tied to national security.

“Receiving the Ken Miller Scholarship is an incredible honor, and I am deeply grateful to USGIF for this recognition,” Macri said. “This award is not only a meaningful investment in my academic and professional future but it also directly supports my continued work in geospatial intelligence and remote sensing. With USGIF’s support, I will continue building the technical depth and strategic perspective needed to contribute meaningfully to the geospatial intelligence community and to missions that matter.”

Graduate Scholar: Emma Dodd

Master’s student Emma Dodd studies geospatial intelligence while serving as a research associate with the Global Food and Water Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Her research examines agricultural development in conflict and post-conflict environments and technology solutions for food and water security. As a USGIF Scholar, she will map the probability of soil contamination across Ukrainian farmland to support agricultural recovery efforts. With a background in international relations, she views geospatial intelligence as an important tool in development policy.

“It is a true honor to be chosen as a recipient of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation Scholarship,” Dodd said. “Not only due to the valued financial support this provides for my education but also because it means joining a cohort of exceptionally talented students around the country working to apply GEOINT in innovative and productive ways. I look forward to being part of the USGIF community and contributing to this important and exciting field.”

Graduate Scholar: Trevor Koglin

First-year master’s student Trevor Koglin researches how high-revisit satellite constellations and innovative sensor configurations can improve capabilities for site monitoring and object tracking. His work aims to develop new remote sensing approaches that support national security and global supply chain applications.

Koglin earned dual bachelor’s degrees, magna cum laude, from the University of Colorado. His undergraduate research focused on image preprocessing and orbital defense systems. He now applies those skills as a geospatial analyst at BlackSky Technology, translating academic insights into real-world intelligence solutions.

“I feel deeply honored to be a recipient of the USGIF Graduate Scholarship and look forward to utilizing the award to further my development in the geospatial industry,” Koglin said. “This scholarship not only provides me with vital financial support for my graduate studies but also represents an opportunity to engage with and contribute to the knowledgeable and expanding GEOINT community both academically and professionally.”

Full List of USGIF Scholarship Recipients

Published on Mon, 12/01/2025 - 09:57