Three MS Students Head to Esri for Summer Internships

A four-panel grid featuring three smiling young professionals and the Esri company logo. The top-left panel shows a woman with curly hair in a pinstripe blazer; the top-right features a man with glasses in a black polo shirt; and the bottom-left shows a woman with long wavy hair in a sweater vest with a city skyline behind her. The final panel displays the white Esri logo on a solid blue background.

Mia Grossman, Erika Holdren and Alex Temoshok will gain hands-on experience as Solution Engineer interns, the largest group from the department selected in a single year.

Each summer, Esri selects a small group of graduate students for its Business Development internships. This year, three students from GEOG's Master of Science in GIS and GEOINT programs were selected, the largest number from the department in a single year. We caught up with them before their internships, which begin on May 26, to hear about their experiences in the MS  program, their GIS-GEOINT work so far and what they are looking forward to this summer.

Mia Grossman

Mia Grossman

Why UMD: With a background in Environmental Studies and minors in GIS and Sustainability, Mia Grossman developed an early interest in a GIS career. She chose the UMD MSGIS program for its focus on practical technical skills and its flexible format, which allows her to work while studying. She is particularly drawn to environmental, agricultural, and humanitarian applications of GIS, and was excited to see faculty conducting research in these areas.

GIS Experience: During her undergraduate studies, Grossman gained a strong foundation in GIS through coursework in geospatial analysis, geovisualization and remote sensing and became proficient in Esri and other GIS software. She also led a humanitarian mapping group using the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team to map infrastructure for emergency planning and disaster response, among other projects.

The Esri Internship: Grossman will work with organizations such as National Geographic and the United Nations to support their spatial analysis needs. "I am especially excited because it perfectly combines my interests in environmental and humanitarian topics with my passion for GIS!"

Advice for Students: Put yourself out there and take advantage of every opportunity to connect with people in the GIS community! And work on projects that genuinely interest you (even if it means taking on solo projects!) because being able to speak confidently about your work and how GIS can solve real-world problems can make a big difference.

Erika Holdren

Erika Holdren

Why UMD: Erika Holdren chose the UMD MS GEOINT program for its strong faculty, rigorous courses and proximity to D.C., which offers professional development opportunities. The program’s focus on intelligence aligns with her interest in working in the intelligence community and is strengthening her programming and data science skills. She applies her knowledge of international relations to technical coursework and feels herself growing academically and professionally.

GIS Experience: Her interest in GIS began in an introductory course and grew as she saw its power for solving complex problems. Last summer, she interned at the Applied Research Lab for Intelligence and Security, using GIS to provide visual context for foreign-direct investment in the U.S., which enhanced the final report to government sponsors. This experience motivated her to deepen skills in programming, spatial AI and spatial statistics. The MS GEOINT program continues to support her growth.

The Esri Internship: Holdren will work with the National Government Solution Engineers and the Defense team, gaining experience that aligns with her public service career goals. She is eager to learn from the team’s past experiences and their vision for GIS applications.

Advice for Students: Be a Swiss Army Knife in GIS by building a versatile set of skills, as you never know which ones will be useful in internship opportunities.

Alex Temoshok

Alex Tomashock

Why UMD: Alex Temoshok chose the MS GIS program at UMD for its strong courses, connections with companies in the DMV area and the success of recent graduates. He is especially interested in geospatial data analysis and imagery in the national security context.

GIS Experience: As an undergraduate at James Madison University, he worked as a remote sensing research assistant on two projects, one of which was published and presented at the AGU conference in December 2024. He later interned at a defense contractor analyzing emerging technologies and participated in NASA DEVELOP, conducting geospatial and remote sensing analysis for real clients. 

The Esri Internship:  "I am thrilled to be working for a company that aligns perfectly with my interests and professional aspirations." He looks forward to enhancing existing skills while learning new techniques and operations to drive innovation in GIS.

Advice for Students: He emphasizes presenting strengths clearly, understanding the company before applying and going beyond the application by leveraging UMD resources such as alumni networks, career fairs and guest lectures. Networking and preparation help put a face and personality to an application and build confidence in professional interactions.

Published on Tue, 03/10/2026 - 13:09