Stella Shanker, GEOG '26

Student Q&A: Stella Shanker, Geography '26

While many people discover geographical sciences gradually, Stella Shanker, majoring in geography with a minor in remote sensing, had a clear passion from an early age.

Stella talks about the incredible opportunities she has already enjoyed at UMD, such as interning at NASA, and the amazing possibilities that lie ahead of her as a geographical scientist.

What inspired your interest in geography?

I've loved learning about people and cultures since I was young. Studying the impact of place on societies and vice-versa was the initial spark for my interest in geography. I also love the cartography side of geography, as I collect maps and own a few old globes with different borders or place names.

How have your interests evolved during your studies at our department?

When I started at UMD, my interest in geography was more theoretical than anything. I was aware of techniques used to analyze geographic data but could do little more than articulate what they were. Since coming to UMD, I've learned how to apply geospatial technologies like GIS and remote sensing across the many fields of geography.

Can you share an example of an experience that had an impact on your understanding of geography?

I started an internship with NASA's Applied Remote Sensing Training Program in the summer, and it taught me about the many different uses of remote sensing. NGOs, corporations, academia—everyone's using it. Realizing the broad scope of remote sensing and geography amazes me, and it's one of the reasons I love my area of study.

Geography encompasses diverse subfields. What area are you drawn to the most?

I'm especially interested in urban geography and the impacts of zoning and street design on cities throughout the years. Of course, human factors like migration patterns and gentrification are also inextricably linked to city design. Factoring in environmental components like sustainable design makes the field all the more complex. It's fun to delve into a particular urban geography concentration, but I love learning how the components interact with each other as well.

What would be your dream job when you graduate?

I want to do something involving planning, and transportation planning interests me the most. I'd love to work in transportation planning at the local or regional level. If I don't go down that route, then I'd look into the GIS divisions for various federal agencies. Since GIS has endless applications, a geography student can work in anything from forestry to disaster management to geospatial intelligence.

Image courtesy of Stella Shanker