MAS-GIS Alum Sophi Beym uses GIS to mitigate disaster risk in New Mexico

Sophia Beym (MAS-GIS 2005) has just taken a position as State Hazard Mitigation Officer for New Mexico's Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management. As she explains, "This means I analyze the geography of a specific environment for natural disaster risk and if the probability is high enough that there will be death, injury or destruction of property - I work with the community to develop methods to mitigate the situation."

Sophi also teaches Tribal curriculum at the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland. She travels to Emmitsburg four to eight times a year to teach classes in basic Emergency Management, Operations and Mitigation.

Sophi has also been also been guest speaker at the National Congress of American Indian, ESRI and other meetings, where she demonstrates the flexibility of GIS as a life/property saving tool in Emergency Management in Indian County.

According to Sophi, Professor Randy Cerveny's seminar on "13 Ways Nature Can Kill You" sparked her interest in natural disasters, and the MAS GIS program provided the tools to direct her interests into her present career.

Sophi writes, "I'm REALLY proud to be here! And, I owe it all to my MAS-GIS." The MAS-GIS program is proud to have her as an alumni, as well.