Georgia Mackay

Q: What led you to attend Delaware Tech?

“I started my college career at the University of Delaware (UD) and found myself in these big classes with 100 to 200 people at times. It was difficult for me to learn in that environment, and I ended up taking some classes at a satellite campus for UD, which was near the Delaware Tech Wilmington campus. I found that I really liked Delaware Tech and switched.”

Q: Describe your first day at Delaware Tech?

“I started at Delaware Tech in 2018 and viewed that first day as a chance to do it all again. This time, I was not fresh out of high school and had more experience behind me. I remember going to the cafeteria, talking to people, and meeting other students in my classes. I learned that many were also trying to pivot in their careers and had a mindset similar to my own.”

Q: Why did you choose your field of study and career path?

“My interest in Geographic Information System Technologies (GIS) began because Delaware Tech did not have my original major from UD. When I switched colleges, I met with a Delaware Tech career counselor who asked me what my interests were. I told her that I am good at graphic design, engineering, and computer programming.

“I have both the left and right brain mindsets in me, and that mainly comes from my parents. My mom is an interior designer, and my dad is an engineer. So, I was always encouraged to do things like art classes, but I also competed in the world finals for FIRST Robotics for engineering. What impressed me about Delaware Tech was that it has a variety of diverse courses, both on the technical side but also in the arts.

“When I told the career counselor about my skills and interests, she suggested that I look into GIS. The neat thing I learned about Delaware Tech is that it is one of the few colleges in the country to offer GIS courses. Once I started taking GIS classes, I fell in love with it. If I had not switched to Delaware Tech, I would not be doing what I love today.”

Q: What is GIS?

“GIS is one-third geography, one-third information, and one-third system. Basically, I do modern-day map-making with computer programming. There is a quote from my book, 'Mapping the Future Rising Stars of GIS,' that explains GIS perfectly. The book states, 'If you can point to it on a map and say something about it, you have the beginnings of a GIS database. GIS leverages maps and data to provide insights into geographical patterns. By visualizing data, we can facilitate any sort of information and understanding we have around it.'

“That is what I do for my career, and I am also finishing my second semester teaching GIS at Delaware Tech as an adjunct instructor.”

Q: What was your most valuable experience as a student at Delaware Tech?

“For me, it was learning from the adjunct instructors because many of them had real-world experience. I often found that many of the instructors teaching at Delaware Tech were once in the workforce and have a desire to pass along their knowledge to the next generation. Having instructors with experience in the industry made my transition into the working world much easier.”

Q: What is your favorite memory from Delaware Tech?

“My favorite memory from Delaware Tech was when I presented my final capstone project. Finishing that gave me a big sense of relief. The experience was unique because our department organized for us to present our work at the Delmarva GIS Conference that year. Even though the event was remote, it was an amazing time and allowed me to showcase my capstone to people in the field and let them know what I was capable of.”

Q: What are some significant milestones in your professional journey that you have achieved since you graduated?

“The main technology for my degree is a program called Esri, and it's like the Microsoft of the GIS world. Esri has an event called the Federal GIS Conference, which I had an opportunity to present at back in 2024. I am also a published author in GIS. My book is called, 'Mapping the Future Rising Stars of GIS.' Additionally, I am working towards my GISP, which is a professional license.

“The book I wrote features a series of interviews from former colleagues I worked with at my first job. We were all right out of college at the time, and about six months into the job, there were mass layoffs at the company. It was an unfortunate time for all of us.

“One day, we got together and talked about how hard it is to get another job when you have only worked one job after graduating. This is what inspired me to create the book. It highlights me and nine of my colleagues when we were early in our GIS careers. Some of the topics we discuss include our capstone projects and where we feel the future of GIS is going. There is also a focus on each individual's skill set and upcoming technology in the industry.”

Q: What's your advice for students who are just starting at Delaware Tech, and what's your advice for students looking to get into GIS?

“My advice for students just starting is to take advantage of all the programs you can and go to every career day. I was able to secure an internship each year I was in college. Those internships were critical for me to hit the ground running in the workforce. I got the first two internships by attending Delaware Tech career fairs, and then I leveraged my connections to get the other two. Make sure you use all of the resources that Delaware Tech gives you access to, meet new people, and don’t be afraid to be silly. You can wear the spirit gear, take the interest surveys, and just get involved.

“If you are looking to get into GIS, understand that it’s a skill used in a lot of different careers. You don’t have to be good at just GIS. It’s something that works best if you pair it with another subject or field. You should figure out what you want to pair it with and then head in that direction.”

Q: Can you talk about teaching as an adjunct instructor?

“I chose to come back as an adjunct instructor because I felt like I needed to complete the circle. I loved my adjunct instructors when I was a student at Delaware Tech, and I figured now it was my turn. When I saw the 'help needed' requests online, I knew I had to go back.”