It’s time for the first Map Chat of the 2026–2027 school year! On Wednesday, September 16 at 2 p.m. Central time, join us via Zoom or meet us in Room 3310 of Computer Sciences building for a chat with Lou Ginart, freelance geospatial analyst and cartographer.
Says Lou, “This talk will be a reflection on a career in geography and cartography. I’ll look back on my journey in this field–from my early academic studies to an established career in government and finally now, as I balance today’s job market and freelancing. I’ll also showcase some of the work I’ve done so far, skills I’ve picked up, key lessons I’ve learned, and my philosophical approach to developing in the field. Ultimately, the talk is aimed at giving students one example of what an evolving, and sometimes unconventional, career in the field can look like particularly between those “early-to-mid-career” years.”
About Lou
Lou is a freelance geospatial analyst and cartographer currently based in Northern California. She graduated from the University of Oregon with her masters in geography in 2019, where she refined her cartographic design skills. Her experience in the field has spanned local and federal government, architecture, information technology, and urban planning. Lou particularly enjoys solving challenging design issues, making decorative fonts and bright color choices work well, and giving students and young professionals advice, both solicited and unsolicited, about career development. Outside of the office, she explores analog map design methods in her art via hand-made linocuts and screenprints.