Zan M. Dodson Email & Phone Number

District Of Columbia, United States

Ellicott City, Maryland, United States

Founder and Principal Consultant delivering geospatial health solutions for intractable public health issues, strategy, and guidance for public health policy. Deeply committed to improving overall well-being and health equity for marginalized and disenfranchised members of the population. I serve as a natural servant-leader and focus exclusively on building capacity and enhancing agency within others.

Washington, Dc

I directed the research program and led the management team to guide the focus toward geographic education, diversity enhancement, and geospatial health research. I drove recruitment efforts through outreach and geospatial training to support the next generation of geographers. I also developed strategic research and educational initiatives while extending international influence and programs. I leveraged data collection and analysis methods to cultivate strategic partnerships while collaborating with high-profile executives and business leaders to deliver projects within tight deadlines. I defined organization-wide program management tools, metrics, standards, and key performance indicators (KPIs). I also directed curricula development and training implementation through a series of national and international technical exchanges.Noted accomplishments included:➤ Expanded the International Geospatial Health Research Network in coordination with researchers worldwide to explore new frontiers in geospatial health and generate research synergies through international networks to exchange data and information.➤ Developed virtual data enclave with research team under National Science Foundation (NSF) to enable a secure working environment for researchers with confidential geospatial data; led planning and delivery of technical exchange to 12 project partners in Africa.➤ Informed sustainable policy initiatives for secondary city infrastructure across Africa using a one-week deep-dive to collect, analyze, and report related geospatial data.➤ Led research team to submit four major grant proposals totaling over $1.2 million—received three at $700,000.➤ Secured 10 high-level plenary speakers including executives, scientists, directors, and a video message from the Director-General of the World Health Organization—up to 8,500 members in attendance.

Pittsburgh, Pa

I managed course development, grading, and lecturing as the primary Information Systems Management graduate program instructor in Heinz College governing GIS and Raster GIS. I educated students on current issues including people, policy, and technology research, and combined data, decisions, and social sciences to educate students on intelligent action using technology and analytics to solve urgent societal problems. I used continuous improvement methods including evaluation and adaptation to improve results, and evaluated student progress and developed curriculum. I governed faculty including accreditation and student co-curricular activities while serving on college committees.Noted accomplishments included:➤ Mentored 10 graduate students on capstone projects and managed a group of teaching assistants.➤ Co-authored technical GIS methodology book for crime research—published at Esri Press as a companion to GIS software.

Pittsburgh, Pa

I discovered new knowledge in my research enterprise while learning new techniques under the supervision of a senior research faculty member. I delivered immediate benefits to the surrounding communities from geospatial health science findings and recorded these findings and maintained accurate records to be presented at internal meetings and conferences. I contributed to scientific literature, research proposals, and grant applications.Noted accomplishments included:➤ Conducted domestic and international public health surveillance and integrated big data into spatial models to drive understanding of human-environment relationships regarding disease, illness, substance abuse, and anthropogenic land cover change.➤ Secured independent funding and collaborated with City of Pittsburgh Mayor’s Office, Director and Associate Director of First Responders, and health researchers to research the opioid epidemic and implement naloxone leave-behind program.➤ Coached three undergraduate and four graduate students with research project direction and operated as a content expert for six other graduate students.

College Park, Md

I operated as a Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant for four years until I completed my doctoral training and advanced to Adjunct Faculty. I became the primary instructor for Introduction to GIS where I oversaw course development, lecturing, and grading.Key accomplishments included:➤ Administered remote sensing and statistical analysis to satellite imagery for NASA grant.➤ Built research website, executed spatial modeling and qualitative research, and conducted GIS and cartography.

Phd In Geographical Sciences, Geographical Sciences

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Agricultural & Resource Economics

Activities and Societies: Minors in GIS and Mandarin Minors is GIS and Mandarin