May 2009: Geomatics Department makes three new hires

The University of Alaska Anchorage Geomatics Department recently hired three new faculty members, growing its number of professors from one to four. The new faculty will join the UAA family in fall 2009.

John Ephraim Bean will accept a faculty geomatics position in fall 2009. He comes to Alaska from Paul Smith's College in Paul Smith, New York where he works as a surveying program coordinator and coordinator of the GIS certificate program. Bean is actively involved in national and state geospatial organizations and brings approximately 20 years of teaching experience to UAA, 10 of which were spent at Central Connecticut State University. He earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of New Hampshire, a M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Connecticut, and a Doctorate in Engineering Studies from Clarkson University.

Also accepting a faculty geomatics position this fall is William Nicholas Hazelton, program director and assistant professor of the Land Surveying and Mapping Science Program at St. Cloud University. He's also founder, owner and CEO of Hazelton Geomatics Consulting. Hazelton joins UAA with approximately 15 years of teaching experience. He spent 10 years teaching at The Ohio State University. Hazelton earned a B.S. in Surveying and a Doctorate in Surveying and Land Information from the University of Melbourne, Australia. He is registered and licensed as a general and cadastral surveyor in Victoria, Australia.

Accepting a faculty GIS position is Gennady Gienko, who comes to UAA from the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji Islands, where he is a senior lecturer in GIS. Gienko has taught for approximately 17 years at Michigan Technological University, University of Toronto, Malaspina University, University of South Pacific and Siberian State Geodetic Academy. He developed geomatics curriculum for the University of South Pacific and has U.S. patents for methods for stereoscopically measuring image points. Gienko earned a M.Sc. in Photogrammetry from Novosibirsk Institute for Engineers in Geodesy, Aerial Surveying and Cartography. He earned a Doctorate in Photogrammetry and Aerial Surveying from the Moscow Institute for Engineers in Geodesy, Aerial Surveying and Cartography.

The UAA Geomatics Department offers the only geomatics program in Alaska, and encompasses Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems, Surveying, Mapping, Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, Geodesy and Map Projections, and Hydrography. Approximately 60 degree-seeking students are currently enrolled in the Geomatics program. The Department anticipates substantial enrollment growth with its new, extensive high school workshop that was initiated this spring.

For more information, visit the UAA Geomatics Department Web site.