Michael Akresh, PhD, Faculty Co-Director
- Mike has extensive experience with GIS, quantitative, and statistical analyses and has published several GIS analyses in peer-reviewed scientific articles. Mike is a professor at Antioch and currently teaches graduate-level GIS and quantitative courses.
- Mike holds a BS in Environmental Studies from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) and an MS and PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, MA).
Farshad “Fash” Farashahi, M.S., Project Manager
- Fash has worked in GIS for 20 years and has extensive experience building and designing GIS databases for municipal management. As Affiliate Faculty, Fash has taught GIS courses for Antioch University since 2004. Fash received a 2015 ESRI Special Achievement in GIS Award for his work with municipal and public works web applications.
- Fash holds a BA in Geography from James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA) and an MS in Resource Management & Administration from Antioch University New England (Keene, NH).
Steven Lamonde, MS., Lab Manager
- Steven began working with GIS eight years ago as an undergraduate researcher with the geoprocessing development team Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). He has applied his raster-based skillset to conservation prioritization projects with Audubon Vermont and Audubon New York, and he currently teaches graduate-level GIS courses at Antioch University.
- Steven holds a BS in Environmental Science from Johnson State College (Johnson, Vermont) and an MS in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England (Keene, NH).
Peter Palmiotto, D.F., Faculty Co-Director
- Peter is the Chair of the Environmental Studies department and has over 30 years of mapping and GIS experience.
- Peter holds a BS from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY (Syracuse, NY), and an MFS and DF from Yale University (New Haven, CT).
Donald Strauss, PhD, Project Manager
- Donald Strauss, PhD, MFA, is the founding chair of the Urban Sustainability Master of Arts program at Antioch University Los Angeles.
- Since 2016, Donald has collaborated with the Environmental Studies Department at Antioch University New England on the establishment of a GIS/Spatial Analysis Lab at the Los Angeles campus. He has attended and/or assisted in GIS Courses and co-authored a handful of introductory courses on open-source spatial analysis tools.
Nathan Hunter, GIS Graduate Assistant
- Nate began working with GIS during his undergraduate research 3 years ago. He is passionate about structural geomorphology, sedimentology, and utilizing GIS for hydrologic modeling. Nate is the current GIS fellow for Antioch University New England.
- Nate holds a BS in Geology and a GIS Certificate from Fort Lewis College (Durango, CO).
- He is currently attending Antioch University New England (Keene, NH) to obtain an MS. in Environmental Studies.
Past Team Members
Alec Kaisand, GIS Graduate Fellow 2021-2022
- Alec has two years of experience on the ASAL team and is passionate about landscape suitability, cartography, and utilizing GIS for land management and public engagement. Alec currently works for MassWildlife assisting municipalities with an ArcGIS conservation planning tool.
- Alec earned a BS in Environmental Conservation and Sustainability from the University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH) and an MS in Environmental Studies (Conservation Biology), and a Certificate in GIS from Antioch University New England (Keene, NH).
Jacob Hogue, GIS Graduate Fellow 2019-2020
- Jacob is an avid outdoorsman, conservationist, and soccer player who enjoys exploring the various facets of geospatial science and its applications. He currently works for the City of Rochester, New Hampshire, as a GIS/Asset Management Technician.
- Jacob holds a BS in Environmental & Earth Science from Fitchburg State University (Fitchburg, MA) and an MS in Environmental Studies (Conservation Biology) from Antioch University New England (Keene, NH).