Lindenwood University has received a $200,000 subaward from the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL), supporting the NGA’s Geospatial Workforce Development Pilot Program. The program is administered through UMSL’s prime agreement with Technology Entrepreneur Center, Inc. (T-REX). Lindenwood holds an Education Partnership Agreement (EPA) with NGA.
Tara Vansell, Instructor of Geography in the College of Arts and Humanities, serves as Lindenwood’s lead for the project. Under her direction, Lindenwood will advance high school GIS certificate development, educator workshops, a summer camp, undergraduate curriculum updates aligned with United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) accreditation standards, prior learning credit pathways for veterans and active-duty learners, and faculty- and student-led applied research tied to NGA mission priorities.
“This subaward introduces geospatial technologies at the K–12 level while strengthening undergraduate opportunities at Lindenwood, creating a clear pipeline into our Geospatial Intelligence and Sustainability B.A., launching in Fall 2026, through expanded coursework, paid research assistantships, and workforce‑ready experience,” said Vansell.
The new degree pairs technical proficiency in GIS, remote sensing, and spatial data analysis with subject matter expertise in international security, public history, and public health. Students in the major will earn a stackable GIS certificate as part of their coursework and will have direct access to mentorship, applied research, and opportunities for geospatial workforce development.
“This subaward is the next chapter in a story Lindenwood has been writing for several years,” said Dr. W. Travis McMaken, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. “Our faculty are ready to prepare the next generation of geospatial professionals to do well and to do good, and our students are eager to enter and excel in the field. We are grateful to UMSL, T-REX, and the NGA supporting this work.”
Dr. Kathi Vosevich, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs, notes that “this underscores our commitment to graduate workforce-ready students who will impact our region. Our emphasis on human-centered power skills, such as creativity, empathy, clear and respectful communication, and critical thinking, in our Geospatial and GIS programs is a clear differentiator that employers demand, and we are responding to their needs.”
The subaward deepens Lindenwood’s commitment to “Real Experience. Real Success.” by placing students in direct contact with unclassified real-world data, industry mentors, and applied research projects. Lindenwood will collaborate with UMSL, RomoGIS, Gateway Global, and regional high school partners on recruitment, instruction, and programming throughout the performance period.