At its regular meeting on Jan. 28, the board of directors of the
GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) accepted the
resignation of its Executive Director, Dr. Sheila Wilson, GISP. After serving
more than three years as, Dr. Wilson decided to step down as of April 30.
The GISCI is a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization that
provides the GIS community with a complete certification program. Its member
organizations include the Association of
American Geographers (AAG), Geospatial Information & Technology Association
(GITA), National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC), University
Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS), and
Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA).
GISCI began GIS Professional (GISP) certification in 2003 under a
management services agreement with URISA. Dr. Wilson was hired
as GISCI’s first full-time executive director in late 2009, and has served
during a period of vibrancy and growth across geospatial industries and
organizations. She has worked closely with GISCI’s board of directors, its five member organizations, its active
volunteer committees and other GIS organizations to promote certification as a key credential for GIS professionals in
the U.S. and internationally. During her tenure, she experienced the changes and innovations that characterize the
geospatial community, strengthened GISCI’s
volunteer cadre, saw GISCI certify its 5,000th active GISP, and
assisted the board in identifying and hiring an exam
development project manager.
GISCI remains committed to the advancement of the GIS profession
for the benefit of society and individual practitioners. The
board has embarked on a methodical, multi-stage process to carefully
explore, develop and implement a competency based examination
by 2015, reflecting a conviction that portfolio-based certification augmented
by such an examination has the potential to further
advance the profession. GISCI will also publish an updated website later this year that will support online applications and renewals, and
streamline the entire process for applicants and
reviewers.
The GISP certification lasts for five years, and there are now many cohorts of
GISPS who are approaching their renewal dates. GISCI looks
forward to working with those GISPs to ensure that their professional credential remains current.
GISCI Executive Director to Step Down in April
February 11, 2013
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