Education

In 2026, two awards for Excellence in Spatial Business were presented to two outstanding graduate student projects

The first award project was granted to students in the Executive Master in GIS, Sarah Griffin and Shiloh Johnson, for “Geospatial Analysis for Future Marketing Opportunities.”

The students designed a GIS analysis system to support UoR leadership in making timely, data-driven enrollment and marketing decisions. The students connected internal enrollment and pipeline data with the external demographic context to identify geographic areas having high-potential college-entry populations where the university can target its recruitment strategy. Integrating analytical and geospatial methods, they mapped the home ZIP codes of current undergraduate students and applied U.S. Census variables to identify ZIP  codes nationwide with strategically desirable characteristics. The resulting GIS visualizations offer ways to strengthen UoR’s targeted marketing efforts.

Sarah Griffin is the Marketing Operations Manager of Marketing and Communications for the University of Redlands.  She holds a BA in Graphic Design and Marketing from CSUSB and four degrees from UoR: an MBA in Marketing, an MS in Organizational Leadership, an MS in Business Analytics, and an Executive Master in GIS.

Shiloh Johnson is the Geospatial Research and Solutions Sr. Project Manager at Arizona State University.  Previously, Shiloh was the GIS Program Manager for Maricopa County, Arizona, for 3 years, and held other GIS roles earlier. Shiloh holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography from Brigham Young University and an Executive Master of GIS from the University of Redlands.

The second award project for “GIS-Based Camera Placement for Early Wildfire Detection in the Sierra National Forest: Addressing Risk, Strategy, and Stewardship” by Elizabeth Akomolafe, Eran Chazan, Michael Driscoll, and Michael Mbuluko.

The project addressed the growing wildfire risk in California through a real-world, applied geospatial solution. The students developed an SaaS-based tool to identify optimal camera locations within the Sierra National Forest. Using advanced viewshed analysis and geospatial automation, the tool enhanced fire decision-making and improved situational awareness by strengthening the forest’s wildfire detection infrastructure, identifying visibility gaps, minimizing redundant cover, and accounting for complex terrain.

Elizabeth Akomolafe is CEO and co-founder of Viuearth Water Brand, and previously served as VP, Marketing Analytics, at getBismart.com and as VP, Product Analytics, at City National Bank. She holds an LLB in law from Lagos State University and an MBA in GIS from the University of Redlands.

Michael Driscoll is a product manager of cable assemblies at Glenair in Glendale, CA. He holds a B.S. in business administration and management and an MBA in GIS/Location Analytics from the University of Redlands.

Eran Chazan is a Bay Area-based GIS professional who completed his MBA in GIS/Location Analytics at the University of Redlands. He holds a B.A. in Geography/GIS from UC Berkeley and has spent over seven years working at the intersection of spatial data and technology at Apple Maps, Uber, and Nextdoor.

Michael E. Mbuluko is a seasoned technology leader and database/data platform professional with over 15 years of experience delivering enterprise data solutions across the banking, telecommunications, and hospitality industries, managing and optimizing mission-critical environments. With an MBA in GIS/Location Analytics from the University of Redlands, he serves as the data administrator at San Manuel Casino near San Bernardino, CA.