Rachel Ginsberg

UCR Extension Helps Recent Graduate See the World from Her Office

When Rachel Ginsberg was pursuing her bachelor's degree in mathematics at UC Riverside, she dreamed of becoming a navigator for the U.S. Air Force, helping pilots to get to their destinations. While she was unable to fulfill that dream due to medical reasons, UCR Extension's Geographic Information Systems programs helped Ginsberg forge a new career path with Rand McNally in which she helps millions of travelers every day.

After graduating from UCR, Ginsberg briefly attended graduate school at Michigan before returning to Riverside to look for work. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do and was uninspired with the options. She began looking into getting the credentials necessary to become a teacher.

But as she researched credential programs online, Rachel stumbled upon the UCR Extension Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Summer School Program. Geographic Information Systems is a computer system that captures, manages, analyzes and displays all forms of geographic data. Today, GIS is used in a variety of industries, including the military, law enforcement, health care, urban planning and development, banking and education.

At the time, Ginsberg admitted that she "didn't really know anything about GIS," but she was impressed with the opportunities offered through UCR Extension to lifelong learners. She dedicated herself to full-time studies in the GIS program, in diverse classes made up of students of all ages and all walks of life. Some classmates were experienced GIS users seeking career advancement. Others were novices like her. She completed the certificate in just two months.

Three weeks later, Rand McNally, a prominent publisher of maps, atlases and globes for travel, commercial and educational purposes hired her as a GIS technician. Since then, she has "virtually" been to Texas, Ohio, Oregon, and many more states, without ever leaving her office in Irvine.

"I've been all over the country," she said. "I think this is the perfect place for me," she added.

Ginsberg so enjoyed the educational experience that she has taken additional courses from UCR Extension.

"I loved it," she said. "I took a couple of GPS (Global Positioning System) courses after I finished the GIS program."