
Nyssa Hunt is a 2014 and 2018 graduate of UTC. Photo by Angela Foster.
Nyssa Hunt has been a part of the University of Chattanooga at Tennessee community for nearly 14 years, including time as a UTC student receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental science. She is now the assistant GIS director in UTC’s Interdisciplinary Geospatial Technology Lab (IGTLab).
GIS—or geographic information system—is a tool for mapping and analyzing spatial data to understand and address environmental and community needs.
Hunt answered questions about her role and how the IGTLab can be a helpful resource for students and the Chattanooga community as a whole.
You attended both high school and college in Chattanooga, graduating from Hixson High School and later earning undergraduate and graduate degrees at UTC. Why did you choose to stay in Chattanooga for your career?
“As I earned my master’s degree, and even during my bachelor’s, I realized how special this region is in terms of natural resources, biodiversity and conservation needs. We’re in a biodiversity hotspot here—and the only other places in the country like that are in the Pacific Northwest and Florida. With so much growth impacting the environment, I felt a strong tie to stay. I could’ve moved to other places, but I wanted to work on projects here that are really impactful. Chattanooga has a unique mix of urban ecology and smaller towns nearby which provides a lot of opportunities for meaningful work.”
How did you discover GIS and decide it was the right field for you?
“When I was in high school, I started getting into web design, computer programming and tech. I decided to come to UTC and go into the computer science program, but as I took classes, I realized I wasn’t passionate about programming or staying in the purely tech realm.
“During a conversation with my biology lab professor, she suggested I look into GIS since it combines computer science and fieldwork. At the time, I tucked it away in my mind. Then I saw a flyer for a GIS Day event on campus and thought I should look into it more. I researched it and realized it’s literally all around us and you can run computer analysis to help conserve the environment, to make priorities and impacts in your community. I was like, ‘Yeah, this is the kind of stuff I would like to be a part of.’
“I decided to change my major to environmental science and do the GIS track. By the time I reached the GIS classes, it was so intuitive to me—and the passion just kept growing from there. It’s flowed with me so well, and it’s been awesome to see how it has become an intuitive career for other people to take on. When they see the applications and the ways they can apply it in their lives, the possibilities can be endless.”
Can you explain what the IGTLab does and what your role is there?
“The IGTLab serves both the UTC campus and our community partners. On the campus side, we work with students, faculty and staff if they need to get to know GIS more, have GIS projects, or need guidance on tools and analysis to accomplish their goals. We also help with software access—like installing it on their computers or showing them which labs on campus have it—and sometimes we’re asked to serve on committees or as co-authors on papers to provide GIS expertise.
“With community partners, we do similar work—such as co-authoring, applying for grants and creating online tools to visualize GIS data for things like conserving land or showing stakeholders why a solution is needed. Personally, I mentor student workers, guide faculty, help manage GIS software on campus and develop apps and web maps for community use. As a GIS analyst, I handle map requests and complex analyses, creating products people can use for papers or presentations. It’s a lot of teaching, managing and being a scientist, and I really enjoy all the hats I get to wear.”

Nyssa Hunt flies a drone over Maclellan Island.
For those unfamiliar, what is the value of GIS, and how is it used in different industries?
“I often show people that GIS is quite literally all around them and in almost every application they use. When we have location activated on our phones, we’re part of the bigger GIS system, which can sound creepy in a way. Location intelligence is built into our lives that way. Every time we use Google Maps, we’re using GIS.
“It takes location-based data and lets us analyze it to answer questions, like where to plant trees, how to prioritize land conservation or how to connect communities with resources. GIS is unique because it allows us to solve challenges by leveraging spatial data. It’s used in government, urban planning, environmental science and more to make decisions, create connections and improve communities. A lot of it is about creating better connections and collaborations—and showing people that this knowledge and this data is literally at their fingertips. We just need to find better ways to use it in our lives so that we can make these better decisions.
“I’d encourage anyone curious about GIS to visit our website or reach out. If you need help with GIS projects, drone piloting or just want to learn more, feel free to email.”
What is your favorite green space in Chattanooga that you would recommend to students?
“My favorite is Greenway Farms. It has an open field area, a flat woodsy area, a mountainous area and a quarry. There are good views and I’ve done everything—like walking dogs, riding my bike and going on hikes there. There are scientific studies performed there. It’s a great place to meet up with people as well.”
Learn more
UTC Interdisciplinary Geospatial Technology Lab (IGTLab)

Nyssa Hunt prepares to fly a drone over a controlled burn at Audubon Acres.