CeGIS People

Sicheng Wang

Dr. Sicheng Wang (Director) is an assistant professor of geographic information sciences (GISciences) in the Department of Geography at the University of South Carolina and became the Director of CeGIS in 2025. Dr. Wang’s research focuses on the interactions among technologies, environments, and human behaviors. Using large-scale emerging spatial data and integrating advanced analytical approaches with traditional qualitative and quantitative methods, his work spans interrelated topics such as urban and rural planning, transportation infrastructure and policy, travel behavior and accessibility, the behavioral impacts of technology, and community resilience. He is currently leading or contributing to multiple federally, state, and foundation-funded projects, with total external funding exceeding $1.5 million.

Cuizhen (Susan) Wang

Dr. Cuizhen (Susan) Wang (Co-Director) is a professor of geography with strong expertise in bio-environmental remote sensing and Digital Earth. Her research covers a wide span of image analysis, modeling and applications in natural and built environments. Recent interests include sUAS and high-resolution deep learning for 3D coastal mapping. Dr. Wang’s research is embraced in Big Earth Data that harmonizes all kinds of Earth observations to promote environmental health and sustainability.

Kevin Haynes

Kevin Haynes (Associate Director) is director of the USC Campus GIS program. Broadly trained as an urban geographer with a diverse educational background and a passion for leveraging geospatial technologies to drive organizational objectives, he holds a Master of Science in Geography, a Master of Arts in Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Western Michigan University. Kevin brings a multidisciplinary approach to his work.

Susan L. Cutter

Dr. Susan L. Cutter is a Carolina Distinguished Professor Emerita of Geography at the University of South Carolina where she directs the Hazards Vulnerability and Resilience Institute (HVRI). Her primary research interests are in the area of disaster vulnerability/resilience science—what makes people and the places where they live vulnerable to extreme events and how vulnerability and resilience are measured, monitored, and assessed. She has authored or edited thirteen books, more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.

Jerry Mitchell

Dr. Jerry Mitchell is a professor of geography and chair of the department. He joined the USC Department of Geography in 2004 as director of the Center of Excellence for Geographic Education. He has authored more than sixty articles and book chapters. His research was made possible by more than $5 million in external grant funding from the NSF, Verizon Foundation, National Geographic Society, the South Carolina Department of Education, and others.

Michael E. Hodgson

Dr. Michael E. Hodgson is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Geography at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Hodgson’s research interests are broadly in geographical information science with particular interest in the use of remote sensing approaches (e.g., LiDAR and airborne drones) for environmental problems. He conducts field and GISscience-based research on environmental and historical problems in the United States and Italy.

Joey McGuinn

Joesph McGuinn is a master’s student at the Department of Geography, University of South Carolina. His research interests include remote sensing, aerial photography, and harmful algal blooms

Harrison Cassel

Harrison Cassel is a junior at the University of South Carolina pursuing a B.S. in statistics (Actuarial Science Concentration), with minors in business administration and risk management & insurance. Presently, he is an intern at the South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance home office, where he completes a number of data management-related tasks.

Austin Short

Austin Short is a student in the Public Health Program and interested in exploring geographical and environmental epidemiology as well as the use of clusters to identify infectious disease outbreaks.

Rohit Swain

Rohit Swain is a South Carolina Honors student interested in exploring urban planning, public economics, environmental policy, public health, and climate modelling using data science methods and GIS.

Department of Geography

Faculty and Staff