Mario N. Garza

garza@vt.edu

Specialties:

Geospatial Analysis
Design and User Experience
Meteorology/Climatological
CRM Management
Animation and video
Artificial Intelligence

I serve as Research Faculty with the Center for Geospatial Information Technology (CGIT) and Teaching Faculty in the Department of Geography at Virginia Tech. I teach Principles of GIS and Remote Sensing (Spring 2026), focusing on hands-on learning, accessibility, and connecting geospatial theory with real-world application. My teaching encourages students to develop both technical fluency and spatial reasoning through practical and creative problem-solving.

I first joined CGIT in 2016 as a geocoder for the ongoing DMV Project while working full-time in a state agency. In 2021, I transitioned into a full-time research faculty role, contributing to several major initiatives including the Commonwealth Connection, DMV Geocoding Tool Redesign, Virginia State Police Crash Analysis Tool, and Department of Veterans Services CMS modernization.

My academic background reflects a broad interdisciplinary foundation: Information Technology (A.S. ’04), Social Sciences with concentrations in Geopolitical Geography and Psychology (A.S. ’12), Meteorology (B.S. ’14), and Geography (M.S. ’16). My graduate research examined the spread of invasive insects and tree resistance across climatological variations using GIS-based data and statistical modeling.

At CGIT, my research integrates geospatial analysis, UX/UI design, and software development, guided by a “no instruction book needed” philosophy—designing tools that are intuitive, functional, and visually engaging. I also work in animation and video production, blending visual storytelling and interactivity to enhance geospatial communication and education.