Director & Geospatial Program Manager
sbaros@edac.unm.edu
(505) 277-3622 x237
Shirley V. Baros, GISP is the EDAC Director and has served as the Geospatial Program Manager for the Earth Data Analysis Center since 1990. She is responsible for project implementation, management and development. During Ms Baros’ twenty-five year tenure with the EDAC GIS Program she has been involved in collaborative projects with a wide-variety of clients ranging from local to international programs. Recent projects include geospatial analysis mapping for the New Mexico Department of Information Technology, the Department of Health, New Mexico Minerals and Natural Resources Forestry Division, US Bureau of Census, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Native Diabetes Wellness Program, National Science Foundation (EPSCoR) and multiple NASA funded projects.
Ms. Baros’ research interests include relational database development, data mining and integration of spatial and non-spatial data, the application of computer-intensive methods to large geospatial data analysis problems, and web-based mapping and data delivery systems.
Associate Director
szhang@edac.unm.edu
(505) 277-3622 x243
Dr. Su Zhang is the Associate Director of the Earth Data Analysis Center (EDAC) at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Dr. Zhang also serves as an Assistant Professor with affiliations in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and holds the title of Research Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at UNM. Dr. Zhang obtained his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from UNM in 2017. He also received Master’s Degrees in GIScience and Construction Management from UNM in 2016 and 2010, respectively. Dr. Zhang defines his professional identity as a geospatial engineer and data scientist, with a specific focus on leveraging geospatial and information technologies to address real-world challenges in the domains of infrastructure and environment. His current research endeavors revolve around the application of remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), web mapping, and uninhabited aircraft systems (UAS) technologies for infrastructure and environmental management. Dr. Zhang has been at the forefront of both methodological and applied research within the geospatial engineering field for over a decade. Dr. Zhang has been engaged by many federal and state agencies, as well as private firms, to take on the role of Principal Investigator (PI) in the design and evaluation of GIS-based spatial decision support systems.
Research & Information Manager
sandeep@edac.unm.edu (505) 277-3622 x250
Sandeep Talasila is the Research & Information Manager at the Earth Data Analysis Center. He is a certified GIS Professional (GISP). He completed his Masters in Engineering Science from Louisiana State University. At EDAC he oversees the Image Archive Program and works on a wide variety of GIS projects including the development of web-mapping applications. Mr. Talasila is the current President of New Mexico Geographic Information Council (NMGIC).
Programmer Analyst 3
hbarrett@edac.unm.edu (505) 277-3622 x249
Mr. Barrett has experience in a range of technical areas, spanning from client-side to server-side applications and databases. He is familiar with several programming languages such as Python, GoLang, PHP, and Javascript. His interest in GIS has led him to explore both commercial and open-source technologies. With a background in systems administration, he has a practical understanding of networking concepts, including the OSI model and the TCP/IP stack.
Educationally, Mr. Barrett earned a BA in Management Information Systems and has held certifications such as Security+, Network+, and A+. His experience extends to collaborating on projects supported by various government entities and private organizations.
GIS Analyst/Programmer
lsinclair@edac.unm.edu (505) 277-3622 x230
Lisa Sinclair received her Master of Science in Geography from the University of New Mexico in 2009 and came to EDAC as a student in 2008. Following that, she worked with Natural Heritage New Mexico at UNM, and was an instructor for the UNM Department of Geography. She returned to EDAC as staff in 2021. Ms. Sinclair completed graduate research on the positional accuracy of GPS and is interested in a wide range of GIS and remote sensing applications including biogeography, earth sciences, modeling, machine learning, and deep learning. Ms. Sinclair is a doctoral student at The Pennsylvania State University where she is completing a Doctor of Engineering degree with a research focus in remote sensing and earth observation. Ms. Sinclair is a past board member and President of the New Mexico Geographic Information Council (NMGIC).
GIS Specialist/Programmer
pneville@edac.unm.edu (505) 277-3622 x244
Paul Neville received a Bachelors of Science in Geology from the University of Texas and a Masters of Arts in Geography from the University of New Mexico. He came to EDAC as a student in 1990 where he worked in the Image Processing Services. He became a part of the EDAC staff in February 1993. Paul has worked with data from a number of satellite and aerial platforms. He has worked on a variety of remote sensing studies including those involving general geologic mapping, mineral exploration, structural interpretation, vegetation surveys and land use analysis. A key interest of his is the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems technology into the applications. He is familiar with a number of different image processing packages, but he works with ERDAS regularly as well as the ESRI® ArcGIS Desktop and Server software.
Accountant
smentz@edac.unm.edu (505) 277-3622 x241
Sandra Mentz has more than 19 years accounting experience. She has been an accountant at the Earth Data Analysis Center for the past thirteen years. Previously she worked at the First National Bank in the Trust Operations Department. Sandra is responsible for reimbursements and assists EDAC in development and management of budgets.
GIS Specialist/Programmer
spenman@edac.unm.edu (505) 277-3622 x227
Dr. Shawn Penman is a GIS Specialist/Programmer at the Earth Data Analysis Center at the University of New Mexico. She came to EDAC as a student and became a part of the EDAC Staff in 2002. Dr. Penman has 20 years of GIS experience and is a certified GIS Professional (GISP) and a Flood Plain Manager (CFM). Dr. Penman received her PhD in Anthropology from University of New Mexico in 2002. Her project experience includes GIS applications for Emergency Management, Wildland fire mapping, and interactive web mapping. She has worked with different software technologies such as ESRI® ArcGIS Desktop and Server, ArcGIS Web APIs – Flex, Silverlight, FEMA Hazus, and ERDAS Imagine. Recently, Dr. Penman has taught GIS in the UNM Geography department as well as for the NMSU NM EDGE Program. She is a member of New Mexico Geographic Information Council (NMGIC). And currently serves as Secretary for the New Mexico Floodplain Managers Association.
Programmer Analyst 1
teshelman@edac.unm.edu (505) 277-3622
Tyler Eshelman joined EDAC as a student programmer in 2019, and became a full staff member in February 2021 after receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography with a minor in Computer Science from The University of New Mexico. Tyler is a Full Stack Developer and Graphic Designer with a strong background in programming and a focus on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Tyler specializes in interdisciplinary programming, combining his expertise in GIS with various programming languages and techniques. His experience includes programming and script development for GIS applications, developing Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), database design and management, and the development of Graphic User Interfaces (GUI) for web application development and web mapping. He is proficient with many programming languages, including, but not limited to, Python, C++, JavaScript, and PHP. Combining his expertise in GIS with his programming skills. Tyler has been leading the development on a variety of ongoing projects at EDAC funded by various federal, state, and local government agencies as well as private firms.
Programmer Analyst I
(505) 277-3622 x248
Eric Crozier joined EDAC in 2022 as the system administrator. He received a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and a minor in mathematics earlier that year from UNM. In 2024 he was promoted to Programmer Analyst I.
GIS Analyst/Programmer
jmadison@edac.unm.edu (505) 277-3622
System Administrator
(505) 277-3622
Chris Girlamo graduated from UNM in 2020 with a Bachelors of Science in Geography and a Bachelors of Business Administration in Management Information Systems. He went on to get his Masters of Science in Geography from UNM in 2023, focusing on quantifying the risk local Navajo Nation communities faced from radioactive waste generated by abandoned uranium mine sites. After graduating he worked as a consultant at various inactive uranium mine sites throughout the Southwest United States, specializing in data management and spatial modeling of radioactive waste. Chris joined EDAC in 2025 as a system administrator.
Feb 1,2014
