Dr. Joseph Kerski is a geographer dedicated to transforming education through spatial thinking and geotechnologies. Serving as Education Manager at Esri for over 14 years, he has become one of the most prolific creators of GIS educational content in history, producing over 7,000 videos, 2,500+ curricular items, 1,000 blog essays, 250+ podcast episodes, and co-authoring 12 books.
Joseph holds three degrees in geography (Bachelor's from University of Colorado, Master's from University of Kansas, PhD from University of Colorado) and has served as a geographer across all four major sectors of society: government (21 years with NOAA, US Census Bureau, and USGS), academia (Penn State, Sinte Gleska University, University of Denver), private industry (Esri), and nonprofit organizations. He served as President of the National Council for Geographic Education in 2011.
His books include "Interpreting Our World: 100 Discoveries that Revolutionized Geography," "Spatial Mathematics," "Tribal GIS," "Teaching Mathematics Using Interactive Mapping," and "Building a Smarter Campus." Joseph has delivered two TED Talks on "The Whys of Where" (TEDx Vail 2018 and beyond), articulating why mapping and geotechnologies are essential for better decision-making in education and society.
Joseph visits 35+ university campuses annually, teaches 100+ workshops, and presents at 20+ national and international conferences each year. He has received two lifetime achievement awards for his contributions to GIS education. His work spans formal and informal educational settings, including schools, universities, museums, and libraries. Joseph believes that "spatial thinking and the use of geotechnologies is more than a wonderful and in-demand career pathway—it is absolutely essential for building a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable world."
