Brooke Ayers

Brooke Ayers is pursuing a double degree in Anthropology and Geospatial Data Science. In her Anthropology studies, she serves as a student representative on the Undergraduate Board and is the president and co-founder of the Undergraduate Anthropology Student Association, where she plans community-building events within the department. Brooke has also participated in a summer field school in Skibbereen, Ireland, with the University of Maryland, which she found invaluable for her professional and personal development. Additionally, she has worked as a student researcher under Dr. Madeline Brown on the TREKS (Trails, Route-making, Environmental Knowledge and Stewardship) project, focusing on Maryland recreational trail names and their patterns and influences. Last spring, she was honored to present her research at the Society for Applied Anthropology conference in Santa Fe.

Initially completing her Anthropology classes quickly, Brooke sought a second major to occupy her time and chose Geospatial Data Science. She discovered her spatial thinking abilities, both in her academic work and beyond, with encouragement from her anthropology professors. Upon taking her first geography courses, she realized she was in the right field. Though she faced challenges in some classes, she acquired more technical skills than she had anticipated, including learning to code in Python for the first time. Now, she creates custom Python scripts for her GIS internship. The University of Maryland has provided her with the opportunity to explore her passions, challenge herself, and acquire new skills.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Brooke works at UMD as a Community Assistant at the Courtyards for her second year. She has also held a position as a lab assistant through the federal work-study program, both of which have enriched her experience at the university. She serves as the treasurer of The Wildlife Society and is a member of the Terrapin Trail Club, where she enjoys meeting others with similar interests and participating in volunteer events that align with her passion for the environment.

Brooke loves being a Terp and feels honored to attend a school that pushes her to be her best while accepting her for who she is.