Fullerton Librarian Earned Geographic Certificate

Colleen Greene completed a nine-month geographic information systems program at Cal State Fullerton.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Geography

Isometric editorial illustration showing abstracted geometric layers representing topographical terrain and parkland areas, symbolizing spatial data analysis. — Cal State Fullerton librarian Colleen Greene recently completed a geographic information systems certification, enhancing her ability to analyze urban green space equity. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Cal State Fullerton librarian Colleen Greene earned a certificate in geographic information systems in September 2026. The achievement supports her ongoing work in research, teaching, and digital scholarship.

Why it matters

The certification allows Greene to enhance her support for digital scholarship and teaching by applying advanced spatial mapping techniques. Her recent capstone project specifically analyzed green space equity within Orange County.

The University Extension GIS certificate program requires the completion of four distinct classes. Participants typically spend nine months working through the online, project-based curriculum.

The players

Colleen Greene

She is a senior assistant librarian at Cal State Fullerton who teaches at San José State University.

Cal State Fullerton

This public university serves as the location for the Pollak Library and the University Extension program.

The details

Greene, who also teaches at San José State University, utilized her training to complete a capstone project mapping green space accessibility in Orange County. She plans to integrate these skills into her role at the university by leading hands-on workshops.

November 16-20, 2026: Greene will conduct GIS Week workshops at Pollak Library.

The Big Picture

Greene’s completion of the University Extension GIS certificate program reflects the growing integration of professional technical certifications into academic library services. This shift signals a broader move toward librarians acting as direct facilitators of complex digital research and data analysis tools.

Local residents and students can attend Greene's upcoming workshops at Pollak Library to learn practical skills in building custom Google Maps. These sessions provide an opportunity for the public to engage directly with spatial data and digital mapping tools.

The takeaway

Advancements in mapping technology offer new ways to visualize local data, such as public park access and urban planning. Engaging with institutional GIS workshops can help students and researchers turn raw information into actionable visual maps.