Heather Rosenfeld

Heather Rosenfeld is an environmental geographer, GIS analyst, and cartographer. As an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, they studied geophysical science (B.S.) and history, philosophy, and social studies of science and medicine (B.A.). After graduating in 2007, they worked for several years at the Environmental Protection Agency and a green technology nonprofit in Chicago, while organizing for local and regional environmental justice. This work inspired their graduate studies. Heather completed a Ph.D. in geography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a Ph.D. minor in science and technology studies (STS). Before coming to Smith in 2021, Heather worked at the Redistricting Lab and taught in the science, technology, and society program, both at Tufts University.

Since 2024, Heather has been the director of the Spatial Analysis Lab (the SAL), in the Center for the Environment, Ecological Design, and Sustainability (CEEDS). The SAL works with students, faculty, and staff to bring mapmaking and spatial thinking into teaching and research. Maps have long been the glue of Heather’s work, and she encourages the thoughtful and creative use of geospatial technology. Heather has led or co-led projects involving participatory and community-based GIS, accessible cartography, map zines, and more. She also encourages whimsical making in the lab, through projects such as a fantasy cartography workshop, a drone photobooth, and SALentines. Heather has also taught as a lecturer in the environmental science and policy program, where she taught research methods, GIS, and critical cartography. Starting in 2026, Heather also joined the advisory board of the Interdisciplinary Making Concentration.