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Kristen S. Kurland

Kristen S. Kurland

Teaching Professor of Architecture, Information Systems and Public Policy

Kristen Kurland is a Teaching Professor of Architecture, Information Systems, and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and School of Architecture. She also holds a courtesy faculty appointment in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of the College of Engineering at CMU.

In addition to her academic appointments, Professor Kurland served as President of Carnegie Mellon University’s Andrew Carnegie Society and, as its President, was a University Trustee from 2014-2016. She is also one of three community members serving on the Distribution Committee of the McCune Foundation.

Prior to joining CMU’s faculty, Kristen Kurland was president of a local consulting firm that aided numerous organizations in implementing computer technology and strategic planning into their work environment. Her clients included architects, engineers, hospitals, universities, corporations, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies.

Professor Kurland's research focuses on interdisciplinary collaborations in health, the built environment, geospatial analysis, and 3D data visualization. She works closely with CMU colleagues and students on projects addressing equity, health, urban design, economic development, sustainability, big data, and smart cities issues. She actively collaborates with healthcare, non-profit, and industry organizations in Pittsburgh and worldwide.

Her teaching at CMU includes building information modeling (BIM), computer aided design (CAD), 3D visualization, computer aided facility management (CAFM), and geographic information systems (GIS). At the Heinz College, she also teaches Enterprise Data Analytics to executive physicians in the Master of Medical Management (MMM) program and is a faculty advisor for Heinz College Health Care Management students and projects. She has a strong interest in distance education and has been teaching through this medium since 1999. Her distance courses are taught in Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Heinz College MMM, Master Science of Information Technology (MSIT), and Adelaide Australia programs.

She is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2020 Carlow University Women of Spirit award; the 2012 Esri Health Communications Award; the 2005 Heinz College Martcia Wade Teaching Award; the 1998, 2000, and 2003 ARCHIBUS, Inc., Outstanding Educator Award; and the 2004 Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), Special Achievement in GIS Award.

Kristen Kurland is also the co-author of a series of best-selling GIS workbooks that are used by universities, colleges, and self-learners. She is a keynote speaker at conferences nationally and internationally. Her accomplishments were the focus of chapter in a recent book by Esri Press highlighting twenty-two global women of influence in GIS.

Courses Taught

  • 90-434 - Health Care Geographical Information Systems
  • 90-834 - Health Care Geographical Information Systems
  • 92-892 - Enterprise Data Analytics

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