GPN Mid-Atlantic is sad to announce the passing of Lyna Wiggins on November 10, 2024. Lyna was known to many in the GIS community; she was a crucial component of GIS education and research at Rutgers University, where she educated and advised many from 1993 until her retirement in 2020.
Lyna served on the Board of MAC URISA through the 1990s until 2000, when she was elected President of URISA International. She continued to attend events and encourage participation in URISA well after her board tenure. Jim VanOstenbridge, MAC URISA President from 1998 to 2003 shares the following:
What you know of MAC URISA, now GPN MAC, today has a lot to do with the contributions of our good friend and colleague, Dr. Lyna Wiggins. When she arrived at Rutgers University, she had already been active in URISA International, eventually ascending to the role of President, and brought her passion and a joyful spirit to our regional Chapter’s board.
In the early years of the MAC URISA biennial conference in our partnership with the New Jersey State Mapping Advisory Committee, Lyna was instrumental in helping us to coordinate with Rutgers University campus facility staff to secure the venue and guide us toward the delivery of great programs. She helped us to better build the local network of geospatial professionals, managers, and leaders in government and commercial organizations throughout our region.
For the amazing person she still is in the memory of all who knew her and all she contributed to a legacy that everyone in MAC URISA/GPN MAC continues to build upon, we are forever grateful.
Lyna brought an enthusiasm to GIS analysis and education that was hard to match. While the nature of our work can be tedious, error-prone, and downright frustrating to those new to the discipline, she had the patience and keen ability to help newcomers through the challenges and encourage a true passion for the technology and the science behind it. Even those well into their GIS careers can attest that Lyna often brought a fresh perspective to the challenges at hand. She shared her love of Geography with so many in our community, as an educator, advisor, technical expert, or panel expert. Her passing is a loss and she will be truly missed.
