Undergrad Ambassadors
Meet Troy Marks
Who is He?
Troy Marks is a fourth year at the University of Florida, pursuing a degree in Geography and a minor in Innovation. Troy currently holds two certificates in Meteorology & Climatology and GEOAI and has always been by the way landscapes, cultures, and societies interact and evolve over time. Troy’s diverse academic interests and dedication make him a standout in the UF geography department.
How Did He Get Here?
Troy’s journey into geography began with his search for a major that contained all his interests. After exploring the UF major list, Troy found that geography was the perfect fit. He chose UF for its well-rounded program and diverse range of courses, which provide excellent education and research opportunities. The wonderful faculty and hands-on learning opportunities at UF appealed to Troy’s desire for a comprehensive education.
What’s He Been Doing at UF?
During his time at UF, Troy has engaged in several projects and internships. One of his most notable experiences was developing a real-life aquaponics system with his team, which they showcased to numerous companies in the surrounding areas of Gainesville. This innovative project, which aimed to supply natural ingredients to local restaurants and residents, won recognition for exceptional innovation, vision, and mass appeal among 27 competing teams.
Troy’s academic career also includes an internship as an Environmental Education Intern at a 4-H camp in Kentucky, where he conducted biological science classes for 4th graders and led creative, team-building activities. Additionally, he has participated in two research experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs. The first, in Asheville, NC, involved a summer-long project on historical summer rainfall and lightning events in the southern Appalachian Mountains, which he presented at the AMS 2024 conference in Baltimore. Currently, Troy is engaged in another REU program at the University of Alabama, researching seasonal and long-term snow prediction for water supply, with the goal of completing a project, poster, and potentially a published paper before graduating.
Living in Gainesville
Living in Gainesville has significantly enriched Troy’s understanding of geography and how it can be applied everywhere across the world. While he has not participated in local fieldwork, he appreciates the region’s natural landscape and the various opportunities it offers for geographic study. From visiting nearby springs to conducting urban surveys and analyzing spatial data, Gainesville provides Troy with a rich environment as an aspiring geographer.
Goals and Aspirations
As a Geography Ambassador, Troy aims to promote the geography program at UF, foster a sense of community among students, and engage with prospective students by sharing his experiences and insights. He is dedicated to helping others discover the diverse opportunities within the field of geography.
Fun Facts
Troy is an avid traveler and hiker, always looking to explore new trails and outdoor adventures. He hopes to visit Europe after graduating in December. His passion for the outdoors and exploration complements his academic pursuits, making him a well-rounded individual in both his personal and professional life.
Connect with Troy Marks:
Email: troymarks@ufl.edu
LinkedIn: Troy Marks
Meet Olivia Zhang
Who is She?
Olivia Zhang is a rising sophomore at the University of Florida, majoring in Geography and Data Science. She is passionate about leveraging geospatial data to combat climate change and understand cultural and physical landscapes. Being from South Florida and having lived in various coastal cities, Olivia aims to contribute to community-driven climate change solutions. Her interests include archaeology, meteorology, data analysis, and social justice, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of geography. With a background in coding, Olivia is particularly interested in geographic artificial intelligence and data visualization. Olivia enjoys painting and creating digital art, often incorporating her love for making maps. Olivia plans to pursue graduate studies in geography to further her contributions to climate change research and policy solutions.
How Did She Get Here?
Olivia first discovered geographic information systems (GIS) in high school when she interned at Fire Neural Network, a Gainesville-based company that detects lightning-initiated fires using proprietary lightning detectors, drone technology, mapping, and artificial intelligence. This experience ignited her passion for geography and the interdisciplinary applications of geospatial data science. Olivia immersed herself in learning about GIS and GeoAI through online courses and continued working at Fire Neural Network as a GIS Analyst, mapping wildfires and analyzing spatial data.
What’s She Been Doing at UF?
During her time at UF, Olivia has been involved in several extracurricular activities and research projects through the Florida Museum Undergraduate Internship Program. She worked with Dr. Nicolas Gauthier at the AI in Bio/Cultural Diversity Lab. Their research involved applying AI to analyze archaeological shell mounds in aerial and satellite images, providing Olivia with valuable insights into archaeological research and AI applications.
Additionally, Olivia has worked with the UF Election Lab with Dr. Daniel Smith, analyzing Florida voter files and creating a story map about inactive voters across the state. Through these experiences she has been inspired to pursue graduate studies. Discovering her love for the process of gaining insights from data and communicating what we learn.
Olivia also enjoyed touring the Florida Museum of Natural History, with a special interest in the Water Shapes Florida exhibit.
Living in Gainesville
Living in Gainesville has deepened Olivia’s understanding of geography, showing her the importance of community and collaboration. She has been inspired by the work of local activists, artists, and changemakers and looks forward to becoming more involved in community climate action initiatives in Gainesville.
Goals and Aspirations
As a Geography Ambassador, Olivia is eager to share her enthusiasm for geography with others. She aims to connect with students and highlight the numerous opportunities offered by UF’s Geography Department. Olivia believes the interdisciplinary nature of geography presents vast possibilities for innovative research and engagement.
Fun Facts
Olivia is an avid artist who enjoys creating works about topics she is passionate about. One of her digital self-portraits, titled “Red Tide,” depicts the harmful algal blooms that adversely affect marine life and turn water red.
Connect with Olivia Zhang
View Olivia’s projects through her portfolio, connect with her on LinkedIn, or reach out via email:
Portfolio: https://arcg.is/184C8K0
LinkedIn: Olivia Zhang
Meet Marinna Stopa
Who is She?
Marinna Stopa is a rising senior from Tampa Bay, FL, double majoring in Geography and Journalism at the University of Florida. She is also pursuing a certificate in Meteorology and Climatology. Marinna’s interests are centered around the social impacts of extreme weather and the effectiveness of communicating weather forecasts and models. Outside of academia, Marinna enjoys watching documentaries about weather and history and spending time with friends, who she has met through her geography-related classes and the American Meteorological Society (AMS).
How Did She Get Here?
Marinna’s journey into geography began as a freshman when she added a minor in geography. She soon realized that her favorite classes were meteorology-related and couldn’t picture herself having a career outside of geography. This realization led her to double major in Geography and Journalism during the summer before her junior year, solidifying her passion for the field.
What’s She Been Doing at UF?
On campus, Marinna is an active member of the AMS Gator Chapter, which she considers the best decision she has made as a student at UF.
One of her most memorable experiences at UF was attending the 2024 AMS (American Meteorological Society) conference, where she gained valuable knowledge and formed lasting relationships through the AMS club and the conference.
Marinna is actively involved in significant research projects. Currently, she is working on verifying forecast model data, focusing specifically on severe convective storms. This research is part of the NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed’s Spring Experiment, conducted in collaboration with the Storm Prediction Center and the National Severe Storms Laboratory.
Marinna is also a NSF UCAR SOARS (Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science) protégé in Boulder, CO. This research internship, supported by the National Science Foundation and University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, has allowed her to work with scientists from NCAR and NOAA. Although she is only a few weeks into the program, Marinna describes this as an absolutely amazing experience where she is working in her dream research field.
Living in Gainesville
Living in Gainesville has enhanced Marinna’s understanding of geography, especially regarding the unique weather patterns in the region. Known as “Rainsville” for its frequent rain, she finds it fascinating to study how thunderstorms and hurricanes act as they move from the Gulf of Mexico.
Goals and Aspirations
As a Geography Ambassador, Marinna aims to share her passion for geography and the opportunities within UF’s Geography Department. As a first-generation college student, she is particularly motivated to help students like herself navigate their academic journeys and discover their interests in geography.
Fun Facts
Marinna is an avid Tampa Bay Lightning fan and has an impressive ability to recall specific facts about famous tornadoes throughout history based on a town’s name or picture. Additionally, she loves making acai bowls.
Connect with Marinna Stopa
Email: marinnastopa@ufl.edu.