Geography Professional Speaker Series | Meteorologist James Sullivan, Feb. 17

The Geography Department Professional Speaker Series welcomes meteorologist James Sullivan, of the Forecast Office, National Weather Service in Cleveland, on Friday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. at Tupper 204.

The department is also hosting a pizza lunch meeting with students from 1 -2 p.m. before his talk. 

Sullivan grew up in the Cleveland suburbs and went to Ohio University to obtain a degree in meteorology, graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 2016. After graduation he began working with a private sector company in New Jersey called WeatherWorks, where in his position as Chief Meteorologist he was heavily involved in the company’s day-to-day weather forecasts and operations, scheduling, and staff training. In late 2021 Sullivan started a job at the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and ATmospheric Administration, in Cleveland, OH, where he still works today.

Abstract : Meteorology is a diverse field, with several different sectors all working towards a common goal of providing the most accurate weather predictions possible in the name of protecting of life and property while benefiting the economy. Jim will draw on his experience in both the private sector and public sector to discuss what job seekers can expect across these different sectors in the field while examining more specifically how the sectors work together, along with where they differ. Jim will also tie in examples of several various disciplines under the umbrella of Geography (such as Physical & Human Geography, GIS, and Remote Sensing) being used in both private sector and public sector meteorology.

The speaker series, funded by the College of Arts and Sciences Seminar Fund, invites high-achieving geography alumni in practical professional fields to share valuable insights on current topics, including environment, urban planning, and climate change.

For more information, please contact Yeong Kim , associate professor of geography in the College of Arts & Sciences, at kimy1@ohio.edu .