Harper College

GIS and Drone Technology Faculty

Full-Time Faculty

Harper College Geography Department professor Mukila Maitha

Professor, GIS and Drone Program Coordinator
Email: mmaitha@harpercollege.edu
Office: I-242 (Cubicle 2)
Phone: 847-925-6521

 

About Mukila Maitha

Education:

  • MS Geography, Northern Illinois University, 1997
  • BS Geography, Northern Illinois University, 1995
  • Small uncrewed aircraft (sUAS or drone) remote pilot. FAA sUAS Part 107

Awards:

  • CCID Faculty Innovation in Global Education Award 2022
  • GeoTech Center Distinguished Geospatial Educator Award 2021
  • Glenn Reich Award for Teaching with Instructional Technology 2016 and 2022

Interests:

  • Family and community
  • Travel, exploring culture, reading
  • Nature and outdoor recreation: biking, camping, hiking etc.

Part-Time Faculty

Harper College GIS and Drone Program Adjunct Professor Fernanda Kuzuhara

Adjunct Professor, Drone Technology
Email: kf08301@harpercollege.edu
Office: I-205

 

 

About Fernanda Kuzuhara

Courses Taught:

  • DRO 101 - Mastering Drone Flight Skills

Degrees:

  • MPH, Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2005
  • Specialization in Environmental and Public Health Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1998
  • Specialization in Safety Engineering, Mackenzie University, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1997
  • BS, Chemical Engineering, Mackenzie University, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1996

Certificates:

  • Drone Technology and Applications, Harper College, 2022
  • Geographic Information Systems, Harper College, 2022
  • Small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS or drones). FAA sUAS Part 107, 2021
  • Emergency and Disaster Management, Harper College, 2020

Interests:

  • Biking/camping/hiking
  • Family
  • World travel
  • Foreign languages
  • Religion

Harper College GIS and Drone Program Adjunct Professor Michael Ribant

Adjunct Professor
Email: mribant@harpercollege.edu
Office: I-205

 

 

About Dr. Michael Ribant

Courses Taught:

  • Cultural Geography, World Regional Geography, Physical Geography, GIS and Mapping Principals

Education:

  • PhD, Geography, Northern Illinois University, 2018
  • MA, Geography, California State University, Fullerton, 2012
  • BS, Business Administration, University of Arizona, 1980

Interests:

  • Fly Fishing, Travel, History, Photography

Harper College GIS and Drone Program Adjunct Professor Jacqueline Cooney.

Adjunct Professor
Email: jcooney1@harpercollege.edu
Office: I-205

 

 

About Jacqueline Cooney

Courses Taught:

  • Physical Geography, Introduction to Geospatial Technologies

Education:

  • M.S., Geography, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, 2022
  • B.A. History, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL, 2008
  • A.A., History, College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL, 2005
  • A.S., Geology, College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL, 2005
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate, Harper College, Palatine, IL, 2019

Interests:

  • Geologic Hazards and Disasters, Severe Weather Phenomena, GIS and Drones for Emergency Management, Remote Sensing for Planetary Surfaces, Archaeology, History, Planetary Geology, Paleontology, Paleobotany, Books and Reading, Publishing Practices and Trends, History of American Film
Last Updated: 9/16/25