GAPO People

Zack Bortolot

Zack Bortolot is a Professor of Geography at James Madison University and former director of James Madison University’s Geography Program. His research and teaching focus on digital mapping and processing satellite and aerial imagery, and he has been using and developing artificial intelligence-based tools and techniques since the late 1990s. He holds a Ph.D. in forestry from Virginia Tech, an MS in forest resources management from the University of British Columbia, and a Sc.B. in Geological Sciences from Brown University.

Adam Dohrenwend

Adam Dohrenwend is an Assistant Professor of Geography at James Madison University. He is a political geographer with working-class roots who focuses on political ecology, labor, industry, electoral politics, populism, environmental justice, and the US South. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography from Louisiana State University, an MA in Geography from the University of Kansas, and a BA in Geography from SUNY Geneseo.

Laura Lambert

Laura Lambert is a lecturer in the Integrated Science and Technology Program at James Madison University. She is GAPO’s statistical guru, and outside of this study her research focuses on using statistical methods to quantify student learning and finding ways to make tests and other means of assessing learning more accurate. She holds a Ph.D. in Assessment and Measurement from James Madison University, an MS in Human Genetics from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a BS in Biology from the University of Virginia.

Tim Prestby

Tim Prestby is an Assistant Professor of Geography at James Madison University and director of the JMU Map Lab. He specializes in cartography and geographic information science (GISc), and his affinity towards mapmaking comes from the endless applications of maps and GIS. He sees maps as the primary medium that people can use to understand and communicate their perceptions of geographic information. He holds a Ph.D. in geography from Penn State.

Group photo of the 2026–2027 GAPO student members standing with a GAPO sign at James Madison University.

2026–2027 Student Members

The GAPO Lab has just welcomed its new student members for 2026–2027: Alisson Ascencio Hernandez, Andrew Simmons, Ben Vales, Carter Jensen, James McQuilkin, Miles Jones, and Sitara Tepley (not pictured). The student members will be involved with all aspects of creating, conducting, analyzing, and reporting on new public opinion surveys.