Personnel
Director
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Dr. Charles E. Konrad II Associate Professor Department of Geography |
Charles (Chip) Konrad is originally from Roanoke, VA. He received a B.S. in Geophysics in 1985 from Virginia Tech and an M.S. in Environmental Science in 1989 from the University of Virginia. In 1993, he earned a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Georgia. Chip’s research focuses on the synoptic climatological characteristics of precipitation-producing weather systems in the southeastern United States. Ongoing research includes the investigation of the precipitation patterns associated with landfalling tropical cyclones as well as the analysis of snowfall regimes in the southern Appalachians. Much of his research focuses on different types of extreme weather events, including high winds, thunderstorms, cold air outbreaks and heavy rainfall. He has published articles in a wide range of atmospheric science and geography journals. Chip is responsible for directing the climate services at the Center.
Dr. Konrad beacame Director of the Southeast Regional Climate Center In the Spring of 2010.
Service Climatologist
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William G. Schmitz Service Climatologist/Meteorologist Bank of America Plaza Suite 602 |
B.S. 2001, Plymouth State College, New Hampshire, Meteorology
A.S. 1998, Canada College, Redwood City, CA, Physics
William spent most of his youth in California near San Francisco. He moved to Vermont in the early 1990's so that he could experience some real weather. In March Super Storm 1993 came plowing up the East Coast and planted the passion and ambition for Weather/Climate that would drive him along his career path. In 1998 he obtained his Associates Degree in Physics and transferred to Plymouth, NH where in 2001 he graduated with a Bachelors in Meteorology. His first Job was with Aquila Inc. a Kansas City, MO based energy company that was just spinning up a Weather Derivative Desk. While in Kansas City William was a Climate Data Analyst and managed a global database of weather data. He then went on to Work with a small group called GuaranteedWeather and finally with the Southeast Regional Climate Center in 2005. Within the SERCC William is the Service Climatologist and is responsible for climate research associated with the Southeastern U.S. and educating current and new users on how the SERCC can be of assistance to them.
Regional Climatologist
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Dr. Christopher M. Fuhrmann Regional Climatologist Bank of America Plaza Suite 602 |
Chris Fuhrmann began working for the Climate Center in 2007 as a Research Associate and became the Regional Climatologist in June of 2010. Originally from Connecticut, Chris has called North Carolina home since 1995. Chris graduated with highest honors from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2004, obtaining his B.A. in Geography with an emphasis in earth and environmental science. In 2006, Chris received his M.S. in Geography from the University of Georgia where he worked as a research assistant for Dr. Tom Mote in the Climatology Research Laboratory. In 2011, Chris completed a Ph.D. in Geography at UNC-Chapel Hill under the direction of Dr. Chip Konrad. His research interests include synoptic climatology, winter precipitation, climate and health, and climate variability and change. Chris's responsibilites with the Climate Center include regional climate monitoring and directing the Center's applied research program. He is also a lead author on the National Climate Assessment of the U.S. Global Change Research Program.
Graduate Research Associate
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Maggie Kovach PhD Student (Geography) Bank of America Plaza Suite 602 |
Maggie Kovach was born in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minors in both Chemistry and Geography. Maggie began working at the climate center in 2009 while pursuing a master’s degree in Geography. In 2010, she obtained her Master’s degree, which investigated the spatial distribution of meteorological impacts associated with inland moving tropical cyclones. She plans to continue her graduate career and work at the climate center pursuing a PhD under the direction of Charles Konrad.
After graduating from UNC he worked with Deloitte Consulting Inc. in Washington, DC, where he traveled globally, performing financial analysis within the medical command for the Department of the Army.
He is currently pursuing a PhD emphasizing how weather and climate influence mankind on health, social, and economic bases. He is under the direction of Dr. Peter Robinson and Dr. Chip Konrad.
Research Associate
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Jordan McLeod B.A. in Geography Bank of America Plaza Suite 602 |
Jordan McLeod is originally from the heart of the “Great Georgia Desert,” Warner Robins, but has been a resident of Stokesdale, NC since 2005. He recently graduated in 2011 from UNC Chapel Hill as a Bachelor of Arts in Geography with a concentration in Earth-Environmental Systems. He also obtained a minor in History, one of his longstanding passions. As a research associate at SERCC since the summer of 2010, Jordan has striven to acquire one of the most prestigious titles in the realm of meteorology/climatology: “Category 4 Weather Weenie.” His current research interests include an assessment of probabilistic weather forecasts, the societal impacts of inland-moving tropical cyclones, and the classification of Southeastern tornado outbreaks. Jordan plans to attend graduate school at UGA beginning in the fall of 2012 in order to attain a Masters degree in Geography along with a Certificate in Atmospheric Sciences.
Research Associate
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Graham Dixon B.A. in Geography & Chemistry Bank of America Plaza Suite 602 |
Graham Dixon is originally from Concord, North Carolina. He began attending The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall of 2007. He spent the 2009-2010 academic year as an international exchange student in the United Kingdom at The University of Bristol where he gained international experience in physical and inorganic chemistry laboratory work as well as physical geography research methods. In 2011, Graham graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Chemistry and Geography (concentrating in Earth and Environmental Systems). Graham’s future plans likely include masters or PhD level work in meteorology or atmospheric science.
Undergraduate Research Associate
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Hillary Fox Undergrad. Bank of America Plaza Suite 602 |
Hillary Fox is a native to Charlotte, NC where her family still resides. In the Spring 2012 she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, with a concentration in Earth Environmental Systems and Geographies of Human Activity. Her research interests include human-environment interaction, especially societal impacts of natural disasters. Hillary’s extracurricular activities include dance, working with animals, and working at one of UNC’s libraries. She hopes to continue her graduate career at UNC studying geography through the Department of Geography or applying the field to the School of Information and Library Science.
Product Developer
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John McGuire Environmental Meteorologist/Developer Suite 100, Research III Building, Centennial Campus |
John was born outside of Chicago and grew up outside of Raleigh. He graduated from NC State with a B.S. in Meteorology, and a minor in mathematics in May 2008. In January 2009, he was hired at the North Carolina State Climate Office for development of meteorological web products for both the State Climate Office and the Southeast Regional Climate Center. John's main project with the SERCC is the Climate Perspectives tool. John is also a part-time graduate student at NC State, pursuing his masters in Atmospheric Science. His graduate research focuses on the feasibility and construction of a high-resolution mesoscale reanalysis of North Carolina using the WRFDA model system.
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Dr. Peter Robinson Retired Professor of Geography Department of Geography Email: pjr@email.unc.edu |
Peter Robinson has been involved in Applied Climatology since arriving in North Carolina in 1971. He was the State Climatologist from 1976 until 1980, at which time he left the state on assignment as Assistant Director of the National Climate Program in Washington DC. There he was responsible for Federal-State Climate relationships and was in charge of the climate data and information services. During this time he laid the administrative foundations for the program which evolved into the Regional Climate Centers. At the end of the assignment he returned to Geography Department at the University of North Carolina, teaching courses in atmospheric science and being involved in applied climatic research. He served for a period as the Chair of the Regional Climate Centers National Oversight Committee. He is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist, slated to serve in 2008 as the Chair of the Administrative Board for the program. He is also the US Representative to the International Geographical Union Commission for Water Sustainability.
He became Director of the Southeast Regional Climate Center when it was relocated to the University of North Carolina in April 2007 and in the Spring of 2010 he retired to the UK.
SERCC supports a three-tiered national climate services support program.
The partners include: National Climatic Data Center, Regional Climate Centers, and State Climate Offices.
© 2007 Southeast Regional Climate Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Saunders Hall, Campus Box 3220, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3220
Tel: 919-843-9721
Fax: 919-843-9060
