Biography
Recently hired by the Washington State Auditor’s Office as an Associate Performance Auditor, Isaiah Berg evaluates both qualitative and quantitative data to assess state government agencies and programs. Berg’s use of GIS technologies in the United States Army led him to the Department of Geography upon arriving at UW. While in the Geography undergraduate program, much of his focus was in the areas of GIS and spatial statistics, but Berg attributes much of his thinking to critical human geography, which has enabled him to think critically and better understand the context and implementation of quantitative methods. Specifically, he notes the ways in which mixed methods approaches advocated by Professors Elwood and Withers equip him to critically assess the ways in which quantitative approaches are often misused and can oversimplify complex spatial phenomena, a skillset that is very useful in the field of public policy. Berg recently completed his MPA from the Evans School at UW.