2024 Peter S. Thacher Award Recipient: Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne
Remembering Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne
Written by Alayna Howard
January 11, 2024
Source: https://www.uvm.edu/news/rsenr/remembering-jarlath-oneil-dunne
On January 6, 2024, the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and the entire University of Vermont community lost a dear friend and colleague, Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne. He passed away while Nordic skiing with friends in one of his favorite places in Vermont.
Jarlath was known and beloved for his upbeat nature, indomitable spirit, and compassionate leadership. He was a respected teacher, mentor, and researcher who was always eager to collaborate and share his knowledge.
Jarlath’s contributions to the university community were countless and far-reaching. He began working in the Spatial Analysis Lab in the Rubenstein School as a graduate student in 2002, and in 2004 he became a Geospatial Analyst. In 2012 he became the Director of the Spatial Analysis Lab, where he built and led a remarkable team. Jarlath held a joint position with USDA Forest Service Research and Development, he was also a Research Assistant Professor in the Rubenstein School and a Gund Institute for Environment Fellow.
Jarlath was nationally known and highly regarded for his work in Geographic Information Systems. His research focused on the application of geospatial technology to a broad range of natural resource-related issues including disaster response, environmental justice, wildlife habitat mapping, forest decline, community health, and water quality modeling. He co-developed Urban Tree Canopy Assessment protocols with the USDA Forest Service, which have been applied to over 80 cities internationally.
He worked with federal, state, and local agencies to improve the use of drone technology for disaster response and recovery. Jarlath’s leadership helped UVM achieve ASSURE Core Member status in 2021 and he partnered with ASSURE to design and implement FEMA-funded training in the use of drone technology for first responders. In 2023 Jarlath’s Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) team played a crucial role in mapping and documenting historic flooding across Vermont.
Jarlath was particularly proud of his mentorship of students. He taught introductory and advanced courses in geospatial technology, and he was committed to providing experiential learning and career development opportunities to students and alumni. The Spatial Analysis Lab’s internship program has distributed more than one million dollars in wages to students and alumni over the past decade. In 2023 Jarlath was celebrated for these contributions when he was named UVM Faculty Career Champion.
He was a former officer in the United States Marine Corps where he served in East Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. He applied this experience to his role as a faculty advisor to UVM's student veterans.
Jarlath was a fixture in the greater Vermont community. He was passionate about bike commuting and would do so in snow, rain, or sun. He was a motivational endurance athlete, an animal lover, and a dedicated father to three. His passion, charisma, and sense of humor will be deeply missed.
Multiple tributes have been shared about Jarlath’s life and legacy. Read more in his obituary and from the Mansfield Nordic Club.
To share a memory, photo, or story with Jarlath’s family email [email protected] by February 1, or fill out this form. To celebrate Jarlath’s life and the impact he made on so many people’s lives, the family has established a fund in his memory. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to honor Jarlath with a gift to the Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne Memorial Fund, which will be used to carry on his legacy of service, research, and scholarship.
Written by Alayna Howard
January 11, 2024
Source: https://www.uvm.edu/news/rsenr/remembering-jarlath-oneil-dunne
On January 6, 2024, the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and the entire University of Vermont community lost a dear friend and colleague, Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne. He passed away while Nordic skiing with friends in one of his favorite places in Vermont.
Jarlath was known and beloved for his upbeat nature, indomitable spirit, and compassionate leadership. He was a respected teacher, mentor, and researcher who was always eager to collaborate and share his knowledge.
Jarlath’s contributions to the university community were countless and far-reaching. He began working in the Spatial Analysis Lab in the Rubenstein School as a graduate student in 2002, and in 2004 he became a Geospatial Analyst. In 2012 he became the Director of the Spatial Analysis Lab, where he built and led a remarkable team. Jarlath held a joint position with USDA Forest Service Research and Development, he was also a Research Assistant Professor in the Rubenstein School and a Gund Institute for Environment Fellow.
Jarlath was nationally known and highly regarded for his work in Geographic Information Systems. His research focused on the application of geospatial technology to a broad range of natural resource-related issues including disaster response, environmental justice, wildlife habitat mapping, forest decline, community health, and water quality modeling. He co-developed Urban Tree Canopy Assessment protocols with the USDA Forest Service, which have been applied to over 80 cities internationally.
He worked with federal, state, and local agencies to improve the use of drone technology for disaster response and recovery. Jarlath’s leadership helped UVM achieve ASSURE Core Member status in 2021 and he partnered with ASSURE to design and implement FEMA-funded training in the use of drone technology for first responders. In 2023 Jarlath’s Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) team played a crucial role in mapping and documenting historic flooding across Vermont.
Jarlath was particularly proud of his mentorship of students. He taught introductory and advanced courses in geospatial technology, and he was committed to providing experiential learning and career development opportunities to students and alumni. The Spatial Analysis Lab’s internship program has distributed more than one million dollars in wages to students and alumni over the past decade. In 2023 Jarlath was celebrated for these contributions when he was named UVM Faculty Career Champion.
He was a former officer in the United States Marine Corps where he served in East Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. He applied this experience to his role as a faculty advisor to UVM's student veterans.
Jarlath was a fixture in the greater Vermont community. He was passionate about bike commuting and would do so in snow, rain, or sun. He was a motivational endurance athlete, an animal lover, and a dedicated father to three. His passion, charisma, and sense of humor will be deeply missed.
Multiple tributes have been shared about Jarlath’s life and legacy. Read more in his obituary and from the Mansfield Nordic Club.
To share a memory, photo, or story with Jarlath’s family email [email protected] by February 1, or fill out this form. To celebrate Jarlath’s life and the impact he made on so many people’s lives, the family has established a fund in his memory. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to honor Jarlath with a gift to the Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne Memorial Fund, which will be used to carry on his legacy of service, research, and scholarship.