Speaker Bios

Raleigh Seamster, Program Manager, Google Earth Outreach

Raleigh helps nonprofits use Google's mapping tools through organizing trainings like the Geo for Good User Summit, figuring out how to bring our program to new countries like Canada & Australia, and other projects. She has been with the Google Earth Outreach team for three years and at Google for a total of six years. Before Google, Raleigh served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine, worked at the nonprofit American Councils for International Education, and studied cultural anthropology at James Madison University. She hails from Arlington, Virginia.

Matthew Gibson, Director, Digital Initiatives, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

Matthew oversees the digital strategies for the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and is the founding editor of Encyclopedia Virginia. Matthew earned a PHD in English from the University of Virginia and got his start in digital humanities in the University's Electronic Text Center. An expert in XML and XSLT, Matthew teaches several courses a year around the country. Matthew has been with VFH for nine years. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Matthew spends his free time coaching his kids' soccer teams and raising bees and chickens.

Peter Hedlund, Web Programmer, Encyclopedia Virginia, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

Peter is in charge of Encyclopedia Virginia's online strategy and presence. The geography of Virginia's history and culture is one of his favorite aspects of his work and he is always trying to innovate with maps. Peter has recently been taking his mapping skills abroad where he has participating in cultural heritage programs in Iraq and Guyana. Peter has been with the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities for six years. Before VFH, he spent nine years with the Instructional Technology Department at the University of Virginia's business school. Peter has a master's degree in Slavic Literature from the University of Virginia and raises oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.