Haley Boyd

MS Program

Research Areas:

Geographic Information Science (GIS); Water Governance; Community-Informed Mapping; Human-Environment Systems; Water Resources

Key Word Interests:

GIS; Water Rights; Acequias; Water Governance; Community-Informed GIS; Remote Sensing; Environmental Sensing; Systems Thinking; Spatial Analysis; New Mexico Water Resources

Biography:

Haley N. Boyd is an M.S. student in Geography with a concentration in GIS at the University of New Mexico, where she is also completing a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Sensing, Data, and Modeling. Professionally, she works as a GIS Specialist in the water-rights field, where she uses spatial analysis, mapping, and historical/administrative research to support water-rights validation and related projects. Her academic research focuses on water governance, acequia communities, community-informed GIS, and systems thinking in New Mexico. Her thesis examines how New Mexico’s prior appropriation system affects acequia communities and how community-informed mapping and systems thinking can make water-governance relationships more visible. Outside of her academic and professional work, she enjoys scuba diving, hiking with her dogs, and experiencing new countries and cultures.

Education:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography, Minor in Spanish, University of New Mexico, 2023; Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography, GIS Concentration, University of New Mexico, expected May 2027; Graduate Certificate in Environmental Sensing, Data, and Modeling, University of New Mexico, expected May 2027.