Dr. Shannon Albeke — Fall 2026 Outstanding Member of the ARCC Community

 

Dr. Shannon Albeke, Senior Research Scientist that leads the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) team, has been a driving force behind some of ARCC's most valuable services. A Landscape Ecologist researcher by training — with a PhD from the University of Georgia's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and roots as an aquatic habitat biologist turned geospatial data scientist — Shannon brings the same problem-solving instincts that define his research to his partnership with ARCC.

He has consistently pushed ARCC to think creatively about what its services could be. He played a key role in funding GitLab for the community, and as one of the heaviest users of ARCC's Pathfinder/S3 storage service, he and his team have worked directly with staff to shape and improve it, helping the service evolve — going on to fund the NVMe fast-bucket tier that now benefits researchers across the university. The services he develops to work with Pathfinder/S3 extends well beyond his own research. For example, powering the DEVISE and WyAdapt applications (tools built for everyone which promote community involvement in Wyoming with climate adaptation planning and building resilience), https://devise.uwyo.edu and https://wyadapt.org/.

 

Shannon is defined by a results-first mindset paired with genuine generosity: he shares his expertise freely, helping researchers and students alike work through problems, regardless of whether it directly benefits his own projects. That same generosity extends to mentorship — he guides several students through advanced technical work, experience that consistently helps them land jobs after graduation.

Through his technical contributions, his willingness to help fund critical infrastructure, and his open-door approach to helping others succeed, Dr. Albeke and the WyGISC Team embody the collaborative spirit ARCC aims to foster across the research community.