Bio

Denise holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Political Science from Goucher and a Master of Science in Geographic Information Systems from the University of Maryland. While at Goucher, she was a member of the volleyball team and voted most-improved player.  She was also a member of the fencing team.

Theunissen is a Senior Analytic Methodologist and has over 30 years working with the federal government in various positions ranging from Intelligence/Geospatial Analyst to Librarian. She is currently the GIS Division Chair, and past Assistant Chair for the Technical Division Directors’ Council for the American Society for Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry (ASPRS). 

She expressed a large part of her strong commitment to service and career on her Goucher College education which significantly contributed to her decision to stay in Washington.  In every agency she’s worked in, she aided and contributed toward women and diversity, and continues to promote women in STEM through Women in GIS, ASPRS, and other organizational platforms. To continue the Goucher College legacy of supporting and promoting women’s issues, she created “Dr. Marianne Githens’ Scholarship Fund” – with the aid of other alums, which is awarded to a student pursuing Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies.

 She has been an active Goucher alumna, serving as the 1989 class fund manager for more than 25 years while engaging in various programs at Goucher such as the mentorship program.  She's currently serving on the AAGC Board and is the 1989 Class Reunion Chair. She is a proud mother of three, and very happy that one of her children decided to join the Goucher family in 2021 and is now enjoying life as a Gopher.