Background

Prior to joining UNBC, I was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Westman Centre for Real Estate Studies and a Sessional Instructor in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at the University of Calgary. I received my PhD from the University of Calgary, a Master of Arts in Planning from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography with Distinction from the University of Regina. I am a Full Member (MCIP) in the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) with the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC). I have also practiced as a planner throughout Western Canada, as a municipal planner, consultant, and in development.

I have long been interested in geography and planning. In my formative years I expressed that interest through drawings, surveying maps and memorizing world capitals, building cities out of Lego, and many hours spent playing the latest version of Sim City. As I entered adulthood I began to take a more active interest in civic issues, local politics, urban design, architecture, and planning. I began to get curious about why places differed - Why some cities are dense while others sprawl outwards? Why car-dependent cities are the norm instead of being walkable, cyclable, and transit-oriented? Ultimately, I began to question why things are - and wondered what could be. This curiosity turned into a career and my interests lie in building more sustainable, livable and vibrant cities. These themes provide the foundation for my research program.