Research Interests

Research focuses on understanding landscape change as related to ecological and social processes. Particular focus is on land-use and land-cover dynamics and makes use of multiple methods, including GIS, remote sensing, social surveys and statistics, and computer simulation. 

Specific projects focus on the interacting social, ecological, and policy aspects of land change in rural and peri-urban environments, land use as affected by economic and climate changes in China and Mongolia, effects of land tenure change in Africa, and spatial and social effects on health.

Education

• Ph.D. Geography (1992) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• M.A. Geography (1989) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• B.A. Geoenvironmental Studies (1987) Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Professional Affiliations

National Sustainability Society (President, 2025-2026)

American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)

International Assoc. for Landscape Ecology    (Editorial Board, Landscape Ecology, 1999-2005 )

University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) (Board Member, 2007-2008)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (elected Fellow, 2010)

Association of American Geographers (AAG)

• • Remote Sensing Specialty Group (Director 1993-96; Program Chair 1997)

  • GIS Specialty Group (Chair 1999-2000)

  • Biogeography Specialty Group

  • Human Dimensions of Global Change Specialty Group