I am climate change geographer focused on understanding location-specific magnitudes of impacts, disproportionate impacts on socially vulnerable groups, and targeting mitigation and adaptation solutions to alleviate suffering and economic costs of climate change. Primarily I focus these efforts towards understanding urban heat islands, who’s most affected, and what can be done to minimize them at local scales. As part of this, my work also explores the spatial distributions of urban forests and green infrastructure as a contributor and solution to heat islands. I also work to explore the role of TCFDs in helping provide accountability for climate change.
I am currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Geography teaching Earth and Environmental Science, Environment and Society, and Economic Geography.
I also maintain an applied side, as a climate change consultant, EnDev Geographic, aiming to help developing countries and cities to understand their climate challenges, and to make climate-smart decisions. This work has taken me to Afghanistan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Australia, and many others locations, working with UNICEF, Care International, RARE Conservation, and others.
I completed my Ph.D. from Penn State Geography in 2013 and have returned to continue teaching.