Biography

Career Narrative 

I’ve long been intrigued by purposeful approaches to places and landscape networks that are attuned to their local contexts while being inclusive, convivial, resiliently adaptive and biodiverse.

I started out in professional practice: 3 years with the multi-disciplinary AE firm of Totten Sims Hubicki Associates, and +5 years with the well-known Toronto-based environmental design firm of Hough Stansbury Woodland. Particularly formative was my work with HSW principals/mentors Michael Hough and Jim Stansbury. Daily practice was guided by first principles, critical contextual research, interdisciplinarity, and inclusive and reflective design through time. 

HSW was the go-to Canadian firm for ground-breaking, novel and trans-disciplinary assignments. For instance, Michael Hough and I led two major urban regeneration projects (Don River Restoration, Toronto Brickworks) that were named "Most significant and influential landscape architectural projects, decade 1988-1998” (Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, Ground, vol. 43)—two of only 4 projects that were so honored. Jim Stansbury and I led on the Massasauga Provincial Park management plan for a 130 sq. km. Precambrian Shield archipelago set in the sublime Georgian Bay—since designated a Category II Protected Area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. And I was primary author/designer on the inaugural plan for what would become Toronto's Rouge National Urban Park. With 79 sq. km. of committed land, this unique park is the largest of its emerging type in North America. 

My appointment at Penn State in 1993 provided an opportunity to focus on several linked themes that seemed underdeveloped in the academy: the interplay between environmental design and the synthetic ecologies (landscape ecology, restoration ecology, conservation biology) and socially inclusive green urban/community design that welcomes the empowered and mingled imaginations of all stakeholders—generating the landscape insights that precede good design.

My interest in regenerative urban ecosystems was reinforced while collaborating with Carnegie Mellon University colleagues on Pittsburgh's Nine Mile Run (1996-2000), a seminal implemented stream restoration and valleyland brownfield reclamation project.

Much of my work has involved exploring idea spaces between fields—John Elder calls them “dangerous ecotones”—with scholars and practitioners in the natural and social sciences, humanities, education and the arts. I've collaborated with Monica Schlee (2000-2012) on environmental quality in Rio's favellas; PSU learning science colleagues on the Mountain Project in south Asia (2005-2010); geographers, climate scientists and education faculty (2008-2012) on our NSF-funded ALCCAR Project in Ghana and Tanzania; and various European associates (2010-present) on my convivial greenstreets work. My role as designer/applied ecologist has addressed climate change and globalization impacts at regional and local scales, while striving for local-level place identity, sustainabilty, resilience, and equity. As often as we could, we sought strategic learning and action not just for, but in and especially with underserved communities.

Organizations I've allied with include: 

• STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, Carnegie Mellon University

• Penn State's Center for Watershed Stewardship

• Penn State's Inter-college Graduate Program in Ecology

• Design of Learning, Collaboration and Experience Lab (Chris Hoadley's dolcelab), PSU and NYU

• Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment Lab (Illah Nourbakhsh's CREATE Lab), Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University

• Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State

• State College Borough and Penn State Tree Commissions

• Penn State's Alliance for Education, Science, Engineering, and Design with Africa (AESEDA)

• Akademie für internationale Bildung (AiB Bonn), Germany

• Barcelona Architecture Center, Eixample District, Barcelona, Spain

• Queen's University (CA), York University (CA), and  Universities of Rio de Janeiro, Oregon, Florida and Wageningen, among others.

Fellowships, Appointments, Commissions

• Distinguished Professor Emeritus status granted by PSU president, July 2024–current

• Commissioner, University Park Tree Commission, PSU, 2012–2024

• Distinguished Honors Faculty, Schreyer Honors College, Penn State  University, 2021–2023

• University Faculty Scholar Medalist Review Panel, 2022–2023

• Arts & Architecture Distinguished Professor Nominating Committee, 2022

• Evan Pugh University Professorship Committee, 2019–2022

• Lead author, departmental Diversity, Equity and Inclusion draft statement, 2020

• Commissioner, State College Borough Tree Commission, 2005–2016

• Astorino Fellow (sabbatical), L. Astorino Endowment, Penn State University, 2014–2015

• Faculty Council member, College of Arts & Architecture; lead author on Preamble and Article 1 (Legislative, Advisory & Consultative, and Forensic Roles) of the Constitution of the College Faculty, 2011–2013

• Fine Outreach for Science Returning Fellow, Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 2010–2013

• Public Scholarship Fellow, Provost appointment, Penn State University, 2011–2012

• Fine Outreach for Science Fellow, Global Connections Project, Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 2009–2010

• Visiting Scholar Readership (brief sabbatical), Ross Library at the American Academy in Rome, Spring 2008

• Executive Board member, Center for Watershed Stewardship, Penn State University, 2003–2007

• Program Committee member, Inter-College Graduate Ecology Program, Penn State University, 1999–2006

• Heinz Faculty Fellow, Center for Watershed Stewardship, Penn State University, 1999–2000; 2002

• Research Fellow: Nine Mile Run, Studio for Creative Inquiry, Carnegie Mellon University, 1997–1999

• CMHC Graduate Fellow, Queen's University, 1984–1986

Prior Affiliations

• Society for Ecological Restoration (USA)

• Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (USA)

• International Member, Canadian Institute of Planners (USA)

• Professional Landscape Architect, Province of Ontario, with seal

• Registered Professional Planner, Ontario Professional Planners Institute, with seal

• Full Member, Ontario Association of Landscape Architects

• Full Member, Canadian Institute of Planners

• Constructed Environment Research Network (Intl.)

• International Association of Community Development (Intl.)