Teaching and research focus
Planning and policy in the U.S. agrifood system with a focus on community food systems

What’s your academic and professional background?
My academic background includes studying political science at University of Northern Iowa (Go Cats) and public administration/urban planning at the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk). I have spent time working as a Green Iowa AmeriCorps Land and Water Steward, auditing and proposing local policy for the Kansas City Regional Food Policy Council, and various roles with an Iowa nonprofit, Zestos Inc., that rescues and redistributes food from grocery stores and restaurants.

What current research projects or initiatives are you working on? How do you hope they contribute to the field and address real-world challenges? 
I'm working on a few projects which aim to make encountering government less burdensome for small-scale agricultural producers and community food system advocates. This includes local planning/zoning, food safety regulation compliance, and seeking/managing federal grants. Reducing these costs would enable community food systems work, which is typically more sustainable and conservation-oriented than the dominant production mode in the U.S.

What personal experience inspired you to study urban planning/public affairs? 
Learning the magnitude of two problems in our country: food insecurity and the harmful impacts of industrialized food/animal production

What excites you most about your work?
The variety of approaches that exist to answer a given research question.

What advice do you give students who are just starting their journey in planning or public affairs?
Follow your curiosity, do the best you can, and take ownership of your journey.

If your wish could be granted, what one thing related to your area of study would you like to see change in in the world? 
Large scale food system transformation

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 
I enjoy cooking, puzzling, and convening with nature.

What’s your favorite music genre or era of music? 
Impossible to answer, it completely depends on the day!

What’s the best book you’ve read lately? 
The Maid by Nita Prose