| BACKGROUND | ||||
I hold three degrees in geography: a B.A. from Plymouth State University (mentor - Maynard W. Dow); an M.A. from Arizona State University (advisor - Ronald I. Dorn); and a Ph.D. from Arizona State University (advisor - William L. Graf). My research is driven by a keen interest in geomorphology and understanding environmental change through interpreting process-form relations. Several ongoing projects analyze high-resolution DEM data gathered with Airborne Laser Swath Mapping and Terrestrial Laser Scanning techniques. The ability to conduct repeat surveys at a location permits an understanding of landscape and landform dynamics as they relate to "natural" and human-induced environmental changes. I am currently collaborating with several students and faculty on research in Colorado, the Mojave Desert, Tennessee, and Japan. Outside of work and frequently incorporated into field work, I enjoy cooking, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. |
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NSF CAREER RESEARCH An overarching goal of geography has been to link process and form. At present, quantitative measures of form have lagged considerably behind those of process mechanics. The goal of this project is to use high-resolution digital elevation data to produce quantitative measures of alluvial fan surface complexity. While quantifying fan surficial features is an important issue, this research strives to move beyond pure geomorphometric analysis and link the quantitative surface measures with equally quantitative measures of processes to better understand fan evolution. Current research: |
| cOURSES | ||||
I teach a number of courses in GIScience, Geomorphology, Geomorphometry, Environmental Science, and Field Methods. I am currently teaching a course on Earth System Science that introduces students to geomorphic processes and landforms. The course is a lecture and laboratory class. Students learn through applying lecture material to numerical modeling, physical modeling, topographic maps, and field-based experiences. I am also teaching a course entitled Water Planet. |
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| Teaching philosophy | ||||
| RESEARCH | ||||
Beyond the NSF CAREER funded research, I have experience in a number of environments and topics. However, a common theme of "natural" and anthropogenic environmental change pervades this work. I have worked in conjunction with biologists from the Meeman Biological Field Station to study changes in the hydrology and planform geometry of the Lower Mississippi River. More recently, my students and I have been working with laser scanning to map lichen, rock art, and debris flow processes and forms to understand how they change through time. |
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| Collaborators | ||||