His research emphasizes the connections between historic preservation and allied fields, including archaeology, affordable housing, and economic development. He regularly presents his work at urban planning and preservation-oriented conferences, including those organized by the Society for American City and Regional Planning History, the Urban Affairs Association, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, and the Society for Historical Archaeology. He holds a doctorate in city and regional planning from Cornell University, a master’s in urban and regional planning from Virginia Tech, and a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science, also from Virginia Tech. He is a former practicing city planner, is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala from 2000-2002.