As a landscape ecologist, conservation biologist, and population geneticist, he applies evolutionary ecology tools and concepts to assess and mitigate threats to tree species and to forest communities, particularly across broad scales. Specifically, he works to understand forest ecosystem function and resilience, to assess forest health across broad regions, and to conserve the genetic variation of forest tree species imperiled by a variety of threats. He earned a Ph.D in forestry (2006) and M.S. in natural resources (2002) from NCSU. He received his B.A. degree in journalism in 1993 from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a native of Denver, Colorado.