Background
Education
* Ph.D. in Geography, University of California, Davis
* M.Sc. in Geography/Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, BC
* B.A. (Honours) in Geography, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario
Research
Current Research
Fall 2007-present
Management and Ecological Impacts of Chiltepín Harvesting, Sonora, Mexico
Wild chiles (chiltepins) are harvested in large quantities from the Rio Sonora Valley for commercial sale throughout Northern Mexico and into the United States. This non-wood forest product is a major source of income for communities in the southern section of the valley. The commercial sale of chiltepins is a relatively new phenomenon; as a result there is a great diversity of interdisciplinary research to be done on the community management protocols, ecological impacts of harvesting, and the markets for chiltepins.
Agriculture of the Willamette Valley: the value of local produce
Spring 2008-present
The Willamette Valley is one of the most productive agricultural areas in the United States. Portland is increasingly being recognized for its restaurants and top chefs. What is drawing attention and talent to Portland is the focus on local, seasonal and fresh produce: produce that is coming from the Willamette Valley. The purpose of this research is to build connections for Willamette students to work on sustainable agriculture projects in the Willamette Valley and Portland area and develop valuable connections for the Willamette community as a whole.
Previous and Continuing Research
Geographic Contributions to In-Situ Conservation: The Landscape of Maize (Zea mays L.) in the Bajío of Mexico Summer 2004-Fall 2005
The Bajío, Guanajuato, Mexico, and University of California, Davis
Designed an interdisciplinary research protocol to examine maize landrace diversity in the Bajío. Research components included: 1) field surveys to document maize persistence, environmental, and social variables at early collection locations; 2) household surveys in communities where landraces persist; and, 3) a common garden experiment with varieties collected during fieldwork.
Principal Collaborators:
• Dr S.B. Brush, Depart. of Human and Community Development, Univ. of California, Davis
• Dr J.H. Momsen, Depart. of Human and Community Development, Univ. of California, Davis
• Dr J.A. Aguire G., Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias, Mexico
• Dr P. Gepts, Department of Agronomy and Range Science, University of California, Davis
Autecology, Ethnobotany and Agronomy of Balsamorhiza sagittata: Northwestern Plateau, British Columbia
Summer 1999-Fall 2000
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz, Xaxl’ep First Nation, Lillooet, Univ. of Victoria Conducted research to better understand the importance of a culturally and ecologically significant species (Balsamorhiza sagittata). Research included: 1) documentation of ethnobotanical uses based on literature reviews and interviews with Indigenous Peoples; 2) field surveys to assess common variables; and, 3) germination and transplanting experiments.
Principal Collaborators:
• Dr N. Turner, Department of Environmental Studies, Univ. of Victoria, British Columbia
• Dr P. Bowen, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz, British Columbia
• Chief A. Adolph, Xaxl’ep First Nation, Lillooet, British Columbia
Teaching
Willamette University, Salem, OR 2007-pres.
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Environmental and Earth Sciences, and Latin American Studies
Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA 2006-2007
Lecturer, Department of Geography and Global Studies
University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 2005-2006
Instructor and Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Anthropology, Dept. of Social Sciences,
and Dept of Community and Agriculture Development
Camosun College, Victoria, BA 2002
Lecturer, Department of Geography
University of Victoria, Victoria, BC 1999-2002
Instructor and Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Environmental Studies and Dept. of Geography