My current research explores the role of rural governance, place-based development, philanthropy, rural policy, community economic development, and rural immigration and mobility.
Promotion of dairy cattle health, production, efficiency, and welfare not only contributes to economic viability of the dairy production sector, but also provides benefits to the consumers of milk products. These benefits include environmental sustainability, maintenance of milk nutritional quality and safety, as well as assurance that milk is sourced from animals that have been raised humanely.
I examine marine conservation policy and governance, from local to global scales. I explore how decisions are made, how science and other kinds of knowledge inform these decisions, how various actors influence decision-making processes, and who benefits (or loses) as a result.
The programs within the College of Business and Economics are filled with knowledgeable, accomplished academics who are also nice people. Unlike some programs where graduate students are treated like they're just a number, at Guelph graduate students are treated like colleagues. It's a nice environment to be in while receiving a top-notch education.
I am engaged in questions of applied landscape ecology in rural and agricultural landscapes, including changes in landscape patterns and the consequences of those changes on biodiversity, water quality, and culture.