Research

leaves in a rainbow of colors

My research focuses on the spatial and temporal dynamics of both human and anthropogenic disturbances in forested ecosystems using tree-rings. I also collaborate with researchers interested in including spatial analyses in their biological or social sciences projects and workplace climate topics. Here is a list of recent collaborations:

Environmental Influences on Space Use of Gila Monsters (Heloderma suspectum). Herpetologica (2025)
In press
Intentional mentorship for safe and inclusive fieldwork. In: Chen, G. and Eaves, L. (eds.) How to Foster Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in Geography: Theory, Praxis, and Shaping our Future (How To Guides). Edward Elgar Publishing (2024)
ISBN: 9781035310753
The Longleaf Tree-Ring Network: Reviewing and expanding the utility of Pinus palustris Mill. dendrochronological data across the southeastern United States. Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment Vol 47(1) (2023)
10.1177/03091333221147652
Fire history across forest types in the southern Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming. Tree-Ring Research, Vol 76(1) (2020)
10.3959/TRR2018-11
Historical and current fire regimes in ponderosa pine forests at Zion National Park, Utah: Restoration of pattern and process after a century of fire exclusion. Forest Ecology and Management, Vol 445 (2019)
10.1016/j.foreco.2019.04.058

Teaching

I have experience teaching the following undergraduate or graduate courses:

  • GEOG 1015 Physical Geography
  • GEOG 3150/3151 Geographic Information Systems 1 and Lab
  • GEOG 3250/3251 Geographic Information Systems 2 and Lab
  • GEOG 3930 Natural Hazards in the Environment
  • GEOG 4250 Applied GIS
  • GEOG 4260/4261 Remote Sensing and lab
  • GEOG 4650 Field Studies in Biogeography and Biodiversity
  • BIOL 5660/5661 Advanced Data Analytics and Lab

In upper-division and graduate level courses I train students to use ESRI ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, and RStudio in a variety of languages including R, JavaScript, Phython, HTML, and SQL. Resources for some geospatial and data science courses can be found on my GitHub page. I have also been an instructor and organizer for several week-long field courses in dendrochronology and facilitator for ADVANCEGeo workshops including bystander intervention, implicit bias, fieldwork safety, and developing codes of conduct and ethics.

Leadership

Throughout my academic career, I have provided leadership from the department to university level. I have held leadership positions for ten of the sixteen years I have been employed at APSU. Below is a chronological list of these positions:

Present Chair Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
2023-2022 Chair-Elect Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
2022-2021 Interim Director Center of Excellence for Field Biology
2016-2012 Director Office of Undergraduate Research