B.A. Geology, Williams College
Ph.D. Zoology, University of Washington

As of 2024 I transitioned to Emeritus Professor status and no longer teach classes. However, I continue to conduct research (see below) in conservation biology, ecology, and urban ecology, and I am happy to advise students with research interests, capstones, and independent research projects in these areas.

My research addresses topics in the fields of conservation biology, behavioral ecology, urban ecology, and landscape ecology, with the ultimate purpose of developing the understanding necessary for more harmonious and equitable co-existence of humans with our natural environment and the other species with which we share that environment.

Currently, my primary research focus is on the role of urbanized landscapes in supporting native wildlife species. Since 2018, my students and I have been using wildlife camera traps and other techniques to investigate the presence and activity of native mammal species in parks and green spaces in the urbanized Northshore region of the Seattle metropolitan area. We have found a surprising level of mammal diversity, including a robust predator community, as well as high diversity of native birds and plant species. In 2021 I expanded this effort to include areas outside of parks and green spaces with a citizen science project in which members of the community manage wildlife cameras to monitor wildlife in their neighborhoods. The goal of all of this research is to learn how native species use and move through urban habitats, what aspects of urbanization are most threatening to wildlife persistence, and how we might design and manage the areas where we live to better accommodate the needs of other species. This work has implications not only for wildlife conservation, but for quality of life and environmental equity for humans as well. You can read more on the Collaborative for Socio-Ecological Engagement (CoSEE) website.

Other topics of research include ecology and conservation of an endangered salamander species in a rapidly urbanizing area of California, the ecological impacts and patterns of spread of non-native invasive tree species in Pacific Northwest forests, behavioral ecology of penguins, land-use planning and biodiversity conservation, human biodiversity preferences, and the role of the concept of the wild and wildness in conservation.

Much of my research is field-oriented and is associated with UW Bothell’s Collaborative for Socio-Ecological Engagement (CoSEE) based at St. Edward State Park. I welcome participation by students in all my research.