As research associate in applied urban ecology at Holden Forests & Gardens, I investigate how soil improvements and addition of plants improve the ecological and social value of vacant urban land. My interests include stormwater management, low-maintenance plants, and urban greening as a tool to strengthen and revitalize neighborhoods. In addition to being project manager for Vacant to Vibrant, I have been Project Manager for a US EPA Urban Waters project that examined soil remediation and green stormwater infrastructure in an intensively treated Cleveland neighborhood.

I serve as co-chair for the Cleveland Tree Coalition, a diverse group of organizations implementing the Cleveland Tree Plan, and as a board member for the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership.

My upcoming book, Vacant to Vibrant: Creating Successful Green Infrastructure Networks (Island Press, April 2019) shares lessons from the Vacant to Vibrant project for other urban greening/vacant land use professionals.