I am an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University in the Department of Agricultural Economics. My research and teaching both focus on community entrepreneurship, regional economic development, downtown revitalization, and a variety of other topics aimed toward strengthening local economies. I earned my Ph.D. in Public Policy & Management from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs (Ohio State University).

Interests

  • Community Entrepreneurship
  • Revitalization & Placemaking
  • Rural Development
  • Data Science & Visualization
  • Agricultural Economics
  • Regional Science & Policy

Education

  • Ph.D. in Public Policy & Management, 2021

    Ohio State University

  • M.A. in Geography & Urban Studies, 2016

    Temple University

  • B.S. in Geography, 2014

    Brigham Young University

Areas of Research

Agricultural Economics

Community Entrepreneurship

Data Science and Visualization

Local Economic Vitality

Regional Science and Policy

Physical Environment

Peer-Reviewed Research

2023 Local Development & Society

The Role of Community Capital in Rural Renewal

PDF Project Slides Publication
2022 Growth and Change

What Side of Town? How Proximity to Critical Survival Factors Affects Rural Business Longevity

PDF Project Publication
2022 Regional Science Policy & Practice

Has COVID-19 Made Rural Areas More Attractive Places to Live? Survey Evidence From Northwest Missouri

PDF Project Publication
2022 Cityscape

A Method for Defining Downtown Business District Boundaries in Pre-Automobile Towns and Cities

PDF Project Publication
See all publications

Recent Talks & Presentations

Apr 5, 2024 Arlington, VA

Neighborhood Quality of Life and the Role of the ‘Third Place’

Southern Regional Science Association (SRSA) Annual Meeting

Project Slides
Nov 9, 2023 Atlanta, GA

Brick-and-Mortar Financial Institutions and Regional Borrowing: Do Branch Closures Leave Money on the Table?

Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM) Fall Conference

Project Slides
Jul 24, 2023 Washington D.C.

Do “Banking Deserts” Even Exist? Examining Access to Brick-and-Mortar Financial Institutions in the Continental United States

Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting

Project Slides
See all talks

Other Talks & Presentations

My other presentations include any sort of talk I give outside of the typical resarch conference setting. These include Extension talks, guest lectures, workshops, and webinars.

Click here for a list of recent presentations.

Recent Posts

Last updated on Aug 10, 2023 3 min read
Recent Changes to U.S. Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas

Recent Changes to U.S. Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas

Last updated on Jun 3, 2023 2 min read
Distressed Communities in Oklahoma

Distressed Communities in Oklahoma

See all posts

Extension Publications

Small Town Main Street

Extension publications include reports and fact sheets that provide research-based information on a wide variety of topics.

Click here for a list of my most recent publications.

Contact