I currently teach a variety of courses on the human dimensions of natural resource use and management including nontimber forest products, sustainable natural resource management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in natural resource management. I have taught courses on food cultures, social and environmental conflict, anthropology, North American Indians, human ecology, and rural communities.

I have led many interdisciplinary regional, national, and international research projects. I’m currently leading a multi-year study funded by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to develop a bigleaf maple food products industry (e.g., syrup, blossoms). In collaboration with WSU Extension I'm studying edible mushroom production on Pacific Northwest hardwoods. I am also building a qualitative environmental knowledge digital mapping prototype using Sauvie Island as an example.

Some of the subjects I have published on include nontimber forest products (e.g., wild foods), resource stewardship, traditional and local ecological knowledge, ethnobotany, community-based environmental management, decision support system tools, and ecological conservation.

I was born and raised in Oregon and received my Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst.