Research. My research will focus on the biology, management, and ecology of plant communities within the urban/suburban environment and what affects these systems have on the soil and surrounding areas within the shifting urban landscape. This includes urban water and nutrient management, sustainability, cultural management, soil amendments, and best management practices promoting the judicious use of water and nutrients within turfgrass, native, and agricultural ecosystems in order to sustain and improve soil quality.
Teaching. The upper-level undergraduate course I will teach will deal with turfgrass culture, ecology, and physiology. It will be designed to teach students how to apply concepts in plant growth and development, physiology, and the soil-plant continuum to experiences they will encounter upon graduation. The course will also prepare students for some of the environmental, social, and political issues that exist in the area of urban agriculture.