Chris is a native of Buffalo, NY and is currently living in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains in Boone, NC. Here, he is an active member in the Appalachian State University community through research, teaching, mentoring, and various campus involvement. Chris received his PhD from the University of Buffalo in Geography, focusing on GIScience. He excelled as a NSF IGERT Fellow and as a Graduate Assistant for the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research Information Service (MCEERIS). As an undergraduate, Chris received a BA after double majoring in Biology and Psychology at Cornell University. 

He is interested in urban and environmental geography and human-environment interactions, specifically using applications such as GIS to identify spatial patterns. He  also uses GIS as a tool for social science research.

Specific research interests include: the use of GIS in modeling issues such as urban sprawl and changes in land patterns, water quality, natural disasters, renewable energy resources, and energy policy. Past social research has focused on issues such as crime patterns, regional community policing, and access to land in disadvantaged communities.

Chris also actively works to bridge local and academic interests, working to bring knowledge about the surrounding environment and environmental issues to the public. He has developed a community "Earth Day Panel" on issues such as Mountain Top Removal, participated in community awareness about the surrounding development on the pristine Blue Ridge Parkway, and works with local governmental and interest groups.

He also uses writing as a tool to inform the public about topics such as methods in geography intern mentorship, GIS for social science, and renewable energy sources. He is using research and education in an academic setting to promote regional and global sustainability and use GIS to display social, environmental, and human/environment interactions, patterns, and changes.

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