I have a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Since 1989, I have been a Professor of Economics and Business at Kalamazoo College. My professional interests as an economist include urban economics, public finance; and urban planning.

My publications include a book, The Development of Local Public Services, 1650-1869: Lessons from Middletown, CT., published by Greenwood Press, 1995, and several articles based on a community building project entitled the Convening Our Community that I co-directed from 1999 to 2001. My newest research efforts include work on the future of small metropolitan areas as well as work on a National League of Cities project that examines poverty alleviation measures in American cities.

I have been the Vice Mayor of Kalamazoo for 4 terms (1997 to 2005) before serving as Mayor for the 46th City Commission. Before that, I served on the City’s Planning Commission (1991-1997). While I was on the Planning Commission, I chaired the city’s Comprehensive Plan update and also served on the Downtown Plan committee.

I am married and have two school-aged children.