I am an interdisciplinary public policy scholar trained in the social sciences. I am currently a Professor of Community and Regional Development in the Department of Human Ecology at the University of California, Davis. My research and teaching interests focus on issues of economic and workforce development as they relate to the impact of economic “shocks” (i.e. natural disasters, technological advancements, and economic downturns) on labor markets and workers – particularly in rural and agricultural economies. I am also interested in understanding how to build resilient economic and workforce development systems to support the recovery and transition of economies in the wake of these shocks.

Currently, I am undertaking research on the Digital Agricultural Revolution and its impact on economic and workforce development. Specifically, my research seeks to identify and understand the immediate, mid-range, and long-term economic and labor market impacts of pervasive, intelligent, and autonomous agricultural robotics and digital technologies (including Artificial Intelligence or AI) in the specialty crop and fresh-fruit tree crop sectors in California, Washington, and other states. I am also exploring the implications such tools present for the trajectories of local and regional economies in which these sectors are embedded. The goal of this work is to assist in preparing the future farm and agricultural workplace, its labor force, as well as economic and workforce development systems that support these sectors for the uptake and integration of these emerging technologies in ways that effectively and equitably improve long-term productivity and overall economic and labor market outcomes. This work also supports economic and workforce development policy learning, design, and implementation.

As a scholar, I have built my career on three concepts: rigor, relevance, and reach. First, my research seeks to build empirical scholarly knowledge in my academic fields of public policy, industrial relations, regional studies, and economic development (rigor). Second, my work aims to develop innovative ways to apply this knowledge to contemporary socioeconomic conditions and offer insight for policymakers and stakeholders to place their experiences into larger societal and economic perspectives and direct efforts more strategically (relevance). Third, my scholarship seeks to build partnerships with and extend knowledge to leaders in the government and non-profit sectors to inform policy decisions and debates nationally and globally (reach).

My research has been funded by multiple government agencies and foundations including National Science Foundation, Ford Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Labor, The State of California, the University of California Office of the President, National Institute for Food and Agriculture, the Norwegian Research Council, the German Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. For more information on my research or teaching please refer to the Research Projects and Teaching pages.