About Me

EDUCATION

• Ph.D., Geography, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 2000
• M.A., Geography, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 1992
• M.A., Population Studies, United Nations Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 1990
• B.A. (Hons), Geography with Archeology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 1987

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Public sector reforms
• African development policy
• Globalization and economic development in Africa
• Planning in developing countries
• Environmental planning & sustainable development
• Community economic development
• Planning methods & GIS

PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

• 2007 – Present: Associate Professor, Community & Regional Planning, Iowa State University

• 2001 - 2007: Assistant Professor, Community & Regional Planning, Iowa State University

• 2000 – 2001: Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science & Geography, Seattle Pacific University

• 1998 – 2000: Research Analyst, Minnesota Planning

• Sept 1997– Dec 1997: Adjunct Faculty, Department of Geography, University of St. Thomas

• 1994 – 1995: International Student Advisor, International Student & Scholar Services, University of Minnesota

• 1992 - 2000: Instructor/Teaching Assistant, Department of Geography, University of Minnesota

• 1990 – 1992: Teaching Assistant, Department of Geography, Carleton University

• 1987 – 1990: Research Assistant, Population Impact Project, University of Ghana, Legon

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Editorial activities

• Guest editor, Special issue on “Opportunities and Challenges for Development in Africa” in GeoJournal: An International Journal of Human Geography and Environmental Sciences Vol. 62, No.1-2, 2005

• Editorial Board Member & editor for Africa, PlacesOnLine – an online project of the Association of American Geographers that bring together virtual online publications about "real" places

Offices held in professional organizations

• Chairperson, (elected position) Africa Specialty Group, Association of American Geographers, (2005 – 2008)

• Member of Board of Directors, (elected position), Economic Geography Specialty Group, Association of American Geographers, (2005 – 2007)

• Member of Board of Directors, (elected position), Africa Specialty Group, Association of American Geographers, (2002 – 2005)

• Student Director (elected position), Africa Specialty Group, Association of American Geographers, (1996-1999)

AWARDS & HONORS

• 2006 Polster Teaching Award Recipient, College of Design, Iowa State University – Competitive award given to one faculty member in the College of Design each year for teaching excellence, April, 2006

• Best Economic Geography Dissertation Award, Economic Geography Specialty Group, Association of American Geographers, 2001.

• Certificate of Commendation from the Governor of Minnesota, Honorable Jesse Ventura for developing the Minnesota Progress Indicator, August 2000.

• Best Africa Geography Student Paper Award, Africa Specialty Group, Association of American Geographers, 1999.

• Dissertation Fellowship, Department of Geography, University of Minnesota. Winter, 1997.

• Summer Fellowship, Department of Geography, University of Minnesota. Summer, 1993.

• Passed with Distinction, MA Dissertation, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 1992.

• Neil Huckvale Memorial Scholarship, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 1991/92.

• Carleton University Graduate Students Scholarship, 1990-92.

• Distinctions in all courses, United Nations Regional Institute for Population Studies, Ghana, 1990.

• Distinction in MA Dissertation, United Nations Regional Institute for Population Studies, Ghana, 1990.

• United Nations Fellowship, United Nations Regional Institute for Population Studies, Ghana, 1989-90.