About Me

Education

• Ph.D., Geography, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 2000
  Dissertation: Urban Livelihood Strategies, Institutional Efficiency and Economic Reform in Ghana
• M.A., Geography, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 1992
  Thesis: Regional Inequality in Development and Migration in Ghana (Awarded a Distinction)
• M.A., Population Studies, United Nations Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 1990
  Thesis: Internal Migration and Development in Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana (Awarded a Distinction)
• B.A. (Hons), Geography with Archeology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 1987

Research Interests

• Capacity Building & Public sector reforms
• Globalization & development in Africa
• China & US policies in Africa
• Urban Livelihoods and Planning in Africa
• Urban Food Systems & sustainable development
• Socio-economic determinants of HIV/AIDS

Positions at Iowa State University

• Professor, Community & Regional Planning, 2012–Present

• Director of Graduate Education (DOGE), Community & Regional Planning, 2008-present

• Affiliated Faculty, African and African American Studies Program, 2007-present

• Affiliated Faculty, Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture, 2003-present

• Associate Professor, Community & Regional Planning, 2007–12

• Assistant Professor, Community & Regional Planning, 2001– 07

Other Professional Positions

• Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science & Geography, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA 2000–01

• Research Analyst, Environmental Quality Board, Minnesota Planning, State of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 1998–2000:

• Adjunct Faculty, Department of Geography, University of St. Thomas, St Paul, Fall 1997

• International Student Advisor, International Student & Scholar Services, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 1994–95

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

• Teaching Assistant, Department of Geography, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 1990–92

• Research Assistant, Population Impact Project, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 1987–90

Selected Professional Activities

Selected editorial activities

• Guest Editor, Progress in Development Studies, (forthcoming) special issue theme: “Beyond the ‘posts’ in African development discourse: exploring real solutions to Africa’s problems” (co-authors: B. Ikubolajeh Logan and Ezekiel Kalipeni),

• Editorial Board Member and Editor for the African Region, PlacesOnLine – an online project of the Association of American Geographers that brings together virtual online publications about "real" places, 2002–11

• Guest Editor, Geojournal: An International Journal of Human Geography and Environmental Sciences, special issue theme: “Opportunities and Challenges for Development in Africa” Vol. 62, No.1-2, 2005

Selected Offices held in professional organizations

• Distinguished External Reference Group member, Capacity Development for Natural Resources Management, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Harare, Zimbabwe (2012-13)

• Distinguished External Reference Group member, Africa Capacity Development for Agricultural transformation and Food Security, ACBF, Harare, Zimbabwe (2011-12)

• Member, Technical Advisory Panel and Network (TAPNETs), ACBF, Harare, Zimbabwe. (2011 – present)

• Distinguished External Reference Group member, Capacity Development in Fragile States, African Capacity Building Foundation, ACBF, Harare, Zimbabwe (2010-11)

• Member, International Advisory Board of Techiman Heritage Trust, Techiman Traditional Council, Techiman, Ghana (2009-present)

• Fulbright Specialist Scholar Roster, December 2008-Present.

• Member, International Research and Scholar Exchange Committee, Association of American Geographers (AAG), 2007-08

• Chairperson, (elected position) Africa Specialty Group, AAG, (2005 – 2008)

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

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

• Student Director (elected position), Africa Specialty Group, AAG, (1996-1999)

Selected Awards & Honors

• Wakonse Fellow, Wakonse Conference on College Teaching, May 22-27, 2008.

• Memorable Teacher Award, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Iowa State University, March, 2007. Students nominate inspiring teachers who encourage and help them succeed for this award.

• 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, 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.