Hobbies?
Hiking, cycling and cooking.
Pets?
One dog, Molly; and one cat, Charlotte.
Heroes growing up?
I admired my undergraduate advisor. He was a world-renowned scholar in his field, but never acted like it. I appreciated that the most about him.
Favorite place to visit or vacation?
Germany and Ireland.
Most
underappreciated aspect of planning?
Data analysis is a really important part of planning that does not always get the recognition it should. Design and policy are routinely taught in planning school without a lot of emphasis on quantitative analysis. Data helps inform policy makers and design experts about the planning needs of a community.
Most important recent trend in planning?
The return to more urban neighborhoods has been an important trend in recent years. The trend has led to investments in alternative modes of transportation (trails, multi-use paths, better transit), as well as economic development opportunities in urban areas.
What is the best-planned city in America?
What draws me to a city is its transit system. So, Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C., are three of my favorites, but I don’t believe they are necessarily the best planned cities.
If you could change one thing about the way Indianapolis has grown over the years, what would it be?
The disinvestment in transit is what I would change. There were several decades where Indianapolis reduced the transit network. I’m glad it’s being addressed now.
