Born: Oxford, England (but family moved while I was still very young)

First memories: Sioux Center, Iowa (US)
Our family lived here for 13 years (while father taught at Dordt College)

Back to Canada:In 1982 my family moved to Hamilton, Ontario (while father taught at Redeemer College)

University years: Ancaster and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
with significant field experiences in Presqu'ile Provincial Park (on the north shore of Lake Ontario)

Bay of Fundy: 1998 short (but memorable) stay in Sackville, New Brunswick for a short post-doc in a salt marsh

Grand Rapids, MI: 1999 move to Grand Rapids to teach at Calvin College

1991-1999:
Graduate studies and post-doctorate research: I spent part of each year on the north shore of Lake Ontario studying the processes which make winter winds a dominant agent of landform change on the Presqu'ile Beach and coastal dunes.

2000-present (Calvin College years):
Long-term study: Along with Calvin students, I am measuring rates of sediment transport by wind and coastal dune change at a Lake Michigan field site in P.J. Hoffmaster State Park.
Other projects include:
Collaboration with Hope College study of an active dune near Holland, MI.
Summer studies (with students) of several Ottawa County dunes to provide information for specific management questions.
A pilot project (with a student) to develop a method for creating a Dune Features Inventory for west Michigan dunes.

Is available on the Lake Michigan Coastal Dune website.
The website includes sections on student researchers and publications, including copies of some study results.

Geog/Geol 120 Earth Systems (most semesters)
Geog/IDIS 191 Introductory Meteorology (every other spring: '08, '10, etc.)
Geog/Geol 311 Geomorphology (every fall)
Geol 312 Environmental Geology (every other spring: '08, '10, etc.)
Geog/Geol 322 Coastal Geomorphology (every other spring: '09, '11, etc.)
I've also taught courses on Coasts, Sand Dunes, Climate Change, and Glacial Geomorphology.

Dunes: Any dune is fascinating, but Lake Michigan has some spectacular dunes.
Coasts: These are some of the most dynamic environments on earth.
Winter/Cold Regions:Too many people miss out on wonderful things because they avoid the cold.
Fieldwork: To really understand geomorphology, you need to spend time with the landforms and processes.
Teaching: Geography is a great discipline and it's a privilege to be able to share.
Fieldtrips: What better way is there to experience geography!
(Undergraduate) Student Research: Students have the hands-on opportunity to learn and contribute to advancing knowledge.
Canada: Spectacular landscapes. Wonderful people. (And real winters, hockey, short elections, consistent metric use, Tim Horton's, poutine....) What's not to like?