Practice+Partnership

My work focuses on building and sustaining applied climate and sustainability efforts that connect research expertise with real-world decision-making. I collaborate across universities, government agencies, utilities, national laboratories, and nonprofit organizations to design initiatives that respond to place-based challenges and deliver public value.

Rather than working through short-term or transactional engagements, I am most effective when embedded in longer-horizon efforts—helping align institutional capacities, coordinate partners with different incentives, and support implementation over time.

How I Work

Across applied climate and sustainability efforts, I emphasize:

• Institutional alignment
  Helping organizations work together productively despite differences in mission, culture, and timelines.

• Partnership development
  Building relationships grounded in trust, shared purpose, and clearly articulated roles.

• Translation and accessibility
  Making technical research, data, and analysis usable for policymakers, practitioners, and non-expert audiences.

• Continuity and durability
  Designing initiatives that persist beyond individual projects, grants, or leadership changes.

This approach reflects my belief that climate action depends as much on institutions and relationships as it does on technical solutions.

Current and recent projects

Institute for Energy Solutions (University of Arizona)

As Director, I oversee initiatives that connect faculty expertise with cities, utilities, national laboratories, and public agencies to advance climate, energy, and resilience work. This includes convening collaborators, structuring funding, and supporting interdisciplinary teams working on implementation-focused projects.

Resilient & Efficient Code Implementation (U.S. Department of Energy)

I contributed to multi-jurisdictional efforts translating building science into guidance, training, and adoption strategies, working with state and local governments, technical experts, and professional organizations.

Completing the Circuit (NREL)

I co-authored a nationally scoped analysis connecting building decarbonization, workforce development, and grid-interactive efficient buildings, producing frameworks intended to inform policy, utility planning, and professional practice.

Symposium on Building Energy Research & Building Innovation Connections

I developed and convened national gatherings that brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to align perspectives on building decarbonization, resilience, and innovation.

Comfort at the Extremes Conference

I currently lead development of CATE 2026, a national conference advancing thermal safety, climate resilience, and energy systems under conditions of extreme heat and cold.

How I approach public engagement, communication, and collaboration

An important part of my work involves communication beyond expert audiences. I write and speak for public and professional audiences on climate, energy, buildings, and the social dimensions of technological change, with the goal of supporting informed decision-making and long-term climate action.

Much of my work sits between institutions, where progress depends less on technical breakthroughs than on coordination, trust, and follow-through.