I have been a professor of food history at The University of Texas at Austin where I taught for 13 years. I am also an author of four books, a producer of three documentary films, and numerous articles and blogs. I love adventure, am motivated by curiosity, and am particularly excited now to connect my various experiences to build community and collaborative communities of artists and scientists. Storytelling is my passion.
My books include The Humans in Our Food, Food Routes, Meat, Commerce and the City, and The New Wizard War. I wrote for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, and Science. My films with director Ian Cheney are The Long Coast, The Arc of Oblivion and Shelf Life.
My past careers include publishing with Sunset Magazine and strategic planning with Arthur D. Little, Inc. I founded a working conservation farm, Kelmscott Rare Breeds Farm in Maine where I conserved heritage livestock for ten years. I have led several projects related to entrepreneurship and startups.
I received my BA in American Studies from The University of Michigan and a MA and PhD from Boston University in History, with a concentration in Modern European food history. I am also and have run across six deserts, climbed mountains, and generally like a good challenge.