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Gary is an associate professor and extension specialist in the Department of Community and Regional Planning. He publishes, conducts workshops, pursues projects, and provides assistance to citizens and government officials related to land use planning and land use law. His “Planning and Zoning for Local Officials” workshops reach more than 350 local decision-makers annually and his publication, ‘The Iowa Land Use Planning Notebook,” has become an essential resource for elected and appointed officials involved in the planning and zoning process. Through his blog, The Midwest Planning BLUZ, presentations to professional organizations, and assistance to Iowa community leaders, he keeps the planning community of Iowa and surrounding states current on legal matters and practice issues in land use.

Gary joined Iowa State in 2004. Previously he was the extension state and local government specialist in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Michigan State University. Before joining academia, he was an associate planner for the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, a planning consultant in Seattle, and an attorney in Portland, Ore. He has received awards from the American Planning Association and the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals for his programming and service to Iowa communities. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He holds a law degree from the University of Nebraska and a Masters in Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University.