Evan came to planning after a career in book publishing, with stints at publishing houses in New York City and Boulder.  Working with authors on topics like environmental justice, segregation, and sustainability inspired him to pursue graduate school in planning.  Following his MURP (2013), Evan received his PhD in 2019 from the University of Washington.  His academic interests focus on individuals’ interactions with their environments and the concept of environmental stewardship, as well as film in the urban context.  At the University of Chicago, he teaches courses that explore the politics of public space, urban design, and participation, along with the core Sustainable Urban Development course and a popular new course on Pandemics, Urban Space, and Public Life.  He also leads a summer study abroad program to Berlin, Germany.  

A Colorado native, Evan returns regularly.  When not visiting friends and family on the Front Range and in mountain towns, he is cycling, backpacking, or working on climbing the Centennial Peaks, the 100 highest summits in the state (he’s currently at about 40).