Robert has moonlighted as a themer and site builder for Development Seed for years. He finally joined the team full-time in Fall 2008 to help guide our mapping and data visualization projects.

Robert has held technology and research positions at a number of progressive organizations, including the World Resources Institute, the Smithsonian, and Chicago’s Center for Neighborhood Technology. His responsibilities have varied and included GIS, policy research, data analysis, and communications strategy. He draws from this diversity of experience to help quickly identify needs, flesh out user stories, and fine tune workflows on the projects he works on.

Robert attended graduate school in the central valley of Costa Rica. While there, he worked for the Nectandra Institute collecting economic data and using maps as facilitation tools for developing community based land management plans. This gave him a passion for low-tech options and finding simple solutions to complex problems.

Robert holds Master’s Degrees in International Affairs and Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University and the United Nations University for Peace.