North Sound Connecting Sound Connecting Communities Project -
Western Washington University

Western Washington University
NSCCP - WCOG Collaboration

In August 2003 the Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG) and Western Washington University (WWU) entered into a collaborative research agreement involving a grant received from the Federal Transit Administration (USDOT-FTA) addressing the need for an Intermodal Connections and Commuter Study within the northern Puget Sound.   

The WWU grant, administered through Dean Brad Smith of the Huxley College of the Environment, funds two graduate students, Steve Rybolt and Cari  McMullin within the Environmental Studies program to investigate and research transportation issues relating to commuting and travel in Island, Skagit, Whatcom, San Juan, and north Snohomish Counties.  Preston Schiller, adjunct faculty in Canadian-American Studies and member of the North Sound Connection Communities Project acts as the primary liaison between the two entities and directs the research focus of the graduate students. Gordon Rogers, Deputy Director and Planning Director at the Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG), oversees the administration of the whole study. 

Western Washington University
Huxley College of the Environment
Whatcom Council of Governments

Brad Smith, Huxley College of the Environment - Principle Investigator
Brad.Smith@wwu.edu
Huxley College of the Environment

Brad Smith is Dean of Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University.  He received his doctorate in Natural Resources and Environment from University of Michigan, and has taught extensive courses in Biology and Political Science at the Air Force Institute of Technology and University of Michigan.  Currently he is the:

Dr. Smith also served as an appointed member of President Clinton's Council for Sustainable Development (Education Task Force).  His most recent publications include:

In his spare time, Dr. Smith enjoys hunting, fishing, canoeing, antiques, reading, travel, and moderately priced red wines.  Most of all, he enjoys his weekends and all the free-time he can get

Preston Schiller, Liaison between NSCCP and Huxley College
preston@cc.wwu.edu
Huxley College of the Environment

Preston Schiller is an adjunct faculty in Canadian-American Studies at Western Washington University.  He received his doctorate in Sociology from Washington University (St. Louis), and teaches courses in Transportation Planning and environmental issues for Huxley College of the Environment.  He has worked on the Washington State and United States Clean Air Acts and federal and state transportation legislation with environmental coalitions and served on numerous state and regional transportation planning and policy committees and task forces, including the Governor’s Commute Trip Reduction Task Force.  His publications include: 

Currently Preston is a consultant on transportation planning and policy issues for the North Sound Connecting Communities Project.  In his spare time Preston enjoys hiking local trails in the Bellingham region.

Gordon Rogers, Whatcom Council of Governments Oversight
gordon@wcog.org
Whatcom Council of Governments

Gordon Rogers is the Deputy Director and Planning Director at the Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG).  He has studied at the University of Minnesota, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Whatcom Community College, Western Washington University, and is currently enrolled in a Masters in Organizational Leadership program at Gonzaga University.  He has a broad transportation background in public and private sectors as well as military, with early product and service experience in ground and air transportation.  Currently, Gordon is the chair for the International Mobility and Trade Corridor project (IMTC), a cross-border, bi-national, transportation planning and project implementation toward efficient trade and security.   

Gordon was a career U.S. Army Reservist in Avaition until he retired in 1996 as a U.S. Army Reserve Lieutentant Colonel.  In his spare time he enjoys partaking in “good” local government, home building, aviation, rare book collecting, classis cars, and playing with his grandchildren. 

Steve Rybolt, Graduate Research Assistant
rybolts@cc.wwu.edu
Huxley College of the Environment

Steve Rybolt is a graduate student at Western Washington University studying Geography, specifically resource management and environmental policy, at Huxley College of the Environment. He received his undergraduate degree from Western Washington University in Economics and Environmental Policy.  His research interests include transboundary air quality management, specifically addressing mobile emission sources within the Georgia Basin/Puget Sound region.  His background includes a wide variety of disciplines including environmental law, economics, geographic information systems (GIS), air policy, environmental enforcement and compliance, program management, and internet web design.  

When Steve is not engulfed in the academic world, he is outside “playing”, usually climbing some remote peak in the North Cascades or racing sailboats.  His fancy for the outdoors and love for adventures have taken him throughout North America and the world.  Steve also enjoys teaching; he has taught numerous classes on sailing, team management, navigation, climbing, CPR/First Aid, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and classes at Western Washington University.  Steve is also the founding member Western Washington University's Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association. 

Cari McMullin, Graduate Research Assistant
 cari_lynette@yahoo.com
Huxley College of the Environment

Cari McMullin is a graduate student at Western Washington University studying Geography at Huxley College of the Environment. She received her undergraduate degree at University of Maryland in Business Administration.  Her research interests include urban geography; specifically children's mobility, growth management and transportation demand management in Bellingham. Her background spans a wide variety of disciplines including marketing, non-profit program management, database design/administration, and wild land fire education.

Cari spends her free time admiring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest by backpacking, mountain biking, and competing in local multi-sport events including Ski-to-Sea, the Bellingham Traverse, and the Lake Padden Triathlon.