Hometown
Lansing, Michigan

Area of research interest
Creating opportunities for people in the real estate built environment

Master’s degree
MS in Real Estate and the Built Environment, University of Denver, 2021

Bachelor’s degree
BA in Political Science, Hope College, Michigan, 2001

What are some of your hobbies?
Downhill skiing, mountain biking, reading

Where did/are you working while earning your PhD?
Real estate development focused on housing. My company, T.A. Forsberg, Inc., is located in Lansing, Michigan. Our purpose is to create economic opportunities for people using real estate as our tool. Our mission statement: “Enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve.” Our focus is knowing our job is not just about the real estate, but using the space to create the best living and working experiences for people.

What was your last position?
President, T.A. Forsberg, Inc.

Why have you decided to pursue a PhD?
Economic stratification is eroding the stability of many American communities. Better research needs to be done to inform policy, and give regenerative strategies to local communities. My focus is to create stronger connections with research and those within the built environment to realign economic growth with the living experiences for people. This is achieved through a systems approach within the ecological, social, built and financial capitals of local communities.

Why did you choose to get your PhD from the Daniels College of Business?
Creating opportunities for people in local communities is achieved by having a broad understanding of the complex interactions of governance, economic structures, social values, ecological functions, and scale and design of the structures people utilize within the places we call home. Daniels as a business college allows for opportunities to research across multiple disciplines. The Burns School of real estate within Daniels is one of the leading programs in the country focused on how real estate can be used to better serve communities.

What are your career goals or dream job after you complete your PhD?
I have my dream job now. I work within local communities around Michigan, and soon, other communities around the United States using real estate as a tool for creating growth and opportunity for people. My career goal with the PhD is to create a hub where universities, private businesses, community stakeholders, public officials and administrators can share ideas, resources and best practices for community growth. Growth focused on regenerating the local ecology, creating more local wealth and building the strong social connections communities need to thrive. The process starts making sure we are asking the right questions for what the intended outcomes are for each local community. Then, it is our job to align the relationships within local economic, social and ecological systems to make sure the intended outcomes emerge over time.