I'm an Associate Professor of History at the University of Washington in Seattle, where I write and teach about politics, cities, and technology in the modern United States and around the world. My book,Cities of Knowledge: Cold War Science and the Search for the Next Silicon Valley, explored how Silicon Valley came to be and what the Cold War had to do with it. I've also authored book chapters, articles, and commentary about the modern Presidency, high-tech entrepreneurship, urbanism, and the history and economics of American higher education. 

In addition to my scholarly work, I advise business leaders, elected officials, and cultural organizations on the history and contemporary dynamics of innovation economies. At the UW, I offer undergraduate and graduate courses on modern America, urban history, political history, and economic history.  I received my MA/PhD in History from the University of Pennsylvania and my BA from Northwestern.

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