He graduated from Binghamton University with a Ph.D. in 2002 and his research focuses on ethics and public policy, environmental ethics, and social and political philosophy. Sheppard has had several works published on a wide range of topics including architecture and sustainability. His forthcoming books, Rethinking Cities and Heartland Green: An Environmental History of Kansas City (coauthored with Dr. John Herron), are breakthroughs in the fields of urban environmentalism and history. Sheppard, who has been a professor at UMKC for 10 years, is an instructor for some of UMKC’s introductory philosophy and ethics classes and has been an active member in the Kansas City community servicing KCPD and The Environmental Protection Agency.