He has taught classes such as Field Botany, General Botany, Ethnobotany, Medicinal Plants, and Conservation Biology. His research interests include ethnobotany, ecology, plant conservation, Tongan medical ethnobotany, community-mediated conservation of the sandalwood tree, and Appalachian ethnobotany. He currently leads the Southern Appalachian Maple Research Activities (SAMaRA) Team of researchers and community members, whose aim is to conserve sugar maple, assess alternative maple species for sugaring in the region, and to increase awareness of maple ecology, conservation, and socio-economic potential through research and educational activities.