LINKS Eastern Michigan University Department of Geography and Geology Urban & Regional Planning           Robert Ward Professor of Urban & Regional Planning (Retired) Department of Geography and Geology  205 Strong Hall  Eastern Michigan University  Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197 Office: Strong Hall Phone: (734) 487-8488  Email: rward@emich.edu Robert M. Ward (Rocky) teaches courses and conducts research in urban and regional planning. He was one of three department members who founded the undergraduate planning degree major and minor and the graduate degree planning concentration during the mid-1970s. His specialization within the department is rural planning with an emphasis on growth management. Professor Ward received an AB in geology and soil science at Earlham College (Indiana), a master's degree in geography at Indiana University, and his Ph.D. in geography at the University of Michigan. Professor Ward, who received a national alumni teaching excellence award at EMU, has been active in research and consulting activity for more than twenty-five years. His publications have appeared in environmental, geography, and planning related journals. His current research pertains to land value taxation. Included among his articles are publications that focus on the infrastructure of Shanghai, PRC, which is his primary international regional interest. During the recent years, Professor Ward has been active in local community and state planning committees and commissions. Within the Department of Geography and Geology, Professor Ward served as geography graduate student advisor for approximately 20 years before retiring in 2003.