About Me

I am Josh O’Conner, I currently work as a Planner III/Zoning Administrator in Western NC.  My educational background includes an A.A.S. in Computer Information Systems, an A.A. in Geospatial Technology, an A.A. in Communications, a B.S. in Environmental Studies, a B.A. in Sociology, a M.A. in Geography (with a concentration in Urban and Regional Planning), and a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Project Management.  I also hold credentials as a Certified Floodplain Manager and Low Impact Development as well as accreditation from the Congress for New Urbanism.  I'm currently pursuing the MA in Conflict and Peace Studies at UNC Greensboro while working through a Masters in Project Mangement at Western Carolina University.  My ultimate career goal is to hone a set of generalist skills that will allow me to work with large-scale community development projects from an urban planning perspective.

My most prominent goal, with respect to conflict and peace studies, is to continue building upon my knowledge acquired through my education as an urban planner and my experience working in various planning capacities in order to develop new approaches in handling land use conflicts.  I want to use the skills garnered through this program to extend out beyond the community in which I live in order to assist others in developing approaches utilize collaborative decision making.  While looking for solutions to conflict at a global scale is an ideal endeavor, I think we have to also work to understand conflict even at the most local level so that we can all experience our lives in as fulfilling a manner as possible.

I have a wife (Stephanie) and two little girls (Samara – 3 years next month and Eila – 19 months).  In terms of personal interests and hobbies, I am very interested in community issues.  I stay busy with neighborhood issues, volunteering on community advisory boards, and working on local veterans initiatives.  I enjoy gardening (for food) on our small urban plot.  We are up to six chickens and six ducks right now on our “farm” right now and we’ve got plants shoved in every nook and cranny.  I also occasionally do freelance writing and manuscript reviews on a variety of planning, sustainability, and community development issues. I am currently working as the Senior Built Environment Editor for the online magazine Urban Times (theurbn.com).