John Christ

John Christ is the Community and Economic Development Field Specialist in Merrimack County. He provides community and economic development planning assistance and project implementation support that builds community and regional leaders’ capacity to grow and sustain the economy and strengthen communities. His areas of focus include Main Street vibrancy, housing, community planning, and regional collaboration on plans and projects.<br /><br />John comes to the UNH Cooperative Extension with extensive experience in higher education, most recently at Plymouth State University where he taught courses in the social sciences and worked as a PI for a National Park Service project to produce an ethnographic assessment of Lowell, MA. He holds a PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s School of Architecture and Planning and a BA in Art History from CUNY Queens College.<br /><br />In his community, John serves on the Plymouth Planning Board, Lakes Region Planning Commission, and on the Board of Directors for the Plymouth Historical Society and has collaborated in various capacities with other local organizations. Outside these roles, you might find him in his kitchen looking for new culinary adventures or out and about canoeing, cycling, skiing, and exploring the towns and historic sites of New Hampshire.