Charles Starks researches theories and practices of heritage, preservation, and planning in the context of urban society and culture. His current project is examining how heritage sites and policies reflect and influence interpretations of China and beliefs about Chineseness. Charles possesses a master’s degree in city planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master of arts in East Asian regional studies from Columbia University. He has worked as a city planner in the United States and Canada and taught urban studies for eight years at the City University of New York. His most recent project was a monograph examining the legacy of George McAneny, a civic leader who contended with Robert Moses over planning and preservation policy in New York in the first half of the 20th century. Charles is fluent in English and Mandarin.