He earned a doctorate in sociology and anthropology from the University of Kansas.
He joined the University of Minnesota faculty in the late 1960s, retiring in June 2014. He had most recently served as associate professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development in the College of Education and Human Development. He called himself a "futurist". He was passionate about preparing his students for a future with emerging technologies and challenges.
He passed away in 2016.