Education
Ph.D., Human Ecology: Civil Society and Community Research | University of Wisconsin–Madison
M.A., Higher Education and Student Affairs | University of Connecticut
B.S.B., Public & Nonprofit Management and Entrepreneurial Management | University of Minnesota Twin-Cities
Biography
Garret Zastoupil, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Community and Regional Planning at Appalachian State University. His work bridges academic research and practical community engagement to explore how rural and resource-dependent communities can design and plan for resilient, sustainable futures.
Prior to joining App State, Dr. Zastoupil served as an Assistant Professor of Sustainable Rural Economic Development at Northland College—the first college in the United States to integrate environmental studies into its liberal arts curriculum. He also worked as a Regional Community Development Educator with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension, where he partnered directly with local governments and community coalitions on strategic planning, public engagement, and leadership development.
Research & Current Projects
Dr. Zastoupil’s research centers on grassroots organizing, participatory planning, and economic transitions in rural and natural-resource-rich communities across the Global North.
Book Manuscript: He is currently developing his dissertation into a book manuscript, Powering Down the Plains, which examines the barriers and opportunities for building sustainable local economies in Western U.S. coal communities.
Rural Recreation Communities: His ongoing research investigates how amenity-rich rural towns build consensus—or navigate contestation—around local planning goals, specifically focusing on the dynamics between long-term residents and semi-permanent populations.
Research Interests
Power and Governance
Rural Planning & Development
Community Economic Development
Participatory Processes & Grassroots Organizing
Solidarity Economies
Teaching
- PLN 2410: Town, City, and Regional Planning
- PLN 4030/5030: Planning for Climate Resilience
- PLN 4700: Planning Studio
Selected Publications
Zastoupil, G., & McCrank, E. (2026). Strategic Planning for Wisconsin Counties: Focusing Resources for Impact. Wisconsin Counties Magazine (September 2026).
Jacobs, F., Harrington, E., Lyles, W., Tirado-Herrero, S., Yacamán-Ochoa, C., Ruiz-Rivas, U., Zastoupil, G., … Hendawy, M. (2024). Just Energy Transitions. Planning Theory & Practice, 25(4), 569–596. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649357.2024.2407697
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Geography and Planning
Email address: Email me