Don is Director of Urban Design and Regional Engagement of the Remaking Cities Institute at Carnegie Mellon University where he is also Track Chair and teacher in the Master's program in the School of Architecture. Don was President of Urban Design Associates and continues to serve as consulting principal in the firm. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and the American Institute of Certified Planners, and a member of the Congress for New Urbanism and the Urban Land Institute. Don has lectured and
published internationally on urban design and architecture, and has served on the boards of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh Zoo, Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc., Pittsburgh Public Theatre, and La Roche College. Don earned his B.A. in Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University and did his post-graduate work at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)