In March 2023, Kaplan gave his Past-President’s address calling for greater inclusion in the field of Geography.
[6] In addition to being a Councilor for the American Geographical Society (AGS),[7] he has been the National Co-director of the Race, Ethnicity, and Place Conferences since 2022.
[1] Kaplan founded and has since directed Kent State University's Environmental Studies Program starting in fall 2017.
[14] This book was praised by Alexander C. Deiner as "core reading" for those interested in the topic[15] and commended for its comprehensive approach, as well as its ability to present new insights.
Tamás Illés said that it is most successful "in weaving together wholly different place contexts around a clear-cut lens of investigation,"[16] whereas Kofi Johnson noted that the book's strength is its "theoretical scope".
[19] Kaplan has made contributions to the literature on ethnic segregation, examining the social and geographical dimensions of group formation and distribution, analyzing the underlying processes and significance, and proposing a framework for further study.
Carlos Teixeira called this book a "rich, well-organized manuscript" that offers an "impressive in-depth analysis of important global concepts..."[21] His work has also focused on how ethnic economies shape urban landscapes by assessing their impact on neighborhood identity and presenting research on their significant role in providing goods and services to local communities.