After his Army discharge in 1971, Phelan returned to New York City where he accepted a position at Pratt Institute, a professional art, design and architecture school where he remained for almost 20 years in various academic and administrative capacities.  In the early 1980's he was appointed to the New York Vietnam Veterans Commission by then Mayor Edward Koch and served as chair of the Jury for the selection of the New York City Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  For his service in Vietnam he was awarded, among others, the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals.

Since 1992 he has lived in Norman, Oklahoma where he held a number of positions at the University of Oklahoma until his retirement in 2009.