I was born and raised in suburban Philadelphia, and I graduated from Souderton Area High School. I spent the next four years studying at Taylor University in Upland, IN, and then moved to Raleigh, NC for graduate school at North Carolina State University. I married Dr. Amanda J. Mangum while in Raleigh, and after receiving our Ph.D. degrees we moved to suburban Buffalo, NY in 2014. In June 2019, we moved to the Greenville-Spartanburg, SC area.
DRUMMING AND OTHER INTERESTS
I am an avid drummer, having played with bands of various styles (mostly jazz) in Upland, Raleigh, Buffalo, and Greenville, as well as for several church worship bands. I am also a former member of the Historic CMC in downtown Buffalo. This hobby is largely what has led to my interest in the connections between math and music as described in my Secondary Research Areas.
My YouTube channel, "Open To Reason," contains videos with some of my other interests. In particular, in 2019, I released a solo album entitled Alpha and Omega. It is comprised entirely of drum solos which together are meant to convey the story of the Bible. If you would like a (free) copy, simply contact me. Special thanks to Gregg Juke and the Sonic Vault for making this album possible!
You can hear the entire album, complete with extensive liner notes, on YouTube, and you can find it on the streaming platforms. (If you don’t find your preferred platform at this link, go to that platform and search for my name with the album title; it’s likely you will find it there.) YouTube also has the individual tracks below:
If you would like more information about my drumming experience, please click here. Or, as always, feel free to contact me.
I am also actively involved in my church, and I enjoy playing sports, exercising, and spending time with my wife, family, and friends.
(Page last updated October 19, 2026.)