About Me

Hobbies and Interests

Growing up in Alabama, I was always outside playing various sports and games—football, basketball, soccer, kick-the-can, volleyball, you name it. I coached high school soccer for two years in undergrad.
To that end, I still enjoy the occasional pick-up game as well as spectating. I am huge Alabama football fan (ROLL TIDE!), and a proud graduate from the University of Alabama.
You'll also catch me playing chess at my desk, both out of habit in the morning and procrastination.

To my friends, I am known as the "movie guy". I love watching movies and you'll catch me randomly quoting and referencing random movies. I don't like horror movies at all, but I watch pretty much everything else. My comfort TV shows that I cycle through are The Big Bang Theory, Friends, White Collar, Psych, and Leverage.

Why Physics?

Why Higher Education?

I was born with a rare neurological speech disorder, and it has shaped who I am today in a tangible way. So much so that it was my capstone project for my liberal arts minor at UA (you can read about it here), the Blount Scholars Program. In short, it has shaped the way I connect with people, and that connection is something I greatly enjoy.
It is this connection that draws me to teaching in higher ed. It brings me such joy and satisfaction when you see the idea click behind the students' eyes. The impact you can make on a student by extending compassion is game changing, and I know I can make a real difference for the better.

Throughout my studies, I have accrued various experiences in administration and student government. Even though this is more hands off than teaching, I have learned that you can make an impact that extends beyond your interactions through advocacy and improving the system to prioritize students' learning while accounting for their varied experiences.
This can be in the form of systemically updating curricula to account for best practices as they evolve, accounting for a wholistic perspective of workload for a student, as well as creating an environment that the students (and staff and faculty) feel heard, safe, and welcome; it is when a community reflects these traits that you get a truly transparent unit.

Culminating these two passions, I feel called to higher education. I can, want to, and will make a difference.