The Accidental Professor My career began by creating websites and interactive media for a variety of national and international organizations. When asked to return to my alma mater to teach some introductory courses, I was hooked on the energy and vibe of the classroom and shifted gears so I could teach the majority of the time. Now I spend most of my days "in the trenches" with my students - learning emerging technologies and industry trends right along with them - and teaching them how to apply these tools to solve professional challenges.

Currently, I am a Senior Lecturer (and alum!) in the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI where I teach courses related to software development. I tend to view every classroom as a laboratory environment and am continuously introducing new technology, corporate-oriented challenges, and active teaching methods that I believe will engage learners. I want to ensure that my students have an industry-centric perspective in everything they do. I’m far more concerned with the approach students take to arrive at their answer than a comparison of their answer against mine. I have created a classroom environment that supports these interactions, and I feel I learn from my students every bit as much as I attempt to teach them.

I also spend a significant amount of time working with my fellow faculty members to help them infuse their courses with tools that will aid in student learning, retention, and engagement. I want all students to have the opportunity for significant learning experiences and I believe that faculty can make serious impacts with some simple perspective shifts and the integration of technology that meets the students where they are.

Professionally, I do consulting work for a number of clients who seek to move their businesses forward by incorporating technical solutions that solve everyday challenges. I prefer simple solutions that have a longer shelf life than chasing every flash-in-the-pan platform I can find. I enjoy the opportunity to keep my feet firmly planted in both the academic and business worlds.

Experience

Education