Welcome to my website. Here you can find information about me, my research, and teaching. 

I am currently an Assistant Teaching Professor at Arizona State University's School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership (SCETL), and have had the privilege of working at several universities, each with incredible faculty and students who have taught me more than I can convey. I was a Lecturer at University of Houston — Victoria (2021-2022), Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas (2017-2020), Visiting Lecturer at Southern Methodist University (2018), Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas (2012-2017), and Lead Editorial Assistant for the American Political Science Review (2015-2016).

My PhD in Political Science was earned from the University of North Texas in 2021. My dissertation analyzed Francis Bacon's New Atlantis with an eye to the religious, scientific, and political promises and reforms necessitated by the modern scientific enterprise. I have previously earned a MA in Political Science from Boston College (2010) and a BA in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy (PTCD) from James Madison College, a residential public affairs school at Michigan State University (2008). The PTCD major was called Justice, Morality, and Constitutional Democracy until it was modified and renamed in 1991. As a consequence, I have some understanding of justice and morality, but a certification in neither – a lack which I quietly lament.

My teaching interests are broad, falling primarily in ancient and modern political philosophy, and American political institutions and behavior. My research currently focuses on early modern political philosophy as it intersects with religion, science & technology, and American political practice. Beyond my present focus, I have fairly broad academic interests and occasionally take refuge from the turmoil of the modern era in the turmoil of ancient Greek political thought. I fully intend (some day) to make some progress toward understanding the relationship between politics and comedy (particularly in the thought of Aristophanes), which is a long-neglected interest. 

Apart from my academic interests and experiences, I have performed a number of different jobs. At age 8 I began to deliver the free local newspaper to my neighborhood, often with help from my parents and the neighbors' van. Papers were delivered on time. Usually. I was later employed as a locker room attendant at a golf course, where my duties included shining shoes, washing towels, and selling overpriced items to members who had forgotten theirs at home or in the car. After only one year of service, I was promoted to "Main Man," which meant that among the "lads" Mr. Taylor, the locker room manager, employed as subcontractors I was given the first choice of when I would work. I continued in this position through my senior year of high school when, after Mr. Taylor's unfortunate passing, I would rush to the course after school to polish the shoes which had been left for me throughout the day and train the new locker room manager. I was also allowed to play golf for free, and have not been as good a player since (though I choose to blame the clubs). I served as an intern for the Michigan Senate for longer than required for my degree, and upon my eventual departure was awarded a bust of George Washington by the office manager. The bust is, in fact, a bottle of Avon "Deep Woods" cologne which is a fairly offensive scent but the object is otherwise cherished. There were also several administrative, service sector, and data management positions for which I was largely unqualified before acquiring the necessary skills on the job. All of my employers have been excellent people with and for whom to work, and for that I consider myself more than lucky. My early childhood dream of becoming a skiing mailman has not been realized and likely never will be insofar as I cannot ski and mail routes are neither consistently downhill nor snow-covered.

I have personal interests in television, music, literature, film, sartorialism, comedy, and unique or interesting mechanical design. I am also an ardent supporter of Punxsutawney Phil. All other (alleged) weather-prognosticating groundhogs are pretenders to his throne.