Biography

In his writings about what distinguishes people from other creatures in the natural world, Nietzsche once famously remarked that “man needs to know why he exists”. While it might be a touch too strong to say that psychology is my “why” for existing, I am proud to say, in earnest, that I enjoy the topic tremendously.

My interests in psychology and philosophy have long guided my teaching and research. As an undergraduate student at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, these dual interests were developed by a collection of thought-provoking books, quality research experiences and excellent professors. Ultimately, unresolved questions about ethics and moral judgment led me to pursue graduate school.

At the University of Toledo, where I completed my PhD in Experimental Psychology, I gained additional training in cognitive psychology to investigate questions about the mental processes thought to instantiate our moral judgments and beliefs. Fortunately, that training has also served as a foundation that allows me to teach and do research related to other topics, including consciousness, strategic reasoning, and even handedness.

Now, at Utah Valley University, I am excited to continue dealing with these topics in the classroom and beyond. On that point, I am always looking forward to conversations with students and colleagues about the mind or anything related to my favorite hobby horses (i.e., science fiction, strategy games or indie music). As such, my door is always open (in particular during office hours!) and my inbox is always ready for yet another note. This is all to say, if you are interested in joining forces on research or simply in having a conversation, I hope you will drop by.

Education

Teaching

Presentations

Scholarly/Creative Works

Awards