How did you become interested in bugs?
I took a course during my undergrad at the University of California at Irvine that introduced me to the world of insects. There I learned about careers in entomology and my interests began to fly from there.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?
Hiking and looking for insects is one of my favorites, just being outside and exploring is something I enjoy.

What is your favorite thing about Arkansas outdoors?
How diverse and large the insects are!

If you could convey only one idea to your students regarding the outdoors, what would it be? 
When it comes to the outdoors I would tell students to get out there and try to find the bugs. As you learn more about them, you can learn the good and the bad and to be less afraid. Students have told me after my course that they have changed their major to entomology or found a new passion for insects! That makes me very happy.

Where are you from originally and how did you get to Arkansas?
I am originally from southern California. I grew up in the Palmdale/Lancaster area of the Antelope Valley, about one and a half hours northeast of Los Angeles. The University of the Ozarks brought me to Arkansas. There I teach about insects and other areas in biology with great, enthusiastic students.

What were you like as a kid?
I was that kid playing with insects and plants growing up. Sometimes I would get distracted while playing sports because a dragonfly flew by.

What do you do for a living?
I am starting my third year as an Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of the Ozarks. I teach many subjects such as entomology (study of insects), plant physiology, beekeeping, disease ecology and lower and upper level evolution and ecology.