I earned my B.S. in Biology from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1998, and Ph.D. in Plant Science from Oklahoma State University in 2003 under the direction of Dr. Ronald J. Tyrl.  After a five-year appointment in upstate New York, my family and I returned to our home state and joined the Biology Department of Oklahoma City University in August of 2009 where I currently serve as Professor and Chair of the department.
 
Throughout my academic career I have endeavored to excel in all areas of the academy: teaching, scholarship, and service.  I have highlighted these areas on this website as well my administrative experiences and philosophy. 
 
A longtime member of the Oklahoma Academy of Science, I recently finished my appointment as President of the Academy and currently serve as Executive Director of the Academy.  I have previously served as Chair of Biological Science section and the Collegiate Director of OAS.

I have served as the advisor of the Alpha Chapter at Oklahoma City University since 2010 and as the Southcentral Regional Vice President of Beta Beta Beta since 2016.
  
As a plant taxonomist, the focus of my research is the classification and identification of the native flora.  I am the Coordinating Editor of Flora Oklahoma Inc. and the immediate past president of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society.