About
I am the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering, a teaching specialist, and an academic researcher focused on computing education research, teaching computational modeling and data analysis courses, and engaging in science outreach efforts. I also happen to be an astrophysicist by training.
I did my undergraduate work at the University of Washington (UW) and graduated with a B.S. in Physics and a B.S. in Astronomy. After graduating, I joined the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado to pursue a PhD. I worked with Dr. J. Michael Shull to understand how reverse shocks in supernova remnants can act as efficient dust destruction mechanisms and how much the intergalactic medium deviates from an equilibrium ionization state.
After completing my PhD work, I worked for a year at Michigan State University (MSU) as a postdoc with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics. During that year, I was awarded a National Science Foundation Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship to stay at MSU and pursue independent research in areas related to the intergalactic and circumgalactic media.
Upon completing my NSF fellowship, I joined the faculty in the newly-created Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering at MSU as a Teaching Specialist and took on the role of Director of Undergraduate Studies following the launch of our B.S. in Data Science program in 2019. As an educator, I strive to use research-based pedagogy and promote learning environments that are accessible and supportive of all students.
Off campus, I enjoy interacting with the public through science outreach, including at the "Astronomy on Tap" events that I organize and host in Lansing. These events involve two of my favorite things, science and craft beer. I'm also a bit of a coffee snob and have learned to roast my own coffee beans and covet a quality cup of joe. I enjoy spending time outdoors for both fitness and fun and I'm constantly learning about the wonders that Michigan has to offer, when it's not buried under snow.
Lastly, if you ever get the itch to talk in depth about the various characters in the DC Comics universe, I'd be happy to chat at length over a craft beer or cup of coffee.
Feel free to explore my research, teaching, and outreach pages to learn more about my work.