I often tell people that I am a vagabond – or at least was for the first 1/2 of my life. I’ve lived in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Dakota, and now back to Texas. I have always had an interest in the outdoors and animals, and a career in higher education has allowed me to pursue my passions and introduce students to the things I love. I try to emulate some of my FHSU professors in taking students out of the classroom and into the field to experience all of the things that nature has to offer. This love of the outdoors extends to my personal life as well – my wife and I love camping, hiking, spending time with our kids and grandkids, and spoiling our dog.
What do you now do for a living? How did you end up choosing this career path?
I joined the Tarleton faculty in 1996 as a professor of Biology and advanced to head of the Department of Biological Sciences 19 years later. From there I served as Executive Director of Tarleton’s Fort Worth campus from 2016-2020. I then became Director of the university’s Timberlake Biological Field Station in Goldthwaite, Texas and associate dean of the College of Science and Technology. Beginning August 1, I will serve as interim dean of the College of Science and Math. My MS Degree from FHSU was an important stepping stone in my career path. To be honest I never planned on a career in higher education, but interactions with FHSU faculty and encouragement from my mentors, especially Dr. Jerry Choate, to continue on with a Ph.D. had a huge impact on my life.
Why did you choose to attend FHSU?
When I was finishing my undergraduate degree, my advisor suggested that I check out FHSU for a master’s degree. Once I got more information on the Biology department and all of the opportunities for meaningful coursework and outstanding research, the decision was easy!
What are your favorite memories from your time as a student?
Interactions with faculty; field trips for mammalogy; group trips to conferences across the southwestern US; and working in the Sternberg Museum of Natural Science.
What advice do you have for current or prospective FHSU students?
Take advantage of all of the opportunities that come your way. I have been involved in study abroad trips the past several years and also try to do field trips with my classes every semester. In every instance I have students that tell me how much these trips have opened their eyes and enhanced their education. These same opportunities are available at FHSU – embrace them while you can!
Tell us about someone at FHSU who has left a lasting impression:
The late Dr. Jerry R. Choate had a huge impact on my life and career path. He was a wonderful mentor and remained a valued friend until his passing several years ago. I still have a letter that he wrote me after I finished my MS degree – in that letter he closed with a statement saying that “professional kinship is nearly as strong as blood kinship.” Jerry and I worked closely together in many ways over the next 25 years, and he will always be remembered as someone that had his students’ best interests at heart. It is these kinds of faculty that continue to make FHSU an important part of the lives of many, many students, past, present and future!
In what ways are you proud to be a Tiger?
As I worked my way through my MS degree at FHSU, I was exposed to many different types of instruction from some wonderful faculty. I have taken a little from each of my FHSU professors and implemented some of their teaching methods into my own classes. I am proud of my former association with FHSU and prouder still to see how the Sternberg Museum has expanded – not just as a world-class research facility, but especially in its outreach to education at all levels.