Geographers come to the discipline by a variety of paths.  In my case, I became a geographer after obtaining undergraduate degrees in both Psychology and Earth Science, along with a minor in philosophy.  People, rocks, and Socrates – not exactly a standard combination of interests… As I struggled to find a graduate program that would enable me to  integrate these wide ranging interests, I – quite by chance – saw a geography program listed at the University of Wyoming and I realized that I’d found the perfect discipline for my interests.  With geography, I could study the natural environment and human behavior (rocks and people).  So, I headed to Laramie and the Rocky Mountains and obtained a Masters degree in Physical Geography – geomorphology to be specific.  After marrying my wife, Nisa, who is from Thailand, I started a Ph.D. program at the University of Hawaii, but finished the degree at Texas A&M.  I have had the opportunity to live in Texas, Virginia, California, Missouri, Wyoming, Hawaii (Oahu) and the U.S. Virgin islands (Saint Croix), as well as the opportunity to travel, and this has enhanced my appreciation of geography and, hopefully, my ability to teach it.

My primary interests are in conservation and science literacy, and I have recently developed a new course called Foundations of Science, which is a multidisciplinary science course that examines extraordinary claims (e.g. UFOs, Big Foot, astrology, ghosts, alternative medicines, etc.) using information from various sciences as well as critical thinking skills.  This course is part of the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan to enhance critical thinking among SHSU students.  It promises to be very fun, interesting, and informative for students.

I have taken students on two international trips to Thailand, China and Cambodia and hope to do this again in the future.  My hobby is teaching a Korean martial art called Hapkido, which combines Jujitsu and Tae Kwon Do techniques.  I’m a 4th Dan Black Belt in this art and have the good fortune of being able to teach a class on campus.  I thoroughly enjoy sharing my interest in Hapkido with my students.

H.G. Wells once said that, “Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe”.  It is this idea that inspires me to teach and ties together my interests in conservation, science literacy, and critical thinking.  I’m motivated by the belief that knowledge of these things can improve the lives of individuals and make the world a better place.