About Me

I’m originally from Clover, South Carolina, just outside of Charlotte. On any given day, I enjoy going for walks with my wife, Emily, and identifying plants along the way. I also enjoy reading, teaching, doing research, and playing online games with my friends from across the United States. My current favorite non-fiction book is A Monetary and Fiscal History of the United States, 1961-2021 by Alan S. Blinder, while for fiction lovers, I recommend The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy.

I discovered my passion for teaching while working as an economics tutor during my time as an undergraduate at Winthrop University. After getting married in 2018, Emily and I volunteered through the U.S. Peace Corps in Mongolia, where we worked closely with two schools and the Department of Education in Dornod, the easternmost province of Mongolia. We spent two years teaching in Mongolia before being evacuated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following our time in Mongolia, we lived in Morgantown, West Virginia, where I pursued my Ph.D. in Economics at West Virginia University. During my time in Morgantown, I enjoyed attending Mountaineer football games, hosting table tennis tournaments, and beating Kalvin Mudrow in said tournaments.

Currently, I’m an Assistant Professor of Economics at Winthrop University. I live in Rock Hill, South Carolina, with Emily and our two cats, Nala and Maui. Reach out if you're ever in the area.

Nala

Nala has been a part of our family since September of 2018 when she followed me and Emily back to our apartment in Mongolia. She enjoys going for walks on her leash (so long as there aren't too many dogs).

Maui

Maui has been a part of our family since April of 2020 when we adopted her from my sister. While more timid than Nala, Maui is a loving Siamese Flame Point who enjoys breakfast time and basking in the sun. 

While not studying or teaching economics, I enjoy identifying plants during outdoor walks.  It's easy to transform an everyday walk into a treasure-hunting adventure by snapping pictures of plants I've never seen and identifying them. A few favorites are shown below:

Taxodium distichum

(Bald Cypress)

Liquidambar styraciflua

(Sweetgum)

Cupressus arizonica

(Arizona Cypress)

Quercus nigra

(Water Oak)