I’m a native New Yorker, but have lived in several states - including three and a half beautiful years in our 50th state, Hawaii - around the country. I am a veteran of the US Navy (1987-1993), and currently teach at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Most of my working life has been in some form of public service; the military, county human services in Minnesota, and public institutions of higher education in three different states (MN, IL, and TX).

The perspective I offer in this textbook is born out of learning politics and government as an activist; BEFORE earning my academic credentials. Some of the insights offered within this text may appear less “academic” than others, but that is by design.

I have a two-year degree (A.A.S.) in Radio & Television Broadcasting from Brown Institute in Minneapolis, MN (1996), a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, MN (2009), and a PhD in political science from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (2017).

I am a father of three and an avid gamer. When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me in a virtual reality that exists in my home PC.