Education

I began my education at Emory University in my hometown of Atlanta, GA. After completing my first bachelor’s degree in 2001, I attended graduate school at Golden Gate in San Francisco, where I graduated with a Master’s in 2004. I completed my D.Min. in 2007 at Midwestern in Kansas City. My dissertation focused on personal development for high school students.

Following the above training, which focused on pastoral counseling, history theology and ministry, I returned to school to study philosophy, focusing on epistemology and ethics. I earned a second Bachelor’s at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT) in 2009, followed by a second Master’s at Biola University (Los Angeles, CA) in 2012. I completed my Ph.D. in 2021 at Midwestern. My dissertation focused on leadership and spiritual direction. 

In addition to civilian education, I graduated from basic military training (Officer Training School) in 2010. I served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve (419 FW) and the U.S. Army Reserve (96 SB) after receiving a commission directly from the United States Congress. I served a four-year commitment and was honorably discharged at the rank of Captain in 2014.

I graduated from police academy in Austin, TX in 2020, where I was elected class president by my peers. After being commissioned as a licensed Texas peace officer, I served briefly as a patrol officer due to a personnel shortage in my community due to COVID. I was honorably discharged in order to take on increasing responsibilities at the college where I now serve as a full-time professor of philosophy.