- Department: Forestry & Wildlife Mgt
- University: Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
- Location: San Luis Obispo, California
Grew up as a dirt-poor kid in Arkansas. Had my own "Saul of Tarsus epiphany" at 16 while I was mocking God and have been a full-on Jesus-freak since then. Viva la Jesus for coming after a moron like me! Been married to my bride-for-life since 1992 and currently raising 3 grown kids (how did I get so old???). I'm well aware of my own shortcomings and regularly scratch my head as to why the Lord would use us yahoos to do his work. I'm not the man I want to be, but I reckon I never will while on this side of Glory (3 cheers for mercy!!!).
Favorite Quote
"Ya see, me and the Lord have an understanding. We're on a misssion from God" - Jake & Elwood Blues 1980
Friends describe me
Transparent
My hobbies
Backpacking, surfing, writing music
Fantasy dinner guests
The kids we sponsor via Compassion.com
Best advice I ever received
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...
My undergrad alma mater
Louisiana Tech
My worst subject in school
Mammology (had to trap, kill, and stuff 10 species of critters)
In college I drove
Raggedy old Toyota Celica (I was one of only 2 people in the entire School of Forestry that didn't own a pickup)
If I weren't a professor, I would
Be a federal research scientist (or homeless)
Favorite books
The Silmarillion (Tolkien), The Shack (Young)
Favorite movies
Blues Brothers
Favorite city
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Favorite coffee
Latte
Nobody knows I
Fronted a blues band in Baton Rouge (yeah, I know, a pasty, over-educated, white boy sings the blues...)
My latest accomplishment
Loving my bride of 30+ years more deeply now than when I did as a hormone-crazed 19-year old.
Current Research
My academic specialty areas include... (1) Wildfire in the Wildland-Urban Interface (2) Impacts of fuel treatments on wildfire behavior and ecosystem services.