Teaching
I am an Associate Professor of Physics and Chair of the Physics Department at Rollins College. I teach across the physics curriculum — from introductory labs to classical mechanics — with a focus on project-based learning, interdisciplinary connections, and undergraduate research.
Department of Physics · Rollins College ↗Background
I came to physics through music. My undergraduate degree was a double major in Music (Clarinet Performance) and Mathematics at Murray State University — which is exactly how I ended up studying the acoustics of clarinets for my Ph.D. at Penn State, where I was an NSF Graduate Research Fellow.
I joined Rollins College in 2015 and have built a research program that spans musical acoustics and rocket launch noise — two very different sound sources with a lot of interesting physics in common. I believe undergraduate students can and should do real, publishable research, and I've worked hard to make that happen here.
Current courses
2026–Present · Rollins College
For the more on what Rollins College Physics Department offers, see Rollins Physics ↗
Signature courses
Original courses conceived, designed, and developed from curriculum to classroom.
An interdisciplinary general education course connecting acoustics, physics, and culture. Students explore how sound shapes human experience.
A hands-on honors course where students build circuits, work with embedded systems, and connect electronics to real-world problems.
A project-based course in microcontrollers, sensor integration, and embedded programming; bridging physics and engineering for students pursuing technical careers.
A general education course connecting physics to policy, public life, and the decisions that shape society; designed for students who will lead, not just calculate.