I began my education at Tyler Junior College and earned my B.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Tyler. I earned my M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Zoology from Miami University (Ohio). My post-doctoral training was done at the University of Lethbridge in Southern Alberta. During my B.S. and M.S. degrees, I focused on animal behavior, herpetology, and behavioral toxicology. My Ph.D. and post-doctoral work concentrated on the evolutionary and behavioral ecology of crickets and spiders. I joined the California State University Fullerton faculty in 2003 in the Department of Biological Science and was promoted to Professor in 2013. I've taught introductory courses in biology and animal behavior and advanced courses in entomology, behavioral ecology, evolution, ecology, and statistics. I received the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM) Outstanding Teaching Award in 2008 and the CSUF Carol Barnes Excellence in Teaching Award in 2013. I have published over 40 peer-reviewed articles, many co-authoring with undergraduate or graduate students. I have served the Department of Biological Science as vice-chair for five years and as department chair for three and a half years. I have also served on the CSU Fullerton and CSU academic senates. At CSUF, I served on the executive committee of the Academic Senate for eight terms and chaired the CSUF Academic Senate from 2013 to 2015. In 2016, I was awarded the Faculty Leadership in Collegial Governance award at CSUF. I served as Associate Dean for the College of NSM from 2019 - May 2024 and am currently Deputy Provost at CSUF. For fun, I hang out with my family, take silly cat pictures, read movies and watch books 🤣, collect too many Funko Pop figures, and keep hoping the Penguins will win the Stanley Cup.