Education
- PhD – Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL – expected 2026
- MA – Secondary Education in Physics, Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, UT – 2020
- Educator Licensure Secondary Science, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL – 2015–2017
- Graduate Coursework – Nuclear Engineering, University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID – 2009–2010
- BA – Physics: Astrophysics, Math Minor, Carthage College, Kenosha, WI – 2005–2009
Certifications
- Illinois Professional Educator’s License – Issued May 2017
- Subject endorsements: 6–12 Science, Physics, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science
- Geographic Information Systems Analysis Certificate – Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL – May 2025
- Amateur Radio License: Technician Class – Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Remote Pilot sUAS - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - expected Dec 2025
Skills
- Programming Languages: Python, Bash, LaTeX, HTML, SQL
- Software: ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, ERDAS Imagine, Google Earth Engine, Vim, Jupyter, VScode
- Education Skills: Curriculum design, Classroom teaching
- Research Skills: Atmospheric dynamics, Climatology, GIS, Remote sensing, Data science, Modeling, Numerical weather prediction, Project management
Teaching Experience
- Instructor - Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL - 2023-Present
- Courses taught: MET410/510/411/511 Weather DynamicsIⅈ EAE103 Planetary and Space Sciences
- Graduate Teaching Assistant - Northern Illinois University - Dept of Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment - Dekalb, IL - 2022-Present
- Courses taught: MET 410/510/411/511 Weather Dynamics Lab Iⅈ Met 421 Synoptic Meteorology Lab; EAE 102 Environmental Geography Lab
- Course curriculum design: MET 410/510/411/511 Weather Dynamics I&II
- Science Teacher - Harlem Consolidated School District 122, Machesney Park, IL - 2017-2022
- High School Subjects Taught: AP Physics, Earth Science: Astronomy, Oceanography, Meteorology, Climatology, Geology;
Honors Physics; STEAM Physics; Physical Science - Chemistry and Physics
- Content Leader - Physics and Earth and Space Sciences
- Developed new courses and curriculum: STEAM Physics, AP Physics, Earth and Space Science - AOM
- Organizations and Service: Key Club Advisor; E-team (Equity) Committee Member
- Instructional Designer and Content Expert GRA - Northern Illinois University - Division of Outreach, Engagement,
and Regional Development P-20 SmartSpace - Dekalb, IL - 2016-2017
- Developed science content for online games and created lesson plans for educators
- Led STEAM outreach workshops and events for students, teachers, and the public
- Assisted in securing project funding grants
- Designed lessons for and taught STEM and STEM skills through art projects to both US and International middle school students
at Laredo Taft Field Campus Summer Camps
- Student Teacher - Rockford Public Schools 205 - Rockford, IL - 2016-2017
- Student taught 6th Grade Science at RESA MS - Chemistry, Climate, Environment
- Completed clinicals at Auburn High School - Physics
- Clinicals Student Teacher - Kaneland School District 302 - Sugar Grove, IL - 2015-2016
- Clinicals student teacher, intervention teacher, and tutor at Kaneland High School and Kaneland Harter Middle School - Physics and 6-8 Science
- Substitute Teacher - Mackay Joint School District 182, Mackay, ID - 2011-2012
- Substitute taught grades K-12, all subjects
Research Experience
- Research Assistant - Northern Illinois University, ICECHIP Field Campaign, Dekalb, IL, 2025
- Deployed and operated mobile mesonet vehicle and pods to measure surface conditions
- Responsible for data QC, pod team communications and coordination, instrument calibration and maintenance, storm spotting, and instrument deployment
- Collected, measured, massed, and crushed hailstones for analysis
- Research Group Member - Northern Illinois University, Weather, Climate, and Society Research Group, Dekalb, IL, 2022–Present
- Project lead for team investigating the future severe weather perils landscape in the US
- Graduate Research Assistant - University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID, 2009-2010
- Investigated spent nuclear fuel recycling and storage techniques
- Studied nuclear and chemical engineering with a focus on ion exchange and pyroprocessing of nuclear waste
- Nuclear Research Intern - Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID, 2009
- Explored pyroprocessing and ion exchange techniques for recycling spent nuclear fuel
- Physics Fellow - Carthage College, Kenosha, WI, 2007-2009
- Conducted high resolution spectrometry and astrophysics research
- Assisted faculty with research and physics and astronomy lab course related tasks
- Maintained physics and astronomy lab and class spaces, lab equipment, and computers
- Ran weekly physics study sessions and tutored students
- Project Manager and Scientist - NASA and Carthage College, Houston, TX and Kenosha, WI, 2007-2009
- Developed Microgravity University Systems program partnership between NASA and Carthage College
- Put together a team to conduct research on NASA's Weightless Wonder / Vomit Comet
- Worked with NASA advisor to complete development of an inertial particulate filtration device, a Mission Critical
project for future Moon exploration → outcome: proof of concept, successful cyclonic filtration in microgravity
- Designed and built experiment to assess angles of repose of lunar regolith in a lunar gravity environment
- Managed administrative, public outreach, scientific and engineering team
- Science and Engineering Intern - Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, Green Bay and Milwaukee, WI, 2007-2009
- Instrument Development Program - Created a near-space, multispectral atmospheric imager and launched on a high altitude weather balloon
- Designed, built, and launched additional science payload to determine vertical aerosol distribution in southern Wisconsin
- Responsible for developing scientific parameters, analyzing data for the instrument, and writing and presenting final reports at conferences
- Student Researcher: Astronomer - Carthage College, Kenosha, WI, Yerkes Observatory, Williams Bay, WI, and Steward Observatory, Tucson, AZ, 2006-2009
- Research in observational astronomy using the 61" Kuiper Telescope and the 41" Yerkes Reflector
- Projects: Development of a high resolution spectrograph for resolving the Zeeman effect; Methods in Earthbound imaging of Saturn using
video techniques; Dynamics of planetary nebula
Awards and Honors
- NIU Outstanding Graduate Student Award 2024
- WGU Excellence Award in Physics - Waves 2019
- WGU Excellence Award in Physics - Optics 2019
- Most Outstanding Physics Student of the Year 2008
Grants
- NIU Research and Travel Grant - 2023 and 2024
- NIU Kouba Fund Grant - 2023 and 2024
- Illinois Retired Teachers Association Grant - 2019
- Carthage Physics Fellowship 2007–2009
Professional Service and Organizations
- AMS NIU Chapter - Graduate Committee, Spring 2025
- American Meteorological Society (AMS) NIU Chapter - Member, 2022–present
- Equity Team Harlem HS - Advisory Committee Member, 2020–2022
- STEPUP Physics - Ambassador, 2021
- Key Club Harlem HS Chapter - Faculty Advisor, 2018–2021
- Character Quest Leadership - Mentor, 2006–2009
- Society of Physics Students - Committee Member, 2006–2009
Other Work Experience
- Custodian - Mackay Joint School District, Mackay, ID, 2011-2012
- Dance Instructor - Eastern Idaho Technical College and Independent, Idaho Falls, ID, 2010-2012
- Retail Associate - Hallmark, Idaho Falls, ID, 2010-2011
- Office Assistant - Carthage College, Kenosha, WI, 2006-2009
- File Clerk - Rockford Health System, Rockford, IL, 2006-2008
- Conservation Worker - Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Rock Cut State Park, Loves Park, IL, 2005-2006