Who Am I

Welcome! I chose Vitruvian Man for a website theme because Leonardo captures the richness of life in a way that spans many academic disciplines. My life, too, has been rich, including far more than my job as a professor at UCSB (which is detailed on the other pages). I grew up in the small town of Canyonville, nestled in the forests and farm valleys of rural southern Oregon—click here for a 360° panoramic view taken from the top of Canyon Mountain near where I lived. Oregon is still an extremely important part of my life: I founded an educational nonprofit there called Alder Creek Children's Forest as a way to give something back to this special place.

After graduating from the University of Oregon (go Ducks!) in 1980, I lived and worked as a Peace Corps volunteer for nearly four years in Swaziland, located in southern Africa. Then I returned with my family to New Mexico, where I went to school, eventually transferring to UC Berkeley (go Bears!) for graduate school. After 13 years of college, they kicked me out and told me I had to do something useful for a change, so that's how I got this job at UCSB.

I'm the proud daddy of two beautiful daughters Joy (b. 1982) and Elise (b. 1987); we are animal lovers, with three cats and a dog named Beagle Bailey. I've been an active member for years in the Unitarian Universalist Association, and have also practiced a kempo-style martial art called Kojosho for a long time. The other big thing in my life is music; click here for some of my songs. Yes, I am grateful every day for all life has to offer!