About Me

I am currently a Social Studies Teacher at New Century Technology High School and a Dual Enrollment Instructor at Jacksonville State University. At NCTHS, I teach Government & Economics, Honors US History I, and US History I. At JSU, I teach Dual Enrollment American History I & II.

My research interests include Modern History of the American South and Vexillology. I have a strong interest in Vexillology (a fancy word for the study of flags). The beauty of design and history intersect in flags that represent people and ideas.

After school hours, you will find me outside. I love the natural beauty and amount of outdoor recreation that Alabama and the Southeast United States have to offer. When I'm not traveling during the breaks, I'm usually playing disc sports, golfing, or riding a bike.

Teaching

At JSU, I teach Western Civilization and American History survey courses. I enjoy the diversity of majors and interests in survey classes, and strive to promote soft skills, critical thinking, and empathy in students. Teaching is a lifelong endeavor and I enjoy learning from new perspectives in the classroom, and that is one reason why I enjoy survey courses. Click the button below to read my entire teaching philosophy.

Syllabi

Class Resources

Dual Enrollment American History I Chicago Format Guide
Dual Enrollment American History II Essay Rubric
Government & Economics Presentation Rubric
U.S. History I Chicago Formatting Guide Video
Contemporary World Issues

Research

I am currently researching topics on Modern United States history, symbolism in France, and the effects of WWII on culture. I have presented on some of these topics and hope to be published in journals. I aspire to keep expanding my research and as it grows it will continue to be listed below.

When the Sun Set in Alabama: Japanese American Draft Resisters During WWII

During World War II, Japanese Americans were forced to relocate to internment camps and then, later during the war, were drafted into the United States military. Many saw military service as a way to prove loyalty but others objected to forced drafts due to treatment, xenophobia, or the lack of alternatives. Ft. McClellan, AL and other prominent training centers in the Southeast allowed individual examples to help paint a broader narratives of being forced to serve a country during a socially convoluted period. Treatment of Japanese Americans in training camps reflected the attitudes of public sentiment and helped explain the myriad of complex perspectives that influenced their decision to serve or become a conscientious objector.

The Symbol of a Free France: The Cross of Lorraine as a Modern Symbol after WWII.

The cross was an old French symbol of freedom and resistance that, eventually, the leaders of the Free French forces used as a symbol during and after the war. The motif of the cross developed into a new mythological symbol that became engrained in French culture. Its national use can be seen in popular media, flags, and propaganda from the medieval period to today. The cross, after the war, developed an increased symbolic and nationalistic importance for France that it still possess today.