I grew up in Orlando. I've been studying ethics and philosophy for 20 years. I've taught ethics and philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University, Valencia College, Rollins College, University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, and King High School. I've translated Alain Badiou from the French on Heidegger, Parmenides, and Metaphysics. I co-executive direct the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival. In my free time, I walk along the Hillsborough River or play my bass guitar through an amplifier.  I am so excited to join the SPC team!

What I hope to do as an ethics teacher is to inspire my students to evaluate their presuppositions and think critically about the themes and arguments which have preoccupied philosophers throughout history as well as examine ethical dilemmas students encounter directly or indirectly, which persist in challenging their stance in their world. Such critical thinking requires one to become aware of and to even call into question the various criteria by which one evaluates judgments.

To aid this endeavor, I design my course using interactive activities in which the students participate during class time and develop assignments which ask the students for critical engagement with a variety of sources, from so-called traditional philosophical texts, to works of art, reports in science, and contemporary events. In my view, any philosophical subject which cannot resonate with a student’s own values in and senses of everyday life will soon be forgotten. In order to help reveal how ethics is relevant, I pose questions to my students and solicit their discussion, and emphasize skills which help students develop and amplify their own ethical questions.