The Wonder Years
I grew up near the shores of Lake Michigan, with its expansive views of the sky and crisp horizon. 

I never really enjoyed reading or took school very seriously (I particularly hated math), but when I discovered astronomy, a new spirit of curiosity and wonder took over. 

Throughout high school, I consumed books by Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking. By the time I graduated high school, my path was set. 

Astronomy and Discovery
In college, I majored in physics and mathematics - the foundations of astronomy. During my senior project, I accidentally discovered a new asteroid, making news both at home and around the world. 

As I pursued my PhD in astronomy, I contributed to the discovery of an extrasolar planet. It wasn't as exciting as I hoped.

Ultimately, the love of a girl (now my wife) propelled me to take my MS in astronomy and pivot toward a career in teaching. 

Lighting the Spark
As a high school physics teacher, I shared my passion with students, stoking their curiosity and wonder. 

I challenged them to tackle ever more ambitious projects. My students won NASA contests, presented at conferences, published papers, and sent me on a zero gravity flight.  

In the process, I discovered that teaching is not about loving your subject; it is about loving your students. 

The Frontiers of Education 
My students' success gave me opportunities to collaborate with world-class organizations like USA TODAY and NASA. Soon I was working full-time as an education consultant, focused on digital STEM curriculum.  

Teaching online gave me the freedom to experiment with innovative teaching tools, like Google Glass, which led to some of my most memorable moments.

A Life of Teaching
Today, I'm an online professor of astronomy.  I’ve received some special honors for my teaching (I was a finalist for the National Online Teacher of the Year Award), but the greatest reward continues to be the feedback that I get from my students who say things like:

“This instructor was the best teacher I have ever had – hands down. His love for his job and this subject was like none I have seen before.”

It's true - I really do love teaching astronomy.