Personal

Sometimes we feel as if work defines us - we spend a lot of time in our offices and in the classroom. However, we are more than a collection of publications and teaching experiences. Thank you for being interested in me beyond my work.

In my free time I enjoy traveling - exploring new countries or cities, learning more about cultures, ways of thinking, and views of the world. This is an invaluable part of my life that has shaped me into who I am, and I truly believe that opening yourself to experiences and people will make you happier and more complete. Some of my favorite places are Yellowstone, Padre Island National Seashore in Texas, the Rockies, Rila Monastery in Bulgaria, Rome, Madeira, Amsterdam, Dublin, Kraków, Washington D.C., and Boston. I also love hiking and being in nature. The Rockies and the Great Smoky Mountains are some of the majestic areas that I love exploring. My dream is to visit Japan and hike the Alps.

Music has always been a part of my life, and I enjoy a wide range of genres - EDM, rock, jazz, classical music, rap, and many others. I might listen to Rammstein one minute, Armin van Buuren the next, followed by Etta James, Dr. Dre, Bach, and Pink Floyd. My music collection is constantly growing and is currently at around 2000 albums.

I love watching movies, and I equally appreciate classic movies from the 1920s to the 1980s, and current blockbusters, depending on my mood. Some of my favorites are (love Kubrick): 2001: A Space Odyssey, Paths of Glory, Full Metal Jacket, Yojimbo, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Spirited Away, Apocalypse Now, Metropolis, Fritz Lang's M, The Matrix, The Bridge on the River Kwai, 12 Angry Men, Requiem for a Dream, Bicycle Thieves, Ghost in the Shell, What Dreams May Come, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Papillon, and City of God. My favorite shows are Game of Thrones, Westworld, and The Handmaid's Tale.

I also enjoy exercising - I like working out in the gym (weightlifting is fun!), as well as cycling (on and off the road), and running. I completed a century (107 miles) ride in 5 hours and 43 minutes and rode for 502 miles in 2 weeks for a challenge.