If you would have met me 10 years ago, I had a very different career path in mind. My education began with a focus in Engineering at Purdue University, following my interests in science and technology. Realizing that those interests were better suited towards hobby than career, my focus changed to Geography at my hometown university in Valparaiso, with a goal of working for the U.S. National Park system.

Unfortunately, lots of budget cuts by the government to the National Parks meant that full time jobs became very hard - nigh impossible - to obtain. I fell back on my tourism experience, which I had obtained working for the visitor center at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Using those skills, I relocated to Brown County, IN and spent 5 years there working in various capacities including the visitor bureau, the lodge at the state park, and a cabin rental agency. Those years honed my skills in hospitality and tourism, and gave me an education in those fields which I otherwise would have required more schooling to acquire.

During my time in Brown County, I ended up meeting a girl who made me rethink the efficacy of long-distance relationships. Two-hour commutes back and forth every other weekend became the norm, but eventually it was time to make the call and commit to Lafayette, IN full-time. A few more years, plus investing in a home, adopting a dog, and figuring out a pandemic, and I decided I'd better marry that girl.

Now, I find myself right back where I started - at Purdue University, except as an employee and not a student. I've worked in a few different positions since arriving here, and I am currently the Digital Content Specialist for the Department of Agronomy. This position is essentially the culmination of many of the skills I learned over the years, and I feel very lucky to be where I am.

Throughout my entire journey, I have always had a passion and penchant for creativity and just about every form of design. Whether it's vector illustration, type & font, photography, 3D modelling, or any other kind of graphic or physical design medium, I'm fascinated.

As time has progressed, I've added more and more of the skills required for these mediums to my tool belt. No matter where I have worked, or what my job description was, my design skills have always been utilized. To that end, I hope to continue to further those talents in a professional setting, and use them to help other people achieve their own personal design goals.