population and enjoy the responsibility I have to help armor students with the skills and experience to become impactful social workers and counselors at a time in our world when we need skilled helpers to relieve suffering and promote needed change.
3. Flashback to when you were 10 years old. What do you want to be when you grow up?
See above in #1…..initially a famous fictional writer and actor…..who knows, maybe someday as a hobby!
4. Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?
Growing up, I used to be a competitive swimmer and gymnast. I was a champion backstroke and butterfly swimmer and still can be found in the pool swimming laps for exercise; it was the greatest thing my parents did putting me into that sport. I’m a short guy, only standing 5’4, so I plateaued with swimming when I was 15 and all the boys started growing taller than me after puberty. I was a really good gymnast and regret not having pursed that more because I’ve been told I could have likely gone quite far with it. Internalized messages of “only fags do gymnastics” when boys at school would tease me prevented me from pursuing this further. That’s my one regret…I could’ve really given Bart Conner or Mitch Gaylord a run for their money at the Olympics.
5. Who is someone you admire, and why?
I have three…the first is Dr. Ruth Westheimer, my role model and influencer that got me started in my career who I spoke about earlier.