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My ExpertiseMy Expertise
Area(s) of expertise:
Military Veterans, Science, Volunteering
Summary of expertise:
Iraq war veteran, aspiring towards a career in science and medicine, and former U.S. Army medic non-commissioned officer who has successfully transitioned from soldier to civilian life as a nationally recognized scholar, leader, public speaker, and biomedical researcher. Will study the cultural and molecular aspects of PTSD and mTBI at the University of Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar in the 2012-2013 Masters of Science in Neuroscience course. Through personal and extensive work and service experiences, I speak to the need for more veterans in science, the military to 'civilian life' transition, overcoming adversity, resilience, the challenges that returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans now face, and ways to combat cultural expectations for PTSD, as well as the real injuries of PTSD and mTBI, and as a positive example of being successful in both the military and later civilian sector.
White paper/research:
1. An Institutional and Individual Transition: Successful Measures to Develop Student Veterans Support Programs. 2010 American Democracy Project National Conference, Providence, RI. 2. Oligodendrogenesis after Hypoxic-Ischemic Stroke in Mouse brain, 2009 Amgen Scholar/Stanford Summer Research Program, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. 3. Pathetic Fool or Political Operator: The Role of Polonius in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Proceedings of the Twenty-Third Annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Summer 2009.
Awards/associations/memberships:
➢ 2012-2013 Clarendon Scholar, University of Oxford, Pembroke College, UK. ➢ 2011 Michigan Volunteer of the Year, Michigan Governor’s Service Awards. ➢ 2011 Maize and Blue Distinguished Scholarship Award, University of Michigan-Flint. ➢ 2011 Commencement Speaker, UM-Flint Graduation Ceremony. ➢ Medical Professionals of Tomorrow Award, 2010-2011. ➢National Institutes of Health UGSP Scholar, 2009-2013. ➢2010 Heart and Soul Award, Michigan Campus Compact. ➢ 2010 UM-Flint Health Sciences Outstanding Student Award. ➢ Pat Tillman Foundation, Tillman Military Scholar, 2009-2011. ➢ Gallagher Koster Health Careers Award, 2009-2010. ➢ 2009 Amgen Scholar. ➢ 2009 UM-Flint Emerging Alumni Award, Alumni Society. ➢ University of Michigan James Angell Scholar, 2008-2011. ➢ University of Michigan Honors, 2008-2011. ➢ 2009 Michigan Service Scholar. ➢ 2009 Commitment to Service Scholar. ➢ U.S.Army Commendation Medals, 2007, 2008. ➢ U.S.Army Achievement Medal, 2006. ➢ U.S.Army Overseas Service Ribbon, 2008. ➢ U.S.Army Service Ribbon, 2004. ➢ U.S.Army Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, 2008. ➢ U.S.Army Good Conduct Medal, 2008. ➢ National Defense Service Medal, 2004. ➢ Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, 2004.
Prior media experience:
Web, Print Interviews & Quotes: The Flint Journal; The Detroit Free Press; The Pat Tillman Foundation; The University of Michigan. Television Interviews: WNEM CBS TV5, Mid-Michigan; WEYI NBC TV25 Mid-Michigan; WJRT ABC TV12, Flint, Michigan; University of Michigan-Flint University Relations.
Educational background:
MSc in Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Pembroke College, United Kingdom (forthcoming, 2012-2013). BS in Health Sciences, Honors Program, University of Michigan-Flint, MI, USA (3.97GPA, 2011). BS in Psychology, University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, MD, USA (3.96GPA, 2008). AA in General Studies, Pierce College, Steilacoom, WA, USA (3.69GPA, 2006).
References:
References available upon request.
Interests:
Learning the sport of rowing, motivational speaking, singing, empowering others.
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