He earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of New Hampshire, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University. He is the Director for Diversity and Inclusion for his academic unit, and he serves as a Director for the Graduate Studies Division of the American Society for Engineering Education. His current research interests include, among other areas, advancements in research-based practices for engineering/STEM education. He has been the recipient of multiple teaching awards and fellow appointments on campus, including the Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award, Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award, Samuel Litman Distinguished Professor Award, Bell South Teaching Fellow, and USC Connect Faculty Fellow for Integrative Learning.