He received his B.A.E. in Architectural Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and worked as a structural engineer before receiving his M.A. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research includes investigating how students' beliefs impact their motivation and learning, and examining methods instructors can use to design instructional environments that support students' motivation and learning. He has developed the MUSIC model of academic motivation to help instructors better understand how they can design courses that will engage students in learning (see http:www.MotivatingStudents.info).