I grew up in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. My house is around 200 meters from the Roanoke River. I spent much of my childhood fishing on the Roanoke River and surrounding ponds and lakes, as well as hunting in Northampton County, North Carolina. I grew up in a strong Christian family and began to relate my faith to the outdoors at a young age. I received my undergraduate degree at North Carolina State University in the Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Program in December 2007. My concentration was Wildlife and I minored in Agroecology and Environmental Science. While I was at N.C. State I worked for Christmas Tree Genetics with AnneMargaret Braham and learned a lot about managing a greenhouse and working in the field. Fisheries and Wildlife Summer Camp, with Dr. Christopher DePerno, laid the foundation for my fisheries and wildlife career. Two internships with N. C. State, under Dr. Christopher Moorman have given me valuable experience in field research and field techniques. Those two summers I worked with two of the best researchers from N. C. State, Dr. Jason Riddle and Corey Shake. I was fortunate to be involved with many fisheries and wildlife volunteer projects through N. C. State and Auburn University throughout my college career. Since I've been in Athens, I have worked with many white-tailed deer research projects in the southeast. I have also attended many professional meetings and conferences.

I am a second year graduate student at the University of Georgia in the Wildlife Ecology and Management Program at the Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources. My advisor is Dr. Karl V. Miller, a professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management. My project is a large scale study examining the impacts of deer food plots on songbirds and small mammals. My committee includes Dr. Robert Cooper and Dr. Steven Castleberry, and I am also working with Brian P. Murphy a Wildlife Biologist and executive director of the Quality Deer Management Association. My interests included the outdoors, Wolfpack sports, Bulldog sports, wildlife management, hanging out with friends and family, playing and watching sports, going to church, hunting, fishing, playing guitar, and music. I am in the following clubs and organizations: Warnell Graduate Student Association, UGA Chapter of the Wildlife Society, NCSU Wolfpack Club, NCSU Alumni Association, Audubon Society, Quality Deer Management Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, Xi Sigma Pi, North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council, and the North Carolina Chapter of the Wildlife Society. I would not be where I am today if it was not for the support from God, my girlfriend Renae, my family, and my friends.