1. I am a passionate New York sports fan; unfortunately, I root for all the wrong teams – the Mets, Jets, and Knicks. I’ve suffered a great deal as you can imagine, with the Mets in particular, but at least there have been a few rare moments of elation here and there. They say losing builds character… but enough is enough already!
2. I met my wife Janel during our sophomore year at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. We went to graduate school together at Penn State University, and got married in Philadelphia in 2002. We’ll be celebrating our 20th anniversary in June. It seems impossible that it’s been that long, but it’s really special that we have had so many shared experiences – after all, we’ve been together since we were 20 years old!
3. I’m an avid tennis player. I started playing competitively during my junior year of high school, and managed to make the Franklin & Marshall College tennis team, where I played all four years. Ever since, I’ve played recreationally, and in leagues and tournaments. I’ve been fortunate to win a bunch of tournaments over the years, and have been ranked as high as #5 by the USTA for my age group and region. I went to F&M to play basketball (and study, of course), but noticed an advertisement for tennis team tryouts on the wall of the gym during my first week on campus. I gave it a shot, made the team, ditched basketball (which I still regret to a degree), and the rest is history. I do still play a lot of hoops, but I’m afraid my days on the basketball court may be numbered... just can’t get it done like I used to!
4. Janel and I have two amazing children. Our daughter Bailey is in 11th grade at Emma Willard School in Troy, and our son Reid is in 6th grade at Parker School in Wynantskill. Each of them is exceptionally wise, curious, open-minded, and compassionate, not to mention athletically gifted and mature beyond their years… but maybe I’m a little biased. They’re simply a joy to be around.
5. We live out in the woods in Averill Park, NY. Aside from the plentiful wildlife that surrounds our house (deer, foxes, wild turkeys, bears, porcupines, skunks, rabbits, fishers, and some amazing birds… even a moose and a bobcat!), we have a dog (Daisy) and a cat (Boots). Daisy is a golden lab/retriever mix, and just turned four years old yesterday. We rescued her from Alabama three years ago, but she’s already become a big part of the family. Boots is eight years old, and spends most of his time outside trying to keep the wildlife in check. We also have chickens – five at the moment, but that number varies over the course of the year (the wildlife mentioned above seem to enjoy their company as much as we do). We got them initially for tick control – which they are experts at, but we’ve grown to love having them around… and the fresh eggs are a great bonus!
6. Running is not something I enjoy at all, but there’s no question how effective it is at keeping you in shape. I’ve run a fair share of half-marathons, but never a full one… maybe someday, but we’ll see. My favorite half-marathon was always the Saratoga Palio held every September until a few years ago. If you have a personal favorite you’d be willing to recommend, I’m all ears!
7. When I tell people about my research, they often look horrified, but ultimately (I think) they come to appreciate the fascination and significance of it. I study nausea, and in order to reproduce it in a controlled laboratory setting, I induce motion sickness in otherwise healthy people. My interests have always been focused on mind-body interactions in the context of health and physical well-being, with the effects of stress on health being the central theme. Millions of people suffer every day with nausea or other forms of stomach discomfort when they are stressed or anxious (or when they are pregnant, enduring cancer chemotherapy, or dealing with a gastrointestinal illness/disease), but we don’t have a clear understanding of why. By manipulating various psychosocial variables in the lab, and analyzing the physiological manifestations of symptoms that develop, we’re getting closer to being able to provide people with effective strategies for the management of their nausea. That I’ve been able to involve students in my research at Siena has made it infinitely more rewarding.
8. I spent seven incredible years living in State College, PA while pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology at Penn State, and then as a post-doctoral fellow in the Psychology Department. I never missed a home football game – or the 8:00 am tailgate parties that led up to them. I still bleed blue and white. WE ARE… PENN STATE! One of the more memorable non-football memories of my time there was September 11, 2001. I was in the third week or so of teaching my very first class as a graduate student; it was Introductory Psychology and I had about 350 students – intimidating to say the least! I had arrived very early that morning to prepare for class, and had no idea what was happening outside my closet-sized office until I emerged to walk across campus at around 9:30 am. I quickly figured out that the world would never be the same, but it was the frightened looks on all of those faces when I got to the auditorium where my class was held that I’ll never forget.
9. My first job after leaving Penn State was as a faculty member at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. I held a joint appointment in the medical school, where I did research, and in the Psychology Department, where I taught undergraduate courses. It is an absolutely beautiful place, and a terrific institution… and the everlasting warmth of fall combined with the early springs made it a very comfortable place to live. Though we only spent three years there, we enjoyed ourselves immensely – and our first child was born there, so it will always hold a special place in our hearts. As luck would have it, my time there coincided with Chris Paul’s tenure at Wake Forest, so the basketball was pretty good too!
10. I just completed my 16th year at Siena College. It has truly been a wonderful experience. As a member of the Psychology Department, several years as Associate Dean of Liberal Arts, and now Department Chair in Psychology, I’ve gotten to work alongside many remarkable people, and to share my love for behavioral neuroscience with hundreds of students. As the son of two college professors, I knew the lifestyle would be great, but I had no idea how fulfilling my work would be. I am genuinely thankful for the opportunity to do something I love for a living.
