I am a proud father of three with an active interest in a wide range of public policy and theological issues and a passion for Christian education. I grew up in Escondido, California before attending Dordt myself, then living in Washington, D.C. for four years before returning to teach at Dordt in 2011. Since coming to Dordt, I have served as the chair of the Criminal Justice Department, launched Defender Forensics (Dordt's competitive speech and debate team), reorganized and led Core 399 (Dordt's senior worldview course), developed Dordt's Master's of Public Administration program, and have helped redesign and lead the Kuyper Honors Program. I am also involved in my broader community, including active participation at Sioux Center United Reformed Church.
Education
- LL.M. in Taxation, Georgetown University Law Center, 2011
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2010
- B.A. in History, Dordt College, 2007
Selected Publications
- “Building the Temple: An Alternative Metaphor to the Use of “Kingdom” in the Christian University Context,” Pro Rege, 49.4.
- “Fifth Amendment,” “Sixth Amendment,” and “Terry v. Ohio” in The Use and Abuse of Police Power in America: Historical Milestones and Current Controversies, Gina Robertiello, Ed. (ABC-CLIO 2017) 4-8, 92-94.
- "Narrative Metaphor as a Tool for Exploring Character Formation," 25 International Journal of Christianity & Education 1, 96-111.
- Regular contributor to In All Things
Selected Presentations
- “Mimesis, Immanence, and Modernity: Creating Pluralistic Space as a Path to Recovering our Common Lives." Presenter, The 2022 Henry Symposium on Religion and Public Life at Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI (April 9, 2022)
- “Accounting for the Spirits of the Age.” Presenter, The 2021 Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture: Living Accountably, Waco, TX (October 28, 2021).
Memberships & Public Service
- Member, State Bar of California
- Member, Iowa State Advisory Committee, U.S. Commission on Human Rights
Current Courses & Duties
- Division Chair, Business Administration and Public Service Division
- Director, Master of Public Administration Program
- Co-Director, Kuyper Honors Program
- Innovation and Creative Thinking - BUAD 322
- American Constitutional Law - CJ 325
- Criminology - CJ 304
- Christian Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanity - KHP 200
- Engaging Culture as Christians - KHP 399
- Nonprofit Law - MPA 553
- Jurisprudence & Lawmaking - MPA 580
Past Courses
- Federal Income Tax - BUAD 315
- Advanced Federal Income Tax - BUAD 316
- Kingdom, Identity, and Calling - CORE 100
- Business Law I - BUAD 301
- Business Law II - BUAD 302
- Introduction to Criminal Justice - CJ 101
- Calling, Task, and Culture - CORE 399
- Criminology - CJ 304
- Domestic Preparedness - CJ 350