Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself – where you live, about your family, what you did before DE?
A: I’m originally from Birmingham, Alabama, but I have lived in many places since college including France, New Jersey, and Florida. I’m a convert to the Catholic faith and after becoming Catholic I spent some time discerning with a religious order. After discerning out, I returned to school and got a Master’s in Theology at the University of Notre Dame. I have done a lot of parish ministry and I am currently in my third year of teaching Theology at a Catholic High School in the Diocese of Fort Wayne South Bend.
Q: How long have you been at DE and what brought you here?
A: I’ve been an independent contractor at DE since June, although I spent a brief experimental time working with DE back in 2021. I believe Mary brought me here! I love that DE is consecrated to her. I studied at Our Lady’s University (Notre Dame), I teach at Our Lady’s High School (Marian High School), and now I am publishing a magazine with Our Lady’s media company (DE).
Q: Who is your favorite saint and why?
A: My favorite female Saint is St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Reading Story of a Soul was very influential to me, and I love her act of offering to Divine Love. I feel that she has been a heavenly friend to me, and I recommend praying to her! I was impressed when I visited Lisieux to see all of the military items like jackets and swords that were there. The reason is that she appeared to many men on the battlefield to save them from danger and once they figured out who it was who had appeared to them and saved them, they brought tokens of their appreciation to the Carmel in Lisieux where she lived a short but incredibly fruitful life. She said “I will spend my Heaven doing good on Earth”, and she is fulfilling that promise!
My favorite male Saint is St. John Paul II. He was on fire to evangelize the world and he was passionately devoted to the Blessed Mother and to the Eucharist. He knew how to speak to all people and brought the Gospel to the ends of the earth. He was a man of prayer above all, and his favorite prayer was the Rosary, which is my favorite devotional prayer too. He was also a man of action, learning many languages and traveling the world to bring everyone to know the love of Christ. He was a champion of the dignity of every human person, and I hope to be more like him.
Q: What is a hobby you enjoy?
A: Cooking, especially with an air fryer.
Q: What is something about you most people don’t know?
A: I once co-published an article in a scientific journal called the Journal of Experimental Biology.
Q: What is your favorite Title of Mary?
A: All of them. I just visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, and I am praying more using the title “Our Lady of Good Help” recently, because Mary said, “Go and fear nothing; I will help you.”
Q: What do you love most about DE?
A: Obviously the faith is central to the mission and vision of DE and to the virtue ethic that structures the business and I love that. I also love DE’s joyful enthusiasm and encouragement. I thrive on encouragement, and I like that I feel supported by the RAs and the Home Office so that I can go out and succeed!