If you’ve followed my site for a while, you probably have an idea of what to expect. If you haven’t, below are some things you should know about me and what you’ll find on my website:

I think men need to #BeBetterMen
I’m passionate about conversations around masculinity. It feels like masculinity is in a bit of a crisis right now. Boys and men are struggling to reconcile the pressures of traditional masculine expectations with the naturally shifting landscape of gender and sexuality. Times are changing, and men must be at the forefront of redefining what it means to be a man so it aligns with the solidarity, compassion, and empathy demanded by an increasingly globalized world. Now, more than ever, I believe boys and men need to have some seriously introspective and thoughtful conversations about what it means to be a man, how we can change the dominant harmful narratives around manhood, and how to create a new culture of masculinity characterized by empathy, compassion, and respect. You’ll see a lot of that in my writing, too.

I wrote a children’s book!
I wrote Meet Coach Ben with the goal of giving kids a role model for positive and healthy masculinity. It’s a book made to help kids – especially boys! – embrace their feelings, come to terms with their emotions, and understand that real strength comes from the heart. I’m super proud of this book, and hope you check it out!

I created a Udemy course
I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m passionate about masculinity. On top of the children’s book, I also created an online course through Udemy called “Detoxifying Masculinity.” It will give you a quick primer on some of the main issues surrounding masculinity today. You’ll learn about some of the social pressures and struggles that boys and men face, as well as some practical ways to break through and push for a better future.

I have a PhD in Moving Image Studies
I received a PhD in Communication from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. My dissertation project was titled Global Playground: Mutualism, the Ethic of World Citizenship, and the Films of Dayyan Eng, and I used it to present an approach to film that veered away from assuming an inherent conflict within human nature. Much of my research during my doctoral work focused on Chinese cinema, especially mainstream filmmaking in the People’s Republic of China. However, I am also interested in a lot of other topics, including film history, media industries, media literacy, game studies, transnational media, film marketing, etc. Generally speaking, I find myself repeatedly drawn to research that presents a more international and de-westernized view of media issues. The idea of world citizenship as a global ethic profoundly impacted my dissertation, and continues to guide me in my own personal life.

I am an educator
I have worked in education for nearly a decade, taking on a variety of roles within the independent K-12 sector: teacher, student advocate, administrator, school counselor, and principal. I’m passionate about the work and care deeply about the growth and empowerment of young people.

I am a father
Becoming a parent is a life-altering event. That’s nothing new. But it’s a part of who I am. My desire to create a better world for my sons is a major part of who I am and what I’ll be bringing to my blog posts. Parenting is also ridiculous, and that’s fun to dig into sometimes.

I am a Bahá’í
The worldview of the Bahá’í Faith is probably the single greatest contributor to how I navigate my life – or try to, at least – on a daily basis. Its tenets push me to constantly seek self-improvement, to celebrate unity in diversity on a global scale, to independently investigate reality for the most accurate truth, and to actively work towards making the world a better place. It was all over my dissertation, and whether I like it or not, it’s all over this site. It’s just who I am.

So hang out, check out my writing, buy my book, leave a comment, subscribe below, and thanks for visiting!