I come from a diverse background. In the beginning of my bachelor degree at Pitzer College, I took carpentry and ceramics every semester my first two years, developing an admiration for products that are both efficient and understandable. I decided to pursue a science degree, and began studying Physics. The dedicated faculty at Pitzer, Pomona, and Harvey Mudd Colleges allowed me to engage in a multi-disciplinary approach to physics, one that permuted my interests in making and the humanities with technical problems. Projects during my later college career included helping to build a 3D printer for the Pomona College Physics department, working with a team to develop an adaptive optics system for Pomona College's one-meter telescope on Table Mountain, and lending carpentry skills to rebuild the trellis and overhang outside Pitzer College's beloved Grove House.

Since coming to CCA, I have learned an enormous set of design and representation techniques. My digital skills range from creating working technical models and drawings using a variety of 3D programs to creating photo-realistic renderings and playfully clear diagrams. Recently, I have been pursuing parametric design scripting, including a physics engine that can be applied directly to digital modeling programs.  Physical making continues to be a serious part of my design process. With the shops at CCA, I can learn new ways of making and am encouraged to research new material strategies. I have also been hired as a part-time shop monitor for CCA's three-axis CNC router.  Any tool that helps me to quickly iterate design ideas is a tool worth investigating.  What most excites me most about architecture is the chance to represent design in dynamic and powerful ways.  The logics of construction and the communicative power of representation are both themes I want to push forward in my career.

My professional experience thus far has tended towards learning how buildings go together: all three of my jobs have been directly engaged with the making of the building.  My first position was a construction apprentice for a small design-build firm.  With a toolbelt and baseball cap, I learned light wood techniques and the challenges faced even in small-scale architecture.  In my internship with John Lum Architecture, I have drawn dozens of working drawings.  Whether they be for my manager, the client, the city, or the contractor, I can say that I have a solid start to understanding the role of the architect.

As you can see, there is no one field in which I am interested. Instead, it is the intersection of fields that draws out my enthusiasm for learning and making. While I am sure my interests will become more focused, I vow to always be looking to new fields for inspiration, knowledge, and routes to problem solving. I value a warm and comfortable work environment where ideas can be communicated easily and with smiles. I consider myself a serious worker who enjoys making people laugh and having a good attitude in any situation.