I was exposed to academia at a young age when my father decided to go back to school to get a PhD in accounting in order to teach and do research.  I inherited a very inquisitive nature from my parents, who encouraged my curiosity.  When I graduated high school, I was sure that I wanted to be a professor, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to teach and research. 

After spending two years in southern Mexico as a full-time representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I returned to BYU and decided to give accounting a try.  I enjoyed my introductory accounting classes and I started talking to my dad about his research.  One thing that  sold me on accounting was the opportunity to draw on economic and psychological theory in my research.  In addition, I was interested in understanding why people commit financial statement fraud and how auditors and individuals responsible for corporate governance can better prevent and detect fraud.

I graduated from BYU’s Masters of Accounting program, in the PhD prep track, in August 2009.  That same month I began studying to obtain my PhD in Accounting at the University of Illinois.  I am especially fortunate to have a wife who is very supportive of my career choice and I am blessed to have the opportunity to share this adventure with her.