Academic Background

I received my Ph.D. in analytic philosophy in 2002 from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Even prior to that and for many years thereafter, I was a professor at several universities. Even after my teaching and advising experience ultimately morphed into the academic software business, of which I am the President and Founder, I still taught as an adjunct. I have spent many years as an academic advisor and have edited/graded countless student papers. I am most gratified by how many times over the years students told me something like, “Nobody, in my entire educational experience, ever took the time to really teach me to write as you have.”

Current Business

My last professor position made me realize how unsatisfied I was with the various degree-audit systems I had used over the years, so, with four of my best logic students, I engaged in what turned out to be a year-long project of writing a degree-audit engine. That started as a “proof of concept,” but we quickly realized that we had the bare bones of a better system than anything else available. So, in 2002, we formed Conclusive Systems, LLC and started marketing the system. We have grown steadily since then, and today the Advisor system by Conclusive Systems provides and supports demonstrably the best degree-audit system in existence. We serve some of the largest and most prestigious universities in the world. Our system helps students see their progress toward graduation, what they need to do next, and plan out their academic career. So I have never lost my deep connection to academia.

In my role as President of Conclusive Systems, I write many (seems like too many) RFP Responses, all of our company documentation, and endless formal emails and letters. I have learned how to quickly “flow thoughts” from my mind into writing, and I know how to teach every style of writing, from the basics of organization and structure to advanced strategies of transitions and flow.

Publications

I have published two books and countless articles. My articles have appeared in journals ranging from religious to climbing. My two books are:

Wings of Steel

Miracles, Faith, and Unanswered Prayer

Summary

Few people that offer their writing/editing services have the sheer breadth of diverse experience that I have. And my long teaching experience makes me unusually adept at conveying helpful information. In fact, training customers on our software system is one of my roles, and I have always been uplifted and gratified to watch “the light go on” in my students. There is nothing more rewarding than teaching in those moments when my student gets something for the first time and I get to watch that sense of understanding and empowerment emerge!

Whatever is your writing, editing, or even training project, I bring a truly unique combination of skills and enthusiasm to making it better.