I was born and raised in California's Central Valley. I earned a Bachelor's of Science in Economics with a minor in Mathematics at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. After graduating in 2008, I spent four years working with Jeffrey Michael and Thomas Pogue at the Center for Business and Policy Research (CBPR) in the Eberhardt School of Business at University of the Pacific. While at CBPR, I studied a wide range of topics in the Central Valley including the 2008 housing crisis, demographics, health care, and commuting, and was the lead researcher and author of the Regional Analyst quarterly publication, produced in cooperation with the San Joaquin Council of Governments.

After earning a PhD in Economics at University of California-Davis in 2020, I joined the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research (CHPR) at U.C. Davis. At CHPR  specialized in the evaluation of mental health programs, providing econometric expertise on large, collaborative research projects such as the Cal SEALS for SB-82 Triage Grants Adult & TAY Statewide Evaluation, EPI-CAL as part of the California Collaborative Statewide Early Psychosis Program Evaluation, San Joaquin's Progressive Housing Initiative Evaluation, and San Joaquin's Homeward Bound Initiative Evaluation.

I currently reside in the Sacramento Valley with my wife, Megann, and our two children, Joey and Lilly. In my free time I enjoy exploring the California Coastal Ranges and the Sierra Nevada, playing games (of both the board and video varieties), and guitar.