He began working in fisheries with Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism in 1998 while completing an Associates of Science Degree at Coffeyville Community College. In 2001, he attended South Dakota State University to complete my Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and obtain valuable fishery experience and education with new people. After completing his undergraduate work, he continued his education by also completing a Master of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at SDSU. Because of the passion and enthusiasm he have for teaching and research, he continued on to gain more experience and education at Southern Illinois University where he completed my Ph.D. Since completing his formal education, he acquired a fisheries research position with the Missouri Department of Conservation.