I was born and raised in the Columbus, Ohio, area and had a rather typical suburban middle-class childhood. With the original intention of becoming an orchestral violinist, I focused on music in my education, only to realize that the professional life of a classical musician did not suit me (I remain involved in music by being a member of two orchestras). Wandering in the wilderness, I enrolled in an introductory psychology course in order to satisfy general education requirements, which resulted in my becoming a psychology major. I eventually earned my doctorate in social and industrial/organizational psychology.

My primary research interests lie within the area of sexual orientation (attitudes and social categorizations), as well as the psychology of religion and psychometrics. I am currently on the faculty at Arkansas State University, where I teach undergraduate courses in social psychology, personality, and tests and measures.