A Little About Me

Physically-based simulation of time-varying material changes in an alley way scene that change an object's shape and appearance.

I am an Associate Professor in the School of Computing at Clemson University located in Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston Innovation Campus). I work in the Visual Computing research division which focuses on the acquisition, processing, and synthesis of visual information. I teach in the Digital Production Arts program, where I work with students to explore cutting-edge technical and artistic components of visual effects production. From 2016-2024 I was an Associate Professor at the IST, School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training at the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida. I held a Secondary Joint Appointment in the Department of Computer Science and in the Learning Sciences Faculty Cluster. I also co-directed (with Lori Walters) the SENSEable Design Laboratory at the Institute for Simulation and Training.

My research focuses on computer graphics, virtual reality, augmented reality, human-robotic teams, and human-computer interaction. This trans-disciplinary research utilizes computer graphics and computational tools to design virtual environments, cutting-edge hardware, and technology to design novel research settings, and elements of cognitive and experimental psychology to rigorously study learning and performance of individuals and teams. This approach requires an “anti-disciplinary” methodology combining disciplinary knowledge and processes from Computer Science, Architecture, Psychology, and Engineering to innovate new knowledge, experimental approaches, and novel validation processes. This research also strongly impacts immersive technologies for Cultural Heritage. This connects work at the intersection of digital technologies and the digital humanities focusing on realistic (spectral) rendering, digitally documenting historically significant structures and artifacts, and virtual environments. As a result of my wide range of interests, I can collaborate easily with colleagues and build diverse teams. My team’s work has won national and international recognition through publications, grants, and awards in each research theme. My research has been awarded  ~$7.5 million dollars - always in teams of amazing collaborators.

1. 1. Enhancing Training with eXtended/Virtual/Augmented Reality: How can we extend virtual environments to aid in complex-problem solving and training to improve human performance while measuring metrics with a constellation of multi-channel multi-modal sensors?
2. 2. Human-Robotic Teams: How can robots, such as Boston Dynamics Spot, improve and amplify humans in the design, construction, and operation of the built environment and cultural heritage sites?
3. 3. Immersive Technologies and Cultural Heritage: How can we digitally document, sustainably preserve, and immersively explore historically significant structures and artifacts?

I had the privilege to be mentored by Dr. Donald Greenberg as a Research Associate and Postdoctoral Scholar at Cornell University in the Program of Computer Graphics. I completed my Ph.D. at the Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania, where I was advised by Dr. Norman Badler. While at Penn, I ran the SIG Center for Computer Graphics serving as the Associate Director for three years. I also was a lecturer in the Department of Computer and Information Science. I had the pleasure of teaching and advising the amazing students in Penn's Digital Media Design Undergraduate Program and Computer Graphics and Game Technology Master Program.

I recieved my undergraduate degree (B.S.) in Computer Science (with minors in Mathematics and Political Science) from The Catholic University of America (CUA). While at Catholic, I interned for the Naval Research Labratory (2002-2003), NAVSEA - Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) (2001-2002), and was on the Web Development team at CUA.

I am orginally from Philadelphia.