Nature Name: Polar Bear
Hometown: Del Mar, California- Occupation: Exercise Physiologist, Educator
- Education: PHD UC Davis, B.S. UC Santa Cruz
- Certs:First Aid/CPR, Open Water Diver, Swift Water Rescue
- Favorite Food:Chocolate and Peanut Butter
I grew up in Del Mar, a beach town north of San Diego. I enjoy the life aquatic: swimming, surfing and SCUBA diving.
I spent six years as an ocean lifeguard in Del Mar. After which, I headed north to UC Davis where I worked in the Equine Athletic Performance Lab. For my thesis, I ran goats on a treadmill while they breathed gases present in fires to understand how these gases interact to limit aerobic capacity and exercise performance. Soldiers, rescue workers and miners are example of people who breathe these gases in environments where explosions occur and materials burn.
While at Davis, I raced triathlons as a member of the UC Davis Triathlon Team as well as played numerous intramural sports including volleyball, soccer, tennis, flag football and, my favorite, inner-tube water polo! I also am a member and former assistant coach of Davis Aquatic Masters swim team. I enjoy racing triathlon and recently completed IRONMAN Lake Tahoe alongside Swift and Buckeye. As for team sports, I love all of them and am a firm believer of the many positive benefits of participating in team sports. Besides sports, my hobbies include hiking, camping, gardening, baking, (& eating) and I considered myself an amateur numismatist!
Currently, I teach in the Kinesiology Department at California State University, San Marcos.
