ACTE Postsecondary CTE Summit 2026

I serve as the UAS Program Lead, Aviation CE Coordinator, and Lecturer in Aviation Technology at Utah State University, specifically housed at USU Eastern, where I oversee statewide curriculum development, program expansion, and credentialing in unmanned aircraft systems. My work focuses on strengthening Utah’s aviation and UAS workforce pipeline and expanding access to high‑quality aviation pathways, especially in rural communities. I came to aviation after 13 years teaching English in Davis School District, where I built the Farmington High School drone program and discovered how transformative UAS education can be for students. That experience led me to USU Eastern and the Aggie Drone Academy, where I now teach FAA regulations, drone construction and maintenance, flight operations, programming, applied aerial imaging, amd experiential learning courses. I hold degrees from the University of Utah, Westminster College, Northern Arizona University, and Utah State University. I am currently preparing for my Ed.D. in Applied Educational Studies – Aviation & Space at Oklahoma State University. My teaching and research center on creating meaningful, industry‑aligned aviation opportunities that help students see themselves in the rapidly evolving world of UAS and aerospace technology.