I grew up in California. Then I moved to Maine where I completed an MA degree. In the late 1990s I moved to Minnesota to earn a Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. I have served on the faculty of Saint John’s University and the College of St. Benedict for 24 years. I met my wife Laurie while in Maine, and we’ve been

together almost 30 years. Laurie is the Superintendent for District 742 Schools. We have two beautiful and silly grown children, Eliza and Phineas. I was elected to the MN Senate in 2020. I have served as chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development where I have worked hard to forward the interests of all Minnesotans.