Velle Logos. It’s a new name, but one that resonates deeply with me. Velle is Latin for “to wish” or “to desire” — a nod to my last name. Logos is Greek for “word,” “reason,” or “truth.” Put together, Velle Logos means the desire for truth. It reflects a personal mission grounded in the Western tradition of drawing from ancient wisdom, guided by Enlightenment ideals, and fueled by a dedication to clarity, reason, and the pursuit of understanding.

I'm curious about the world and I want my students, and you, to be as well. I've been learning and teaching in various disciplines and environments my entire life, and only now have I realized how much I have to say on learning, teaching, coaching, and mentoring. Despite having much to say, I'm less confident in my ability to write it, but I intend to try.

I've been a student my entire life; in the dojo as a young man learning martial arts, in the field as a Marine studying tactics, and in the classroom of graduate education programs in the arts and sciences. Likewise I've been teaching since I was a teenager, first as a sensei in the karate studio, later gunnery in the artillery classroom, and most recently college physics. For the last 5 years I've been tutoring, coaching, and guiding young men and women in academics and life.

The journey has been incredibly rewarding, and frequently frustrating. I’ve met far too many students burned out by poor instruction, toxic classrooms, or a lack of guidance. Too few have been taught how to learn, how to manage their minds and bodies, or how to stay calm and focused under pressure.

It has been my great privileged helping students master a complex topic, achieve goals once thought unreachable, and make changes that truly impacted their lives. But helping one student at a time is no longer enough. I want to reach a broader audience — to pull back the curtain on how we can learn, teach, and live more effectively.

If you’re a teacher, parent, coach, mentor, or lifelong learner, I hope you’ll find ideas here that challenge you, sharpen you, and help you sharpen others.

If you're ready to join the community, please consider our Self-Architecture Course!