I am a herpetologist and professor of biology at Stockton University in Galloway New Jersey. My passion for reptiles, and snakes in particular, began long before I ever stepped foot in a college classroom. For as long as I can remember, I have had an affinity for the often maligned and misunderstood amphibians and reptiles with which we share our world. My initial entry into the field of herpetology was as an outlet for that affinity. It was as simple as that. Now, as a biologist with my own lab, my connection to these creatures has developed into a drive to better understand and protect them. In my lab at Stockton, my Students and I pursue this goal using observational and experimental studies aimed at characterizing how reptiles interpret and respond to environmental challenges.