I was born on Cape Cod while my father was stationed there during World War II, but grew up near the village of Berrien Springs in southwestern Michigan.  I became interested in nonassociative algebra while I was an undergraduate at Michigan State University from 1961 to 1965.  I chose to do my graduate studies at Yale University because Nathan Jacobson was on the faculty there.  He was an excellent dissertation advisor, and I greatly appreciate his help both during and after my stay at Yale.  I received my Ph.D. from Yale in 1969 for my dissertation entitled "Octonion planes defined by quadratic Jordan algebras".  This was the beginning of my simultaneous interest in nonassociative algebra and geometry.  I started at the University of Virginia in the fall of 1969.  I was promoted to professor of mathematics in 1984 and served as acting chair of the department during 1996-1997.
    I met my wife, Nancy (Ferrar), while we were waiting in line during matriculation at Michigan State.  The process was alphabetized with the two of us falling in the same section of F's.  We were married in 1964 and have three sons.  Rick is a jazz musician in New York City and is the father of our two granddaughters, Maggie and Lisa.  Dan is a mechanical engineer in Portland, Oregon.  Mark is a graduate student in geography at the University of Oklahoma.  

Education
Ph.D., Mathematics, Yale University, 1969.  Advisor: N. Jacobson

Professional Experience
1984--present   Professor of Mathematics, University of Virginia
1996--1997      Acting Chairman, Dept. of Math., University of Virginia
1973--1984      Associate Professor, University of Virginia
1969--1973      Assistant Professor, University of Virginia

National Service
1984-1990 Editorial Board of Algebras, Groups, and Geometries
1985-1995 Editorial Board of Communications in Algebra