Central Purpose
The central purpose to my life is to help others make better decisions with online technologies. I approach this purpose from three different ways. First, I teach budding technology professionals how to make better decisions how to build and maintain information systems, with a special passion with web development. This is accomplished through instruction at the various institutions where I have worked as a professor. Second, I research how people make effective decisions when using technology. With the findings from this research, I communicate how to effectively build and use technology to achieve better results. Third, I promote healthy habits, virtues, and values for making decisions through my study of philosophy and personal development.
Biography
My career began back in 1998, when I started teaching Chemistry at a local high school and tutoring students in math and science. After a year doing that, I moved into a web development, spending time at two different web companies and doing a ton of side jobs helping numerous small businesses improve their web presence. Since 2011, I have brought my passion for web development and information systems to my position as Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems at East Carolina University. My research, teaching, and service to the community all focus on one thing, helping businesses and students build and run successful websites.
In 1998, I received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville , with an honors distinction, and in 2008, a Ph.D. in Management of Information Technology and Innovation from Auburn University.
I am happily married to an amazing wife, with whom we have 3 wonderful kids who challenge me to be a better person. I am a voracious but eclectic reader, enjoying books on business, science, philosophy, personal development, history, classic fiction, economics, gardening, technology, sci-fi, biographies, and fitness. When time permits, you can find me playing games, hiking, camping, gardening, working out, woodworking, or just goofing around. It would not be a complete biography, however, unless I mentioned the biggest influence on my life and personal philosophy – Ayn Rand. Her philosophy of Objectivism has helped me to find my purpose in life and become a moral and happy husband, father, instructor, teacher, consultant, and business owner.
Disclaimer
In an effort to understand how e-commerce works, I signed up for Amazon’s affiliate program. If you find a link to amazon.com on this site, click through, and buy something, I will receive a small commission for the recommendation. Hopefully a win-win – you get something that benefits your life and I get a $10 check every 6 months or so. Amazon requires I post this following message: “John Drake is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.”