Dr. John “Philip” Nordeck was born and raised in Colorado. After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Dr. Nordeck traded the Rocky Mountains for the mountains of La Cordillera de Las Talamancas, spending 2.5 years as a Teaching English as Foreign Language Peace Corps volunteer in southern Costa Rica. The experiences teaching abroad, followed by more teaching experiences in Denver, inspired Dr. Nordeck to pursue a career in which he could utilize teaching skills to transform the lives of others: occupational therapy. Dr. Nordeck received his Occupational Therapy Doctorate from Rocky Mountain College in 2021. Dr. Nordeck’s areas of academic interest include: communication, assistive technology, cultural competency, sleep, and the promotion of health and well-being through outdoor environments. When Dr. Nordeck’s not in the classroom, he enjoys cycling, hiking, and snowboarding