This section highlights education, certifications, speaking, training, association membership and any further activities in which Ross has engaged.

Education

The University of Arizona                                                  1995
Tucson, AZ

Main Campus: 1989-1992  |  ​Extended University: 1993-1995

B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (Political Science, History, and Philosophy)
  • Certificate of Concentration in Middle East Studies
  • Model UN Club

The Interdisciplinary Studies program was structured by the student. The student wrote a proposal which included a goal and objectives along with coursework to be completed. Each department adviser and the student's adviser were required to sign-off in order for the proposal to be approved.

Ross focused his program on:
  • History:  Middle East and Soviet Union
  • Political Science: Terrorism, Revolution, and Democracy Building
  • Philosophy: General and Political
Courses included:
  • Democracies, Emerging & Evolving (POL 437)
  • The Arab-Israeli Conflict (POL 441)
  • Soviet & Post-Soviet Foreign Policy (POL 451)
  • Modern Revolution & Terrorism (POL 453)
  • Civil-Military Relations in the Third World (POL 458)
  • National Security Policy (POL 485)
  • The History of Muslim Societies I (HIST 381A)
  • The History of Muslim Societies II (HIST 381B)
  • ​Intellectual History of Russia (HIST 423)
  • The Russian Revolution (RSS 424)
  • Modern History of the Middle East (HIST 478)
  • The History of Islamicism (NES 596B)
  • Western Civilization: Justice & Virtue (PHIL 121)
  • Western Civilization: Mind, Matter & God (PHIL 122)
  • History of Ethics (PHIL 310)
  • Existential Problems (PHIL 245)
  • Philosophy of Social Science (PHIL 424)
  • Social & Political Philosophy (PHIL 434)
Ross also had one independent study per major area.
East Stroudsburg University                                             1998
East Stroudsburg, PA

No Degree: Secondary Education Masters Program

Ironically, upon being hired by the Nazareth Area School District he did not have time to schedule the 15 remaining credits to complete his Master's Degree (completed 15 credits).

Courses completed: 
  • Current Trends in Secondary Education
  • Seminar in Secondary Education
  • Introduction to Research
  • The Teacher and School Community
  • The Learner and Learning Process

certifications

Advanced Google Analytics                                               2020
Google Analytics Academy
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)                         2017
Scrum Alliance
Certificate Program with Distinction 
Project Management                                                 2015-2016
University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business

The program comprised seven courses, eight weeks per course, for a total of 210 hours of instruction.

Courses completed: 
  • Project Management (intro course)
  • Project Scope and Quality Management
  • Project Schedule and Risk Management
  • Project Leadership and Building High-Performing Teams
  • ​Project Cost and Procurement Management
  • Elicitation, Requirements Management, and Communication
  • Project Execution and Control

Public Speaking

Ross was a speaker at the following conferences, shows, and classes:
  • JRR Tolkien Society Annual Conference (2024)
  • NYC Tolkien Society (2024)
  • JRR Tolkien Society Annual Conference (2023)
  • JRR Tolkien Society Annual Conference (2022)
  • ​JRR Tolkien Society Annual Conference (2021)
  • Digital Marketing for Medical Devices West (2015)
  • Nazareth High School, Digital Marketing (2015)
  • Acquia Engage (2014)
  • DrupalCon, Austin BoF facilitator (2014)​​​
  • Digital Marketing for Medical Devices West (2014)
  • Partnering with Agencies Focus Day at Digital Pharma East (2014)
  • Change Management Summit for Lifesciences (2014)
  • Digital Marketing for Medical Devices West (2013)
  • ​Lehigh University, School of Journalism (2010)
  • WDIY's Pints & Policy (2010)
  • Lehigh University, School of Journalism (2009)
  • NYSE: Ready, Set, Change - Strategies for Managing Change (2008)

Online Training Courses

Courses taken in 2020 to either refresh or learn new areas related to his professional work:
Code Academy
  • Learn SQL
  • R
Google Analytics Academy
  • Google Analytics for Beginners
  • Advanced Google Analytics​
Khan Academy
  • Intro to SQL: Querying and Managing Data
  • Computer Science: Algorithms

training & Conferences
Drupal Camp Atlanta                                                         2019
Atlanta, GA

Two day conference focused on the Drupal Web Content Management System. Day 1 was an all day training comparing Drupal 7 to Drupal 8 and where things were heading for Drupal 9.
DrupalCon                                                                              2018
Nashville, TN

​One week conference focused on the Drupal Web Content Management System.
Drupal Camp New Jersey                                                   2017
Princeton, NJ

One day conference focused on the Drupal Web Content Management System.
New York City Camp                                                           2015
New York, NY

One week conference focused on the Drupal Web Content Management System. Ross was the co-facilitator for the day long Business Summit.
Digital Marketing for Medical Devices West                2015
San Francisco, CA

Two day online marketing conference specific to the medical device industry.
DrupalCon                                                                              2014
Austin, TX

One week conference focused on the Drupal Web Content Management System. Day 1 is comprised of full day trainings and Ross selected one on Agile Project Management.
Digital Marketing for Medical Devices West                2014
San Diego, CA

Two day online marketing conference specific to the medical device industry.
Change Management Summit for Lifesciences           2014
Philadelphia, PA

Two day conference addressing change management in pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotech industries.
New York City Camp                                                            2014
New York, NY

One week conference focused on the Drupal Web Content Management System. Ross was the co-facilitator for the day long Business Summit.
Digital Pharma East                                                              2014
Philadelphia, PA

Four day conference focused on digital marketing in the pharmaceutical industry.
Acquia Engage                                                                       2014
Boston, MA

Three day customer conference focused on the business side of Drupal.
Drupaldelphia                                                                        2014
Philadelphia, PA

One day conference focused on the Drupal Web Content Management System.
Digital Marketing for Medical Devices West                2014
San Diego, CA

Two day online marketing conference specific to the medical device industry.
New York City Camp                                                            2013
New York, NY

One week conference focused on the Drupal Web Content Management System.
Social Media Marketing                                                      2010
Philadelphia, PA

Full day social media program focused on its value, examples of campaigns, do's and don'ts, and when/how to engage.
CAE for Young Professionals                                              2009
New York, NY

Full day program for non-profit employees seeking to become a Certified Association Executive (CAE).
Creating Value Online                                                         2008
Online

Association management software vendor half-day seminar for non-profit online marketing.
Online Communities: The Next Generation                  2007
Online

Half day program for non-profit managers to learn how to foster an online community.
Marketing & Membership Conference                            2006
Rockville, MD

Two day annual event for Marketing and Membership non-profit professionals.
Managing and Increasing Membership                          2006
Newtown Square, PA

Half day program featuring a panel and keynote speaker.
Communications Institute                                                2005
New York, NY

Full day program focused on non-profit communications sponsored by the New York Society of Association Executives.
Product Manager Development Program                     2004

Three day training program for new or about to become product managers in the pharmaceutical industry. The program taught the essentials including regulatory, vendor management, medical education, and marketing.
The Real Direct to Consumer                                            2003
New York, NY

PR Week event focused on emergence of online avenues for PR communications.
Technovation Exchange                                                     2003

Full day program focused on the 'new print basics' as print met digital.
Management Development Program                             2002
Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business

One week training program focused on pharmaceutical marketing. The program utilized the MarkStrat business simulation program to provide a practical application of what was taught in the lectures.
Effective Project Management                                          2000

​Two day training program (12 contact hours) providing an overview of the primary areas of project management and it provided templates for use in planning, risk assessment and other areas.
How to Handle People with Tact and Skill                     2000
Allentown, PA

One day training on conflict management.
Managing Difficult People                                                  2000
Allentown, PA

One day training on conflict management.
Leadership Training: Interscholastic Athletics
Philosophy, Organization & Programs                           2000
Harrisburg, PA

Professional development program offered through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
Excelling as a First-Time Supervisor                               2000
Allentown, PA

​One day training on core skills for being a supervisor.
Conflict Resolution and Confrontation Skills               1999
Allentown, PA

One day training on conflict management.
Sports Law for Athletic Directors and Coaches            1999
PA School Boards Association

All day training related to laws impacting school district personnel engaged in extra-curricular activities.
Pupil Transportation Association of Pennsylvania:
Annual Conference                                                              1999
State College, PA

Two day annual conference for individuals responsible for public school pupil transportation.

Non-Profit Associations & Memberships

Current membership:
  • ​The JRR Tolkien Society
Previous memberships:
  • The Drupal Association
  • The Digital Analytics Association
  • American Society of Association Executives
  • National Wildlife Foundation
  • ​Philadelphia Zoo
  • National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association
  • Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association
  • District XI Athletic Directors Association
  • Pennsylvania School Boards Association - Associate Member
  • Pupil Transportation Association of Pennsylvania​
Current associations:
  • Nazareth Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame
  • University of Arizona Delta Chi Alumni Board of Trusteees
Previous active participant in the following:
  • Pleasant Valley High School Head Wrestling Coach
  • The Drupal Association
  • The Nazareth Center for the Arts 
  • Nazareth Main Street (evolved from the Development Committee - founding member)
  • The Nazareth Downtown Development Committee
  • Nazareth Area High School, Varsity Tennis Coach
  • ​Lower Nazareth Youth Wrestling Coach
  • The Nazareth Area Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees - founding member)
  • The Nazareth Heritage Society
  • Nazareth Area School District, Gifted Education Task Force