the Wond'ry

Hi, my name is Dean Keith Stolworthy, and I am an Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Fellow.   I go by both my first name (Dean) and middle name (Keith) so take your pick!  I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and love the desert and mountains.  I’m grateful to be in Nashville, and I am loving the seasons, cooler weather, and trees!  I have been married for almost 10 years, and my wife and I have 4 kids (and 2 dogs).   We enjoy camping, all sports, church, and live music, which makes Nashville a great place to be!  I received a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S., in mechanical engineering, from Brigham Young University, where I also studied business management and entrepreneurship.  My graduate research focused on human biomechanics, robotics systems, and mechanical design.  I’m a licensed professional engineer and concurrently work in forensics/litigation as a consulting biomechanical expert, which I did full time before coming to Vanderbilt.  Prior to that I worked as the lead R&D engineer to develop gun ranges for law enforcement, military, and private training.  My passion for engineering design and injury analysis was fueled following an accident at age 17, which left me paralyzed.  I have experienced great progress in my recovery, and I currently run (slowly) with 2 canes.