About Jon Westfall

Jonathan E. Westfall, PhD, born 1982, is a professor, researcher and speaker. He teaches a variety of courses in psychology, from introduction to psychology to upper-level seminars. His current research focuses on the variables individuals use when making economic and consumer finance decisions, specifically strength of handedness, a variable correlated with a number of decision-making and cognitive psychology tasks and measures. Dr. Westfall also conducts research on consumer financial decision making, and applications to both marketing and public policy. His current appointment is as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Delta State University. Previously he was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Centenary College of Louisiana, and the Associate Director for Research and Technology at the Center for Decision Sciences, a center within Columbia Business School at Columbia University in New York City. He now maintains a role with Columbia as a research affiliate and technology consultant.

In addition to his research, Dr. Westfall also has career ties in information technology, where he has worked as a consultant since 1997, founding his own firm, Bug Jr. Systems. As a consultant he has developed custom software solutions (including native Windows 32 applications, Windows .NET applications, Windows Phone 7 and Android mobile applications, as well as ASP, ASP.NET, and PHP web applications). He has also served as a senior network and systems architect and administrator (on both Windows and Unix networks, and hybrids) and has also been recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) 2008 – 2012. He has authored several books, and presented at academic as well as technology conferences and gatherings.

Dr. Westfall is married to Karey A. Westfall, and both are natives to the midwestern United States.

He is available for public and private events, speaking on a variety of topics, custom tailoring them to your group. Topics include…

• Psychological Processes involved in Decision Making, Memory, and Learning.
• Behavioral Economics
• Information Technology, programming, and security.
• Self-publishing.
• Blogging, community engagement, and internet marketing for individuals.
• Social networking, tailored specifically to educators or writers.

If you are interested in having him at your event, please use the contact form.

Detailed Chronlogical Biography

1997: Founded Bug Jr. Systems (As Bug Jr. Software), recruiting a team of technology enthusiasts and professionals to work on web development projects and custom Win32 software development in Borland Delphi. Released a number of shareware applications, and began working on network design and administration projects.

2001: Certified as a MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional), MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer), and CompTIA A+ Certified technician. Began teaching A+ Certification courses at The University of Akron, while studying for a bachelors degree in psychology.

2003: Continued teaching A+ Certification, as well as a new two course sequence, Computer Repair & Maintenance, a course designed for non-technical learners focusing on operation and repair of a computer.

2004: Graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Akron (UA), as a presidential and university honors scholar. Applied and accepted to the experimental psychology MA-PhD program at The University of Toledo (UT).

2005: Teaching interests gradually shift from Technology (at UA) to Psychology (at UT). Taught Principles of Psychology discussion and lecture, and TA’ed for Cognitive Psychology. Also appointed a Contributing Editor for Pocket PC Thoughts, a Thoughts Media network website.

2007: Awarded a Masters of Arts in Psychology, conducting research on individual differences and decision making. Taught Research Methods in Psychology, Principles of Psychology, and Cognitive Psychology.

2008: Recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) – Windows Mobile Devices.

2009: Awarded Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD), offered and accepted a postdoctoral position at Columbia University, with the Center for Decision Sciences, as an Associate Director.

2010: Windows Phone 7 Made Simple and Mandate (Self-published) released. Launched and currently serving as Executive Editor of Android Thoughts.

2011: Fast Food Calorie Lookup, an Android smartphone calorie database, released and downloaded by more than 50,000 users within the first 3 months.

2012: Beginning Android Web Apps Development released. Accepted a visiting assistant professor position at Centenary College of Louisiana.

2013: The Big Picture: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff invited talk given. Taught several courses, including History and Systems of Psychology, Judgment & Decision Making, Learning & Memory (traditional and accelerated)

2014: Accepted position of Assistant Professor of Psychology, Division of Counselor Education & Psychology, at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.