| Doctor Varnell joined the CMC community in the 2021-2022 school year. Prior to joining CMC, he worked at Alder Creek Middle School and was pursuing his doctorate degree in political science. He studied political science under preeminent scholar Dr. Emily Hauptmann, scholar of democracy and democratic theory. His dissertation explored the use of terrorism rhetoric to label non-violent, but disruptive environmental activists as terrorists. He has presented at numerous scholarly conferences and published articles on environmentalism and animal rights. Dr. Varnell moved to Portland in 2015 with his wife who works for Portland State University. He has been teaching for more than a decade, teaching at the university level and secondary levels of education during that time. His interests include political theory, philosophy, democracy, social movements, and comparative politics. He has a passion for working with students and helping students meet their potential and succeed at their personal and academic goals. When Dr. Varnell is not teaching, he enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest, running marathons, and playing with his toddler. |