Tom has headed the Props Department since 1997. He received his BFA in set and costume design from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in 1983. Since then, he has worked as a Master Carpenter at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick , New Jersey , Master Carpenter at the Falmouth Playhouse and Technical Director at the Totempole Playhouse. He stepped up to Props Artisan at the McCarter Theater in 1986 and the Shakespeare Theater in Washington , D.C. two years later. He spent two years with the Shakespeare full time, and after being hired as Assistant Technical Director by George Washington University , he continued to work freelance with the Shakespeare on each production for the classical theater.

At GWU he got his first taste of teaching which eventually led here to Athens . His specialities include arms and armor. Freelance custom period swords of his design and construction appear in stage productions, Renaissance fairs, and stage combat groups from California to the East Coast. As a freelance stage carpenter, he has also worked for National Scenery, Pro Stage, TSA, and ABC News Nightline.