Jacob (Jack) Popovich joined the WDE Ph.D program during Autumn of 2011.
My education includes a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from The Ohio State University obtained in 1986. This led me to a career in business that included 4 years in banking and approximately 14 years in the software industry. I worked for companies like Oracle, Siebel and American Express and with companies like Nationwide, Ford, Chase, AT&T, Cardinal Healthand a multitude of others large and small.
Jack Popovich, WDE Ph.D. Student
While working full time, I obtained a Master’s Degree (MBA in Finance) in 1993 from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, CA. Then in 2004, I started the transition from business to education, and in 2006 I obtained a full-time faculty position at Columbus State Community College. Now in 2011, I am pursuing a PhD in WDE because I want to become a better educator who can have a greater impact on students’ lives.
I am a second degree black belt in mixed martial arts and love playing the piano! 
I also have three children ages 25, 15 and 14. My oldest daughter is now working at the Wexner Medical Center as a surgical schedule coordinator and my boys are very active in cross country and track at Dublin Sells Middle School and Dublin Coffman High School.
Jack can be contacted at popovich.37@osu.edu.
I agree with Dr. Saunders that more attention needs to be paid to the risks of traumatic brain injury, especially among youth (although that clearly does not apply to Jack, lol). As someone with a family member that suffers post concussive syndrome incurred in an automobile accident I am very familiar with the work of Dr. Amen.
That said, I think it is not accurate to lump together sports like boxing and soccer. Soccer has far fewer incidents of contact to the head than boxing, and as long as that contact occurs at age-appropriate and skill-appropriate times, there is actually very little risk.
In the same way, the type of MMA training that Jack does is as safe as it gets for pretty much any sport. I hold a second degree black belt in the same discipline as James,Jack and Jenny (even though my name does not start with ‘J’), and as Jenny mentioned, safety ALWAYS comes first at our school. The photo Jack posted was from a demonstration, and was actually a ‘gag’, in that they were not fighting at all….it was all scripted and there was almost no contact, and absolutely no contact to the head. If the situation had been one where there was to be contact, head, hand, foot, and in some cases (depending on the type of sparring) body protection would have been worn.
I would like to say that I am delighted that Dr. Saunders is concerned and took the time to post. At the time of my partner’s diagnosis with PTCS 10 years no one had ever heard of it, much to our frustration. It is now better known, and that can only be good. Thanks for making the effort to insure that continues, Dr. Saunders.
Dr. Saunders – I read your message as one of caring and support, and I want to assure you, having been in the audience when this picture was taken, that in this particular moment, there was no cause for concern. I can also assure you, having been with this particular school for many years, our training is always about safety first, and ANY time that ANY actual sparring takes place, participants must be wearing full safety gear. If one piece is missing or damaged (including mouth gear) the participant is not permitted to spar. Everyone in the school understands the importance of safety equipment.
Now, that is not to say that the sport itself does not carry risk. It does. So does just about any other athletic activity. In fact, driving a car probably puts an individual at greater risk in many situations. I would argue that risk is a necessary component of growth. Where would we be in science, medicine, or even business without people that are willing to take risks? Safety is one thing, and I support cautionary measures, but I would not advocate throwing the baby out with the bath water. Calculated risks are what move us forward as a society.
Kudos to you Jack – you are the topic of this article, and it’s clear that you have accomplished a great many things in the first half of your life. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the second half! Namaste!
Jenny
I am somewhat dismayed by your interest and participation in mixed martial arts. The picture in this posting shows you and a competitor with the gloves on. Although I am not an expert in this subject, I have read about the dangers of brain injury and permanent brain damage from participating in contact sports, such as footbal, soccer, boxing, and martial arts. I would like to suggest that you read books by Dr. Daniel Amen. As an educator, and with all due respect, I would also humbly and caringly suggest that you consider protecting your brain and the brains of your competitors by not participating in marital arts or other activities where there is a risk of serious brain injury resulting from blows to the head, including concussions.
There is a huge difference between practicing martial arts and being a cage fighter. Too often people seem to assume that if you are in martial arts you are doing it so you can beat somebody up inside of a cage. As a martial artist, I feel it is my duty to inform those of you who believe that the above is true that you are not correct in Jack’s case. I know him personally and like myself, he practices martial arts for its numerous physical and mental benefits. We practice for self defense and personal empowerment, not to earn a trophy for inflicting harm on another. As and educator, I suggest you read Trutopia by Jhoo Rhee for a better understanding of what a TRUE martial artist is. Also, Jack and his partner had gloves on in that picture to reduce the risk of injury should contact accidentally be made.