Dr. DeOcampo received his Ph.D. in Genetics from Michigan State University, and went on to work as an NIH Research Fellow at Mayo Clinic, in Rochester Minnesota studying advanced prostate cancer. He returned to Michigan State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology (now Integrative Biology), where he continued his research and taught courses ranging from 20 person seminar style to supersized 300+ person courses. He transitioned to an administrative role when he began working for the Office of Planning and Budgets division of Facilities Planning and Space Management. He has been responsible for the budget development, and planning of over $300M in facilities; his most recent project being the recently opened STEM Teaching and Learning Facility.