About Me

I am a student in the dual degree Master’s program in Marine Biology and Policy at the University of Maine. For my degree, I am studying the ecosystem in Western Passage (near Eastport, ME) in the context of Tidal Power development. My research at the University will involve working with stakeholders on this project to inform data integration and sharing in order to more effectively inform decision-making processes.

I completed my bachelor's degree in Biology at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. During my time in Virginia, I also studied at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in Front Royal, VA to fulfill a minor in Applied Conservation. This unique program focused on intensive studies in conservation theory, applied conservation strategies, and a practicum experience. This semester introduced me to field research (my practicum experience involved documenting Eastern Box Turtle movement using radio telemetry) and helped me develop skills to effectively engage stakeholders and use adaptive management techniques to set and achieve conservation goals.

After graduation, I continued developing an interest in marine and freshwater conservation through an internship at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, MD. My internship culminated in a final research presentation on "river herring habitat use in Chesapeake Bay and the conservation potential of dam removal." I remained at SERC as a Biological Science Technician until June 2018. My work at SERC spanned two different research labs- the Marine Invasions Lab and the Fish and Invertebrate Ecology Lab. I participated in field research involving everything from zooplankton to sharks, which led to my interest in graduate work conducting research on an ecosystem level!