I grew up near the Chesapeake Bay where I played barefoot in marsh mud as a child. Many generations of my family - including present day - have reaped the rewards of the Bay's fishery, but they have also witnessed its decline.

Among the first generation in my family to go to university, I'm proud to have earned my scientific degrees in the field of water and wetland resources from Virginia Tech (B.S. Class of 2017) and the University of California, Santa Cruz (M.S. Class of 2020). The highlight of my career has been teaching at California State University, Monterey Bay where I mentored aspiring scientists through local research and stewarded science literacy among non-science majors.

I've returned to those early Chesapeake Bay marshes where I work for the Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe.

Outside of science, I love to spend time with my husband on our small farm including horse, spaniel, chickens, and honey bees. Or simply indulging in a cup of tea plus a book with our two cats.