I graduated from the University of Tampa with a B.S. in Marine Science-Biology. I researched a coastal isopod species from Tampa and another from Hawaii, contributing to a publication. I have worked at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, as a shellfish aquaculturist, and at Busch Gardens. My thesis focuses on studying the marine invertebrate communities that attach to juvenile sea turtles (epibionts). 

While working towards my undergraduate degree from Penn State I worked on two research projects documenting biofluorescence in larval salamanders and snakes, both of which I published in peer-reviewed journals. After graduating, I worked as a field technician for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, conducting surveys for threatened turtles and snakes. For my MS thesis here at WCSU, I will be conducting a fungal disease study on Eastern Copperhead snakes, with the goal of establishing trends of fungal infection in this species. 

I graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies focusing on ecology. While an undergrad, I researched the impacts of pesticides on tadpoles by monitoring water quality, land use and mouthpart morphology. My research interests are in anthropogenic climate change as well as herpetology. My current thesis at WCSU focuses on temperature within diamondback terrapin nests. 

In 2025, I earned my B.S. in Biology with a minor in Sustainability from Western Connecticut State University. As an undergraduate student, I conducted research with Biology faculty, Dr. Dorothy Christopher, investigating the impacts of climate change on flowering phenology in Connecticut. I also served as a research intern in the WCSU Tickborne Disease Prevention Lab (Dr. Connally’s Tick Lab), where I assisted with data collection for two tick ecology research projects. Through these experiences, I developed a strong interest in teaching about climate change and understanding its effects on natural systems. For my MS research at WCSU, I plan to use GIS tools to expand upon my undergraduate research on flowering plants and examine climate effects in New England. 

I graduated in 2025 from Central Connecticut State University with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. During my undergrad time I spent time researching nectar and reproductive traits of a newly named plant species in both the greenhouse and analytical chemistry lab. I also worked at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station for two summers with monarch butterfly and bumblebee research. As a graduate student at WCSU, my thesis work will focus on pollination and reproduction traits of Mountain Laurel. My hobbies include catching insects, gaming, and crocheting. 

I have an MS in biology where I focused on molecular biology. I am studying at WCSU to get a background in conservation and am working on an independent study at the Mianus River Gorge in Bedford, NY. There I will complete my stewardship project. My long-term research interests are conservation and ornithology and I want to use my degree to continue my education. My long-term career goal is to be a professor in biology. 

I recently graduated from WCSU with a B.S. in Biology and am currently pursuing further education in the M.S. Integrative Biological Diversity program. During my undergraduate career, I worked closely with professors to assist research on tick borne diseases, sea turtle epibionts, pollen abundance, mouse physiology, and biodiversity in Greece and Costa Rica. Outside of school, I give back to my community by volunteering for local organizations to remove invasive species at public parks.