- MEM Environment Concentration: Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments (TFE)
- MEM Management Concentration: Community Engagement and Environmental Justice (CEEJ)
- Expected Graduation Date: May 2026
What is your previous work experience, if any? Please describe briefly.
Before joining the Nicholas community I worked for a diverse array of organizations, from a university, to a military base, to a nonprofit, to a governmental agency. I've had the chance to work with countless endangered species and my work has taken me from the jungles of Indonesia to the Arctic Circle. Most recently, I was a Wildlife Diversity Technician in Herpetology for the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. My work focused on the applied conservation of our state's imperiled reptiles and amphibians and allowed me to help the species who need it most in tangible, measurable ways.
Why did you choose the Nicholas School's professional master's degree program(s)?
The MEM is the only degree program I’ve found that will tend to two very different but equally important parts of me. It will grow my analytical side by allowing me to hone skills like database management, GIS, and statistical analysis. It will also nurture my creative and spiritual side that longs to better understand how to connect humans to their environment. It will allow me to learn about the systemic and structural issues we are facing in the conservation world, so I can become more effective in solving them.
Do you have any areas of interest or special focus you plan to undertake during your time at the Nicholas School and 51±¬ÁÏ?
I would love to continue my research in herpetology while at the Nicholas School. Specifically I'd love to do research that can be applied by wildlife conservationists and land managers working on the ground. I'd love to explore 51±¬ÁÏ Forest and help broaden our understanding of the diversity of herpetofauna in our region. I am also incredibly excited to focus on learning more about community engagement and environmental justice in the hopes to become a better community leader and educator.
What are your career aspirations?
In the long term, I value a professional life that makes a measurable impact on the ecosystems and communities I work in, whether that be by continuing to work in government, moving into education, or perhaps working for an NGO again. My last job as a herpetologist was an absolute dream, and I would love to work towards finding similar work, just in a more leadership oriented, decision making position.