I am a plant population ecologist, mentor, and instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Use the navigation bar at the top to learn more about me, my research, my teaching, and my service and outreach. And if you would like to join my lab, check out the prospective students page.
Email: [email protected]
|
About Me |
I completed my BS in biological science with a minor in geographic information systems at Florida Atlantic University. In Tucson, I earned my MS and PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona. I did my first postdoc at the Chicago Botanic Garden, then moved to the University of Utah for my second postdoc, and finally landed a faculty position at Florida Atlantic University. When I am not working, I love exploring nature and playing soccer.
|
Research |
I’m a plant population ecologist and conservation biologist. My research addresses fundamental questions about how environmental variability shapes plant life histories and the consequences of those responses for population and community dynamics. |
Teaching |
I love teaching! In my teaching, I strive to convey and cement important concepts by engaging students with small debates, case studies, games, and course-based research experiences. In my classroom I strive for inclusivity by establishing a welcoming atmosphere that honors the diversity of individuals. I have taught large and small graduate and undergraduate courses.
|
Mentoring |
I have been lucky to have largely attentive, respectful, and inspiring mentors. They have made my academic journey possible and fun. I strive to pass this forward. As such, I treat each of my mentees as a colleague, deserving of the same respect as any senior scientist. Ultimately, mentoring success to me means happy colleagues with access to opportunities to build their technical and professional skills to pursue their career goals, in or outside of academia.
|
Service & Outreach
|
Outside of the classroom I am very passionate about ecology outreach and education. I have developed educational tools, worked on curriculum design, and been an active member of several national pedagogy groups. In addition, I have created and published animations of foundational ecology papers and designed and built a nature trail and associated living classroom for outdoor environmental learning. I am also a big proponent of the Ecological Society of America's SEEDS (Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability) program.
|