I’m a biologist, educator, writer and artist. I have conducted bird surveys in Montana, Missouri and New Mexico and have published 17 literature reviews about the effects of wildfire and prescribed burning on specific animal and bird species.

I have always had an affinity for our natural world despite growing up in the suburbs of Chicago where wild spaces are few and far between. In high school I won a scholarship to attend the American Wilderness Leadership School for one week in Jackson, Wyoming. My life changed-I saw mountains for the first time, backpacked for the first time and found out that there was a such thing as a profession called “Wildlife Biology”. These new discoveries led to a degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Montana. After obtaining my degree, I packed up my Chevy Lumina and spent 3 months exploring the western U.S. and decided to make Missoula, Montana my home.

I have conducted bird surveys in Montana, Missouri and New Mexico and have published 17 literature reviews about the effects of wildfire and prescribed burning on specific animal and bird species.

Several years ago I became a Master Naturalist and Certified Interpretive Guide. Since then, I have taught hundreds of children in western Montana about nature on full-day school field trips. I also created several naturalist-themed classes at Missoula’s Lifelong Learning Center such as Beginning and Intermediate Bird Watching, Beginning Botany and Hike With a Master Naturalist.

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family backpacking, paddleboarding and traveling near home and abroad. I am always curious about learning more about nature and enjoy volunteering doing stream health surveys, butterfly surveys and raptor migration counts.