About Me

I am currently an Associate Ecologist/GIS Specialist at the University of Illinois and contracted to work with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Coastal Management Program. While I work on a wide variety of projects day-to-day, my main tasks are focused on the following activities:

Serve as Project Manager for the Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern (AOC) where I work with local and regional partners to monitor and assess ecological recovery following clean-up of legacy PCBs;

Develop a Coastal Wetlands Conservation Strategy for the Illinois coastal zone. Work on this project includes development of high-resolution coastal wetland maps using GIS, remotely-sensed imagery, and field data to create and leading regional wetland experts and land managers through a coastal wetland functional assessment process; and

Lead the regional trail-planning effort for the Lake Michigan Water Trail to expand and enhance access to and safety on Lake Michigan. As part of this initiative, I manage several grants aimed at increasing access to Lake Michigan-based recreation, especially for underserved and disabled communities.

As my career evolves and progresses, I hope to continue to use my ecology background, field experience, and GIS abilities to work towards remedying complex ecological and sustainability issues and fostering better communication between scientists, the general public, and decision makers.

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EDUCATION

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Limnology / Water Quality

I am interested in how human development and activities impact water quality, clean water availability, and ecological functions of water bodies.

In working with the Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern, I have learned a great deal about the impacts of PCBs and legacy chemicals on water quality and the ecology of entire systems, and look forward to continue monitoring environmental responses to these legacy contaminants that many areas in the Great Lakes are experiencing.

2011 - 2013

University of West Florida

Master of Science in Environmental Science

Coastal Wetlands

Wetlands provide a fascinating transitional landscape between land and water and their integral role in watersheds and landscape ecology cannot be denied. I am interested in wetland functions and how restoration of wetlands and the use of green infrastructure can improve water quality and have a cascade of impacts throughout ecological systems.

In collaboration with University of Illinois research partners, I am working on a project to monitor wetland hydrology and attempt to link wetland hydrology with wetland habitat types and quality to improve management of wetland resources at Illinois Beach State Park.

2004 - 2009

Northern Michigan University

Bachelor of Science in Biology (Zoology)

Landscape Change

The concepts of changing landscapes and ecological regime shifts have always interested me, though the topic is more of an intellectual hobby than a research focus. Learning how our environment is affected by and responds to change and how that impacts long-term sustainability will become even more critical as the Earth continues to undergo changes to climate and the stresses of human development.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Plants of Wetlands (Morton Arboretum)
Planning Effective Projects for Coastal Communities (NOAA)
Adult, Child, and Infant CPR and AED; Standard First Aid (ECSI)
Basic Wetland Delineator Training (IWEER)
Planning and Facilitating Collaborative Meetings (NOAA)
Trimble GPS Training Certification (Trimble USA)
Environmentally Friendly Field Operations Training (USEPA)
Introduction to R Programming (USEPA)
Quantitative Biology Workshop (MITx)
Safe Boater Certification (WIDNR)
SCUBA Advanced Open Water Certification (PADI)
Wildland Fire Training S-130, S-190, I-100, and L-180 (NWCG)

SELECTED STUDENT PROJECTS

As a graduate student at UWF, I designed and executed all aspects of a water quality monitoring and nutrient transport project aimed at identifying potential sources of eutrophication in coastal dune lakes in Walton County, Florida. The coastal dune lakes of Florida's Gulf Coast represent an extremely rare ecosystem with habitats that range from saltwater ponds and brackish tidal pools to tannic freshwater lakes.

After collecting water samples from lakes, outflows, ditches, and marshes, I used laboratory and field spectrophotometric analyses to determine the nutrient profiles of each sample and utilized ArcGIS for watershed and sample mapping.

Results identified a number of potential point and non-point sources of nutrient pollution and the technical report I prepared was used by a local engineering firm as the basis for a $500,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the restoration of natural stream and wetland hydrology in a number of locations throughout the watershed.

In 2010, I traveled to Belize to work on a Portland State University research project that explored remedies to mangrove forest restoration challenges. Throughout Belize, thousands of acres of critical coastal mangrove forests had been removed, exposing the coast to devastating erosion impacts and contributing to the decline of a number of local fisheries. Local conservation officials and non-profit agencies were struggling to restore mangrove stands in the now open coastal areas and a lack of resources required the development of creative solutions.

The research project focused on the development of wave barriers and nutrient delivery systems using everyday materials and monitoring their impacts on mangrove propagation. Throughout the project, several stands of mangrove trees were effectively re-established, and the seminars and school projects led by the Portland State University team gave local stakeholders the tools and knowledge to continue the project. Outcomes included improved fisheries, a reduction in coastal erosion, and the establishment of a non-profit organization to continue the environmental outreach and education started by the Portland State University research team.

2020 - present

Johns Hopkins University

Post-Masters Certificate in Environmental Engineering & Science