BackgroundFor my undergraduate education, I studied Biology and English Literature at Knox College, a liberal arts college in Galesburg, IL, where I developed a passion for ecology, conservation biology, and plant-pollinator interactions. While exploring topics in conservation, my interests focused on endangered plant species and their reproductive biology.
I expanded my early interests by pursuing a PhD in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign); this dissertation research is being conducted in the lab of Dr. Brenda Molano-Flores at the Illinois Natural History Survey. Currently my research examines the effects of habitat loss and degradation on plant-pollinator interactions. In particular, I am interested in the disruption of plant-pollinator mutualisms due to changes in demographics (e.g., population size/density), morphology (i.e., floral display of individuals), and habitat quality of sensitive (rare) plant species in Midwestern prairies. As a scientist, I also have a strong philosophy of presenting my research and its conservation implications to different audiences, especially under-represented groups in the sciences. This philosophy has a strong influence on my approach to teaching/mentoring and participation in active programs in public outreach. |
Design & Scientific Illustration
In my spare time, I enjoy many artistic hobbies, including drawing, painting, creative writing, and crafts. I have adapted these interests to compliment my research and professional interests, such as construction of educational materials for outreach events, designing t-shirts for departmental fundraisers, and providing visual aids for presentations at conferences. Using Adobe's design software (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator), I hope to develop scientific illustrations and diagrams that can be used as teaching tools in my future classes.