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Research:
I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Lewison Conservation Ecology Lab at San Diego State University. I earned a BS in Sustainability Science and a BA in Politics and International Affairs from Furman University in 2017. After graduating, I worked for the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, which sparked my interest in natural resource management and the science behind ecosystem services. This led me to shift my focus from sustainability science to natural sciences for my graduate studies. I completed my MS and PhD at North Carolina State University in the Forestry and Environmental Resources Department. My graduate research explored the impacts of land use change and climate change on water resources in the US Southeast, and the potential for forest cover to mitigate negative impacts. I integrated the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), a watershed modeling tool, global climate models (GCMs) and land cover change models (FUTURES) to investigate my research questions. For my master’s research, I created a SWAT model of the Upper Neuse watershed in North Carolina to examine the effectiveness of riparian buffers in mitigating extreme flows under changing conditions. My doctoral research used SWAT in two watersheds, the Cape Fear and Middle Chatthochee, to examine changes in upstream water quality and the implications for downstream communities and drinking water intake facilities. As a postdoc, I aim to integrate my technical skills in modeling and data analysis with my background in social sciences to produce actionable research. My goal is to enhance the resiliency of vulnerable communities and ecosystems facing extreme drought and precipitation events. I am passionate about science communication and making research accessible to all. Please feel free to reach out to discuss my research, the graduate school process, or for assistance with hydrologic modeling, particularly SWAT. In my free time, I enjoy exploring San Diego, especially the beaches. Having grown up in the Southeast, I am loving the low humidity and coastal breezes of Southern California. |
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