Work History
A large portion of my career has been in academia, but I have also gained valuable work experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
University of Arizona
(2021 - present)
Currently, I am a lecturer in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Department at the University of Arizona. I teach online and in-person courses, including Ecol 182R Introduction to Biology, Ecol 170C2 Diversity of Life, and Ecol 409 Ecology of Infectious Disease. I deliver in-person lectures, collaborate with co-instructors, manage online content, assess student work, develop course materials, and construct evaluation methods.
Unity College
(2021)
I taught Wildlife Plant Identification: Wildlands and Wildlife Habitat through Unity College's Distance Education online learning program. Unity College is based in Maine (USA), but is an entirely distance-based, environmentally-focused higher education institution. In this class, I facilitated discussion posts, consulted with students, graded student work, and ensured student success through active engagement.
Prescott College (2020)
I was the primary instructor for Field Botany in the Environmental Studies Department at Prescott College. Field Botany is a graduate-level course for master's students offered each fall. In this field-based course, students learned field methods including plant identification using binomial keys, field site assessment, and specimen collection. Students chose a focal species and worked cumulatively throughout the semester to construct a Species Monograph as a final project. I delivered online lectures, prompted discussions, managed discussion threads, evaluated weekly assignments, and provided intensive written feedback to improve student analysis of primary literature.
Science from Scientists
(2019-2020)
Science from Scientists is a national non-profit organization that works with local elementary and middle schools to engage the next generation in hands-on scientific modules. I co-taught with exceptional instructors, collaborated with teachers, and visited classrooms ranging from 3rd to 8th grade on a weekly basis to develop and deliver STEM modules. This inspiring work is at the core of my teaching philosophy and critical for global sustainability in light of current environmental crises.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (2019-2020)
For the 2019-2020 academic year, I was an adjunct instructor for the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities in the College of Biological Sciences. I taught General Botany, an introductory course for non-botany majors. In this lecture and lab-based course, students learned fundamental concepts of botany. Topics included plant physiology, evolutionary diversity, and environmental processes. I delivered lectures, developed exams, managed student outcomes, and collaborated with the instructional team during this course.
Green Mountain College
(2019)
Green Mountain College was a small liberal arts school in rural Vermont. They have since closed their doors and merged their online environmental programs with other universities around the country. During their last session as a university, I taught Field Botany, a graduate-level course for Environmental Studies master's students. As the instructor, I delivered virtual lectures, facilitated online discussions, provided student feedback, graded field-based assignments, and served as resource to non-traditional graduate students.
University of Wisconsin-Madison (2011-2018)
At UW-Madison, I worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant. In Dr. Sara Hotchkiss' spatial and temporal laboratory, I managed the lab website and became very proficient in Adobe Suite (Muse, Illustrator, Acrobat), Xcode, and Fetch applications. I also created a digital database and a palynological reference collection for the central range of California coast redwood.
In the Botany Department, I worked as a graduate teaching assistant for General Botany and General Ecology for six semesters. Additionally, I was a graduate student mentor for the inaugural year of BioHouse, a living-learning community (LLC) for incoming freshman planning to major in biology.
ICF International
(2008-2011)
At ICF, an international consulting firm, I managed several large-scale, complex projects with an emphasis on natural resources. I ensured communication and information flow between internal team members and external clients, managed project budgets, and performed internal quality assurance reviews for technical documents including Environmental Impact Reports, Environmental Impact Statements, Habitat Conservation Plans, and Conservation Strategies. I was also an interdisciplinary research analyst, technical writer, and field ecologist.
San Jose State University (2006-2011)
In the Environmental Studies Department at San Jose State University, I was an instructor for a required course, Environmental Research and Writing. In this course, I taught students many aspects of research, focusing on critical thinking, active reading, and analytical writing. Throughout the semester, students learned to identify, evaluate, and analyze appropriate primary literature to effectively write a culminating research paper. The students experienced a variety of writing styles, including informal, creative writing, and formal, academic writing.
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As a graduate student, I was also a teaching assistant for several courses. These included Wetland Ecology, California National Parks, Resource Analysis, Environmental Research and Writing, and Environmental Impact Analysis.
Mendocino Institute
(2007-2008)
Working with faculty at San Jose State University, I led a research project funded by Save-the-Redwoods-League to analyze regeneration patterns of coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests and associated plant communities in Mendocino County, California. For this project, I collaborated with the California Department of Forestry to obtain remote sensing data. I conducted field surveys of forest systems, collected vegetation data, and applied several analytical methods. The outcome of this study identified management recommendations within the redwood communities of the Big River Watershed.
City of San Jose (2007)
At the City of San Jose’s Department of Transportation, I worked with Certified Arborists to issue permits and work orders for inspection, tree planting, tree pruning, and tree removals. I created a database to track work orders, permits, and registrations of tree contractors. I responded to tree and landscape inquiries from citizens and other City departments, performed records compilation, revised forms, and prepared reports.
Volunteer Work
(Ongoing)
Volunteer work is an important part of my work-life balance. In California, I volunteered as a docent for Sempervirens Fund and led hikes for community members while discussing natural history. In Wisconsin, I volunteered as an animal care worker at Heartland Farm Sanctuary. At UW-Madison, I volunteered for the Botany Department, Wisconsin Ecology, Delta Program, Wisconsin Interdisciplinary Education Group, and Women in Scientific Education and Research. I also served as secretary on the Ecological Society of America's student section board of officers, a manuscript referee for the Journal of Biological Conservation, and an invited commentator for the digital magazine Edge Effects. Currently, I am an active volunteer in the support of local school districts and the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona.
