About
I ask questions about the world around me, figure out answers, and write about it.
Me next to The Times-Piacyune front page outside Washington D.C.’s ‘Newseum’ (RIP).
My life goals: curiosity + ecology background + data skills + love of writing —> meaningful contributions to environmental justice & broader scientific literacy.
My interests in science and in journalism have co-mingled in my life for a long time. I was a 2016-17 Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Florida’s Biodiversity Institute and a 2018 AAAS Mass Media Fellow at The Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans.
In 2019, I completed my Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology at the University of Florida and left academia to work as an investigative environment reporter at The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate as part of ProPublica’s 2019 Local Reporting Network. Our resulting 14-part series, Polluter’s Paradise, won two of environmental journalism’s top national awards, including the 2020 Nina Mason Pulliam award for Outstanding Environmental Reporting and the 2020 Kevin Carmody award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting, as well as the National Association of Science Writer’s 2020 Science in Society award.
In mid-2020, I accepted a two-year staff environment reporter position at The Spectrum & Daily News in St. George, Utah through the non-profits Report For America and the Ground Truth Project. In this role, I have focused most on covering issues of water security in this desert habitat through my regular series, The Water Tap, which has already drawn widespread attention and praise.
In addition to my peer-reviewed science publication record, which I hope to continue expanding, I have freelanced feature journalism bylines in National Geographic, Discover Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, New Scientist Magazine, WUFT (NPR), 2 Million Blossoms, Massive Science, The Gainesville Sun, The Times-Picayune and more (please see my “Writing” page for details and links).
I have been recognized as a scientist by groups like STEM Women and Now This Media, and have won awards in journalism and science writing for my data stories on Hurricane Irma, Florida’s population growth, environmental justice issues related to pollution from the oil and gas industry in Louisiana, and for my narrative feature about the ecology of death. I am humbled by this collection of awards so early in my journalism career and eager to keep producing good work worthy of them.
My favorite thing about science and journalism is that never again can anyone tell me I’m asking too many questions.
Education
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology, 2019
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Master's degree in Ecology (Thesis here), 2016
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
Bachelor of Arts (Neuroscience), magna cum laude, high honors thesis, 2008
Professional Experience
The Spectrum & Daily news, St. George, Utah Via Report for America and the Ground truth project
Environment Reporter (currently the only full-time reporter dedicated solely to the environment in all of southwest Utah), June 2020 - present
propublica Local Reporting network Fellow (2019) at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, then The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate
Investigative Environment Reporter (all of 2019)
University of Florida J-School Environmental Journalism Course
Teaching Assistant for Cynthia Barnett, Fall 2018
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune; AAAS Mass Media Fellowship
Science Writer & AAAS Mass Media Fellow at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, Summer 2018
University of Florida Biodiversity Institute, Gainesville, FL
Biodiversity Graduate Research Fellow, 2016-17
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
Visiting researcher, hosted by Dr. Yael Mandelik, funded by a Binational Science Fnd Prof. Rahamimoff Travel Grant for Young Scientists, Spring 2014
Pinnacles National Park, Paicines, CA
Researcher (Utah State Univ. grad program, funded by National Park Service & USDA), 2011-2013
Colorado Division of Wildlife, Fort Collins, CO
Canada Lynx Technician for Dr. Jake Ivans, Fall 2010
UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City, NC
Head Technician in Peterson lab & Environmental Contractor at Camp Lejune Marine Corps Base, 2009-2010
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, CO
Animal Behavior Assistant for Dr. Rosemary Smith, Summer 2007
Extracurriculars
Sponsored Road & Mountain Cyclist (2010 - 2015)
Endurance 360 Cycling Team, 2015-16; Harristone/Sun Valley Mortgage Cycling Team, 2013-14; Chick-fil-A/Excelerator Sports Cycling Team, 2011-12; RockyMounts~Izzy Development Team, 2010.
Many podiums, several stage race overall wins
6x National Championship racer (Collegiate Road - 2012 & '13, Collegiate Mtn - '12, Marathon Mtn - '14, Fat Bike - '16, Collegiate Triathlon - '18)
4th place finish at Fat Bike National Championships in 2016; Two top 20 finishes at Collegiate Road & Mountain Bike National Championships in 2012.
Utah State Univ. Cycling Team: VP & Women's Team Captain, Conference Champion for Road ('12) & Mtn ('13)
Varsity NCAA DIV3 Cross-Country & Track Athlete (2006-2008)
School Record Holder in 3K Steeplechase, 2007-2012
Eastern Collegiate Regional Championships, 1k, 2007
Outdoor Recreation Leadership & Volunteering
Utah Regional Ambassador for SheJumps.org, a National non-profit dedicated to getting underprivileged girls outdoors, 2014
Lyon Maas and Mueggler Scholarship in Outdoor Leadership, December 2014
Backpacking & Ice Climbing Trip Leader for Visions Service Adventures for teens, Alaska, 2014
West Carteret High School Volunteer Track & Field Coach, 2009
Mount Holyoke College Outing Club Chair & Trip leader, 2006-2008
Wilderness First Responder, Certified 2014-2020
