Current job: Fish and Wildlife Biologist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
What life experiences may have led you to a career in STEM?
Starting in 5th grade, I was fortunate to go on outdoor education trips with my school. These trips sparked my love for the outdoors, which then led to a fascination and appreciation of the natural world. Once in college, I was drawn to biology courses and knew that I found my niche when I took a Conservation Biology course. This discipline was the perfect blend of biological science and and management aimed at protecting biological diversity.
What are some fun and interesting facts about your life with which students might identify?
When I was in the 4th grade, I went on a boat for the first time off of Long Beach, California. During that trip, we encountered a migrating gray whale that was traveling southbound from Alaska to lagoons in Mexico. It was such a powerful experience for me to see this whale and it in part led to my love of the oceans and desire to protect marine life. After college, I spent 4 months living on an island near Antarctica next to a massive King Penguin colony! My passion for the outdoors and wildlife has taken me on many great adventures in my lifetime.
What other other things should students know about you?
I started with the Fish and Wildlife Service as an academic intern in college. This experience connected me with great mentors and opportunities with the agency. The 22 years of working with the agency have flown by. I believe that if you follow your passion and work hard, you will lead a fulfilling and meaningful life.
