I grew up in Akron, Ohio.

To work with professor Matt Lachniet conducting paleoclimate research in caves of Central America.

I received both a B.A. and M.S. in geology from the University of Akron.

I have always loved nature and being outdoors. When I was very young I used to hunt for fossils and was fascinated by dinosaurs. During my first semester of college I took an environmental geology class, which was the first geology class I’d ever had, and realized instantly that was my calling. I changed my major and have never given it a second thought.

I study paleoclimatology, which is currently a very important field with regard to current global climate changes. My project entails using stalagmites from caves and lake sediments from Central America to better understand how rainfall in this region has been affected by drought over the last 2,000 years. By obtaining a better understanding of how earth’s climate has changed in the past, scientists are able to project how things could change in the future.

Once I finish my Ph.D., I hope to pursue a career in academia because I love teaching geology, and want to continue conducting paleoclimate research.

I have received many scholarships and awards the last couple of years, but I also am the UNLV Geosymposium coordinator, responsible for organizing the 9th and 10th Annual GeoSymposium Conference at UNLV. The symposium is a student-run event designed to provide graduate and undergraduate students of the Department of Geoscience with a unique opportunity to present their research and receive feedback from industry, government, and academic experts who attend.

I enjoy nature and wildlife photography, hiking, and caving. There is a whole other world beneath our feet that most people don’t even know exists. Not only do I love exploring caves, but it is also a big part of my research. I feel fortunate that I have been able to combine the two.

Being a geology major has led me on so many amazing adventures. In order to study the earth and its processes, you need to get up close and personal to truly understand it. Lectures and textbooks don’t compare to being out in the field. I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to travel to many places in the United States and other countries that most people would never imagine going to. As part of my dissertation I’m currently working in Belize, which is an awesome place to do research. However, there can be an element of danger while doing fieldwork in these kinds of areas. During a research trip in 2013, we were hiking through the jungle looking for a cave and a venomous snake bit me. Needless to say it was a very scary experience. I had to be hospitalized and unfortunately couldn’t continue with my fieldwork. When I told people that I went back the following year they couldn’t fathom why. The only answer I could give is that I truly love what I do and am willing to take those kinds of risks for science. Despite the close calls and ups and downs of being a graduate student, becoming a geologist has truly changed my life and I cannot imagine doing anything else.