I am a born and raised Washingtonian, where I grew fond of the wealth of natural beauty this state offers and grew ever concerned about future impacts of policy and a changing climate.

My research focuses on rural economic development, environmental policy, and forest health. My Ph.D. research is titled “A Profile of the Non-Timber Forest Products Industry of the Pacific Northwest: Lessons from the Industry and Climate Change.” My dissertation dives into methods used to understand non-timber forest products and their various industries in developed economies. I hope to find lessons that help develop rural communities with strong independent economies while also benefiting forest health—to preserve for generations to come the natural world that I got to enjoy growing up in the Pacific Northwest. So far, I proudly boast a dual-master’s degree from the University of Washington in Environmental and Forest Sciences plus Public Administration.

In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, woodworking, playing soccer, being involved with community engagement, and spending time with family. A fun fact about me is that I used to compete competitively in floral design at the national level.