I've had a passion for science and the outdoors ever since I was a child growing up in the mountains of West Virginia. I completed my Bachelor's degree in Marine Science at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC, where I graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2021. I have a broad research background exploring mysid ecology in the Chesapeake Bay, artificial reefs off northeastern South Carolina, and coral reef ecology in Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Presently, I am a Ph.D. student in the Fish Ecology Lab at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, where I am investigating the biodiversity and food web dynamics of cryptic fishes (masters of disguise!) in eastern Gulf of Mexico seagrasses. When I'm not in the lab or the field, you can find me exploring downtown St. Pete, sipping a latte at a local coffee shop, watching "Criminal Minds," or hanging out with my dogs, Rosie and Billy!

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9901-7483 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=4kgCXjoAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao