MSc Geography – Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 2020

Advisor: Dr. Rick G. Lathrop

Thesis: Horseshoe Crab Spawning Behavior in the Delaware Bay – A Potential Response to Sea Surface Temperature

Fellowship: National Science Foundation Coastal Climate Risk and Resilience

B.S. Biology – CUNY College of Staten Island, 2017

Advisor: Dr. Jane Alexander

The Verrazano School – a selective honors program

Thesis: Coastal Stability of the Eastern and Southern Coastlines on Staten Island, NY

Fellowships: CUNY Summer Undergraduate Research Program

   CUNY Pipeline Program

I began my academic journey in 2008 at SUNY Oneonta. Still, due to a surprising life-altering accident that resulted in me becoming a quadriplegic in 2009, I took a hiatus from my academic pursuits and focused on my recovery. With the encouragement of my friends and family, I returned to my educational journey at CUNY College of Staten Island in 2011, receiving a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Geology in 2017. 

As an undergraduate, I was fortunate to join the Verrazzano School Honors Program, was named a Barry Goldwater Scholar in 2015, was a fellow in the CUNY Pipeline Program from 2015-2016, and a participant in the CUNY Summer Undergraduate Research Program in 2016. My injury, support system, and time at CUNY CSI significantly contributed to my academic accomplishments. They prepared me well for my educational journey at The State University of New Jersey at Rutgers, pursuing an MS in Geography, a certificate in Geospatial Information Science,  and a fellowship in Coastal Climate Risk and Resilience. I loved my time there and Graduated in 2020 after defending my MS Thesis on Horseshoe Crab Spawning Behavior - A Potential Response to Sea Surface Temperature in Delaware Bay. 

After graduating, I worked as a GIS Consultant for private industry and academic institutions to organize information for business efficiency and environmental change in New Jersey. Around this time, I also began to work more commonly as an Adjunct Instructor at Rutgers University and the City University of New York College of Staten Island, teaching courses related to weather and climate, remote sensing, physical geology, and additional lab courses. In the fall semester of 2022, I officially joined the Engineering and Environmental Science Department as a full-time lecturer and the Earth and Ocean Science Program Coordinator. In this role, I advise students on courses for future semesters, develop new courses to enhance the undergraduate curriculum, work on schedules for academic semesters, assist students in applying for internships, organize events for the educational and professional development of undergraduate students, and work closely with different departments on campus for the betterment of our students and furthering departmental and institutional initiatives. The 18th Annual GIS Day and the Earth and Environmental Science Speaker Series are some of the more significant events I have organized on campus.

2025

• Community Proposal for 19th Annual GIS Day

• NAGT Early Career Faculty Travel Stipend

2024

• American Geophysical Union Travel Grant

• Student Leadership Summit Ellen Krieger Community Impact Award

• Community Proposal for 18th Annual GIS Day

2021

• 2021 EXCEL Media Gold Award for a DEI-focused feature article in a national society magazine. https://siia.net/excel/2021-excel-winners/

2018

• Coastal Climate Risk and Resiliency Fellowship, Rutgers University

2017

• Paris Garcia Memorial Award, CUNY CSI

• Billy Fraser Achievement Award, CUNY CSI

2016

• Geological Society of America Minority Student Scholarship

• Geological Society of America Onto the Future Scholar

• Don and Mary Ellen Passantino Scholarship

2015

• Barry Goldwater Scholarship Award

• Auxiliary Service Cooperation, Inc. Scholars Fund, CUNY CSI

• DiPaolo Disabled Student Scholarship Endowment, CUNY CSI

2014

• Jackson-Stricks Scholarship