Teaching - Research - Mentorship

I began my career as a scientist, educator, and mentor at Murray State University, where I received a bachelor's in Wildlife & Conservation Biology. From there, I earned a master's degree in Biology at CalPoly Humboldt, a PhD at the University of South Florida (Tampa), and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Washington State University. I am currently an Assistant Professor of Zoology at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

My research interests include the movements of vertebrates, especially salamanders, ranging from fine-scale biomechanics of locomotion to dispersal at the ecosystem level. Much of my work examines the life history of amphibians in the broader context of ecological and evolutionary theory with the goal of increasing awareness for conservation. I am a wildlife biologist for international documentaries, mostly filming salamanders in the redwoods.

Mentoring and inspiring STEM students is a passion of mine. I have developed effective teaching practices through instructing a variety of courses: Introductory Biology, Physiology, Vertebrate Anatomy, Vertebrate Zoology, Vertebrate Natural History, Biological Methods, Ecology, and more. I have also mentored STEM students K-12 as a merit badge counselor at the Museum of Science and Industry (Tampa) and served as graduate mentor to STEM majors at the University of South Florida through the STEM Academy (NIH).